Cash for Clunkers Online Petition Launched For Disqualified Consumers

Consumers who have been locked out of the Car Allowance Rebate System are urged to join a new online petition which will be sent to Congress. Currently, consumers whose cars are rated as averaging 19 MPG or more, based on government estimates, are not eligible for a credit regardless of their actual miles per gallon experience.

Consumers are disgruntled over the government’s standardized fuel ratings which are posted at http://www.fueleconomy.gov . The fuel ratings do not take into consideration wear and tear to vehicles which prevents them from attaining the MPG numbers the vehicle was originally estimated to achieve.

Most consumers understand that the NHTSA is only responsible for implementing the program and is not responsible for the restrictions of the bill. Therefore, a new website was established as an outlet for consumers to be heard by the sponsors of the bill.

The website, http://www.nocashforclunkers.com/ , is taking comments from consumers who want their voices heard. By joining the online petition, consumers will add their names to the petition list that will be sent to the original sponsors of the Cash for Clunkers legislation. The goal is to make sure Congress hears their voices if additional funding is requested.

The most common complaint from consumers is that the Federal website rates their “clunker” at 19, 20 or 21 combined mpg.

Consumers are adamant that their vehicle’s condition prevents it from getting anywhere near that mpg number. For example, one reader wrote in to the site, “I have a 2001 Infiniti I-30 with 220,000 miles. The EPA MPG says I am getting 20 mpg. That is a joke. I have 220,000 miles on my car. I would be lucky to be operating at 18 mpg.” These types of complaints are flooding the www.CashForClunkersFacts.com blog site.

Another consumer wrote, “Regarding the Car Allowance Rebate System. I currently drive a 1995 model car that I have owned for 12 years. According to the website fueleconomy.gov, it has a “new” mpg rating of 20 which means that I do not qualify for the CARS program. The MPG when the car was new was 22. This is disappointing as I do not understand how a change of ONLY 2 mpg is calculated on a 14 year old vehicle"

The ‘No Cash for Clunkers’ website suggests an alternative qualification model called: NET-10. If a consumer trades in their “clunker” for another new vehicle that gets at least 10 mpg more than their current clunker, they would qualify for the $4,500 credit.

This type of revision will accomplish the fuel conservation and environmental goals of the bill and will also remove the penalty from consumers who have a car that is operating at much less of a fuel efficiency than the government’s standardized estimates suggests.

For more information on the No Cash for Clunkers petition, consumers are encouraged to visit http://www.nocashforclunkers.com/

Contact Information

Carrie Valentine

Media Contact

Pasch Consulting Group

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