The successful "Cash For Clunkers" program is coming to an end tonight, and local dealers are still waiting for their rebate checks.
The federal program, which launched July 27, has seen more than 450,000 cars traded in and $1.9 billion in rebates slated to be given out to dealers, according to government reports last week.
The program was for any new vehicle purchased after July 1.A trade-in with 18 miles or less to the gallon could net customers up to $4,500 off a new vehicle.
Rice Ford and Toyota of Warsaw have both participated in the program.
Combined, the dealerships have sold nearly 70 new cars with the aide of the program.
Gabe Douglas, sales manager for Toyota of Warsaw, said the Toyota dealership has had success with the program though they have yet to see any rebate money.
Douglas said that all of their applications have been rejected and had to be resent because of what Douglas calls "clerical errors."
"Sometimes they'll reject it because it's missing a signature," said Douglas. "Sometimes they'll say they're missing documents even though the documents were attached."
All of the rejected applications were immediately re-submitted.
Douglas explained that dealerships registered to a government Web site. The site has a checklist of criteria the trade-in and new car must meet.
The dealer then must provide information such as proof of insurance, title, registration and certificate of origin of the new car.
The process of going through the checklist takes a half hour per car, said Douglas.
Douglas also said there is a hotline number for dealers to call, but it serves more as tech support for the Web site and to give general information about the program. Douglas said specific questions concerning specific applications can't be answered through the hotline.
Though the program needed an injection of funds after the initial $1 billion allotted to it ran out, the Department of Transportation released a statement last week stating its confident that there will be enough money to fund the program and rebates through tonight.
