“Cash for Clunkers” program a local success

By Nicole Hayes
news@kykernel.com

Local car dealerships saw a significant boost in business from the government’s “Cash for Clunkers” program, which ended Monday.

“It was a blessing,” said Keith Purdon, general sales manager for Freedom Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Lexington. “It turned our business around completely.”

Other participating dealerships also found that the program increased business.

Gary Settles, new Ford sales manager of Paul Miller Ford in Lexington, said his business increased one hundred fold.

“Ninety percent of the people coming through the door have a clunker,” Settles said. “It’s been a phenomenal program.”

People with the money and credit to buy a car have used this program, Purdon said.

Settles has seen customers both young and old participating in the “Cash for Clunkers” rebate program.

As of last Thursday, the Car Allowance Rebate System, or CARS, recorded more than 457,000 transactions worth $1.9 billion in rebates, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said ending the program on Monday would allow car dealers and buyers time to finalize purchases and submit applications for rebates from the remainder of the $3 billion provided by Congress.

The only issue dealerships have expressed is being reimbursed by the government.

“We’ve got a lot of money out there that we haven’t gotten,” Purdon said.

The Department of Transportation said at least 1,100 public and private sector employees were reviewing CARS transactions at the end of last week so they could be approved and dealers can be paid in a timely manner.

Some students remain optimistic the government will stay true.

“I think the government will reimburse them,” said nursing senior Natalie Lokits. “I don’t think they quite planned out as well as they should have.

“It may take some time.”