The following information has been made available by fueleconomy.gov.  Updated information will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

Congress is currently considering legislation that would give car buyers a $3,500 or $4,500 voucher for trading in an old, inefficient vehicle for a new, more-efficient one!

Current Status
Thursday, June 18, 2009, 11:18 a.m.

The “Cash for Clunkers” legislation has passed the House and, according to media outlets, a vote in the Senate is likely within a few days.

The program has not been finalized. However, it is likely that, if passed, the program would be similar to the version passed by the House last week. Some of the details of the House version are provided below, although any part of the legislation would be subject to change until it is approved by both chambers of Congress and signed by the President.

How much cash can I get?

New Vehicle Type	New Vehicle MPG*	Trade-in Type	New Vehicle Improvement*	Incentive
Passenger Car	At least 22 MPG	–	At least 4 MPG	$3,500
			At least 10 MPG	$4,500
Category 1 Trucks:† SUVs, including MDPVs between 8,500 and 10,000 lbs. Pickups w/ GVWR <8,500 lbs. & wheelbase <= 115 in. Vans w/ GVWR <8,500 lbs. and wheelbase <= 124 in.	At least 18 MPG	–	At least 2 MPG	$3,500
			At least 5 MPG	$4,500
Category 2 Truck:† Pickups w/ GVWR <= 8,500 lbs. & wheelbase > 115 in. Vans w/ GVWR <= 8,500 lbs. & wheelbase > 124 in.	At least 15 MPG	Category 2 truck	At least 1 MPG	$3,500
			At least 2 MPG	$4,500
		Category 3 truck (2001 model or older)	NA‡	$3,500
Category 3 Truck:†All trucks w/ GVWR 8,500-10,000 lbs., excluding MDPVs	NA‡	Category 3 truck (2001 model or older)	Similar in size or smaller than trade-in‡	$3,500

*MPG requirements are based on EPA’s combined city/highway rating.
†GVWR = Gross Vehicle Weight Rating; MDPV = Medium-Duty Passenger Vehicle
‡Not applicable; Cat. 3 trucks do not have EPA MPG ratings

Other Requirements

Trade-in vehicle:

• Driveable condition
• Has been continuously insured consistent with State laws and registered to you for at least one year immediately prior to trade-in
• Manufactured in model year 1984 or later
• Must have a combined MPG of 18 or less (this does not apply to category 3 trucks)

Purchased/leased vehicle:

• New (i.e., legal title has not been transferred to anyone)
• Manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $45,000 or less

Other Considerations

How do I trade in my old vehicle?

You must purchase your vehicle from a participating new car dealership. The incentive amount will be applied to the new vehicle purchase price or lease price rather than sent to you.

Note: Dealers cannot charge you any fees to participate in this program.

How will this affect trade-in value?

Your trade-in will be scrapped or parted out rather than resold by the dealer. Therefore, the new vehicle’s price will be reduced by the incentive amount instead of the amount the dealer would normally give you for trade-in.

Can I combine this with other government incentives?

Yes. You can combine this with other State and Federal incentives, such as the hybrid vehicle credit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my vehicle not listed in your data?

1. If your vehicle is a heavy truck/SUV with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more than 8,500 lbs. EPA fuel economy estimates for your vehicle do not exist, because manufacturers are not required to provide MPG ratings for these vehicles. Some common vehicles that are exempt from fuel economy standards are listed here. You can usually find your vehicle’s GVWR inside the driver’s-side door post or in your user’s manual.
2. Some vehicles are missing from our database—this is more common for model years prior to 2000. We are currently working to fill these data gaps.

What should I do if my vehicle is not listed?

If your vehicle is a truck with a GVWR over 8,500 lbs., you don’t need to worry about your MPG. The legislation will likely use some other factor, such as age or size, to determine eligibility for those vehicles.

If your vehicle is not a large truck, e-mail the following information about your vehicle to us:

• Model year
• Make/manufacturer (e.g., Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, etc.)
• Model (e.g., Focus, Malibu, Camry, etc.)
• Number of cylinders
• Engine size, in liters (e.g., 1.8L)
• Transmission type (e.g., 6-speed automatic, 4-speed manual)
• Fuel type (gasoline, diesel, etc.)
• Drive type (front-wheel, rear-wheel, 4-wheel/all-wheel drive)
• Any other comments that might help us identify the vehicle (e.g., supercharger, turbocharger, VTEC engine, dual overhead cam (DOHC), single overhead cam (SOHC), etc.)

When will Cash for Clunkers start?

We don’t know. It is still possible for the legislation to stall in Congress. However, if it passes, it may take as much as a month for the Department of Transportation to work out some details of the program. Car buyers should be prepared to be patient.

Who do I contact with my concerns about the Cash for Clunkers legislation?

We at fueleconomy.gov welcome input from our users about how to improve our site and we are always happy to answer questions you may have about fuel economy. However, we have no influence whatsoever on the legislation currently under consideration. If you have concerns or complaints about Cash for Clunkers, please contact your representatives in Congress.