U.S. Cash for Clunkers Car Lists on Edmunds.com

CARS Program Eligible Vehicles – New Autos & Trade-Ins That Qualify

Aug 10, 2009 Lena Gott

Edmunds.com lists Cash for Clunkers eligible vehicles; see qualifying new autos & trade-ins. CARS program gives $3500 & $4500 federal car incentives, government rebates.

The article Cash for Clunkers List of Qualifying Cars profiled the list of eligible trade-in vehicles available on the Kelley Blue Book website, kbb.com. This article discusses the Cash for Clunkers lists available on edmunds.com.

Cash for Clunkers on Edmunds.com

Edmunds.com offers a Cash for Clunkers resource area with many helpful sections. Consumers can use a calculator to determine if they have a clunker that qualifies and if the transaction makes sense based on their vehicle’s trade-in value. In an FAQ section, Edmunds.com covers important questions like “Is there a limit on the age of my trade-in vehicle?” and “Am I obligated to buy the same type of vehicle as I trade in?”

A neat feature of the Edmunds.com Cash for Clunkers resource section is its online discussion community. In this forum, consumers can share car buying tips and discuss topics such as whether they believe the Cash for Clunkers program is a good or bad idea.

Edmunds.com List of Used Vehicles – Potentially Eligible Trade-Ins

The technical requirements for trade-in vehicles are discussed in the article What Cars Qualify for 3500 & 4500 Auto Rebates. In a nutshell, an eligible used vehicle must be under a certain weight and age and get 18 mpg or less combined fuel economy in order to qualify for a government car rebate.

As a helpful resource for consumers, Edmunds.com has published a list of eligible trade-ins (sorted by make) that meet CARS program eligibility requirements. (This list is accessible through the "Cash for Clunkers resource area" link above). While the folks at Edmunds have noted in a disclaimer that the list of used vehicles is not meant to be comprehensive (it doesn’t include pre-1990 models and the listing was compiled assuming vehicles have low mileage and are in clean condition), it is a good starting point for consumers interested in researching qualifying automobiles.

Cash for Clunkers – Which New Cars Qualify for 3500 & 4500 Government Car Rebates?

Edmunds.com also offers a list of eligible new cars. Like the list of possibly eligible trade-ins, the list of qualifying new cars is not comprehensive, but offers a good starting point for consumer research. (This list is also accessible through the "Cash for Clunkers resource area" link above).

All cars on the list should have a base manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $45,000 or less (according to cars.gov, base MSRP does not include the cost of extra features, options, taxes, or destination charges). This is the price typically seen on a new vehicle’s window sticker, or “Monroney label.”

Eligible Vehicles Listed on Edmunds.com Should Meet CARS Program Requirements

All new vehicles on this list should also meet minimum combined fuel economy requirements required by the CARS program. According to cars.gov, new passenger automobiles must get 22 MPG or more, new category 1 trucks must get at least 18 MPG, and new category 2 trucks must get at least 15 MPG. New category 3 trucks aren’t rated for fuel efficiency, but they must meet other requirements as discussed in the article United States Cash for Clunkers Program Details.

Note: The Edmunds qualifying cars lists are comprised of vehicles in its own database (not government-managed) and only indicate possible eligibility. Consumers should verify vehicle eligibility on cars.gov and/or with a participating dealer.

Resources:

Car Allowance Rebate System website, cars.gov

Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009

Edmunds.com Cash for Clunkers Resource Center

The copyright of the article U.S. Cash for Clunkers Car Lists on Edmunds.com in Consumer Education is owned by Lena Gott. Permission to republish U.S. Cash for Clunkers Car Lists on Edmunds.com in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

$4,500 U.S. Government Car Rebates Available	Get Lists of New & Used Vehicles Eligible for CARS	Car Allowance Rebate System Gives $3,500 Stimulus
Research CARS Program Eligible Trade-In Vehicles	Find Out Which Cars Qualify for Cash for Clunkers