"It sounded like a good deal," he said. "I had to come and check it out."
Not every car qualifies for the program. A trade-in vehicle must have a combined fuel economy rating of 18 miles per gallon or less. Many consumers are finding their clunkers aren't as bad as they thought and don't qualify for the program. A man came in to Bob Bell on Friday to replace his granddaughter's older-model Saturn only to find its gas fuel efficiency rating was too high.
Consumers are also being warned about scams associated with the program.
Michael Fitzpatrick, general manager for Bob Bell Ford, Hyundai & Kia, said that 20 percent to 30 percent of people asking about the program seem to qualify. He said he expected interest in the program to really pick up in the next couple of weeks as more people hear about it.
Customers can also get a tax break on their federal returns by deducting the sales tax on new vehicles purchased between Feb. 17 and the end of the year. It applies to the sales tax paid on the first $49,500 of a vehicle's price tag.
Chrysler also recently announced it would match the government's incentive or offer zero percent financing for consumers who turn in a clunker and buy a 2009 model. This Chrysler incentive runs through August and also will apply to trade-ins that don't qualify for the government program.
Bruce and Pat Lenderking of Pasadena wanted to get in on the program early, before word got out to too many people. The couple is trading in a 1997 Dodge Caravan for a blue Ford Fusion hybrid. They were attracted to the program because of the cash savings and its focus on fuel efficiency.
"We had a feeling this was going to be popular, so we wanted to come now and be in the queue," Bruce Lenderking said.
