7/3/2009 - Bend
by Matt McDonald
 
Macs Moran admits, this 1985 Ford Bronco is a clunker. Good news, that means $4,500 to buy a new car.
 
"It'd be a good deal. This things barely worth a grand I'd say," said Moran.
 
The federal program often called cash for clunkers started July 1st, offering rebates to trade old cars for new more fuel efficient vehicles. But there's a problem.
 
"It's really our hands are tied by the government for the time being," said Mark Reddick at Robberson Ford in Bend. He says he's got four customers waiting, hoping to trade in their clunker and get into a new car. The rules for the program wont' be finished until July 24th
 
"There is some red tape involved as far as the disposal of the vehicle, there is some rules as far as the continued insurance of the vehicle, continued ownership within the household," said Reddick.
 
If dealers give a rebate now, they could be on the hook for the money, if they make a mistake with any of the rules. Consumers have rules to sort through as well
 
Let's say you own this car, a 1990 Jeep Cherokee. You want to buy this car, a brand new Ford Focus. Step one, go online and figure out if your existing car meets fuel economy limits.
 
At www.fueleconomy.gov you can search your make and model. For the rebate, cars must have a combined fuel economy of less than 18 miles per gallon. The new car better than 22 miles per gallon.
 
Rebate or not, for some a more basic concern.
 
"$4,500 is, you know, a considerable amount but if you don't have the income to pay off the rest, it's, you know, out there," said Moran.
 For more information on the program you can also visit www.cars.gov