New Jersey car dealers were smiling this evening at 8:15 pm when the Senate finally approved an additional $2 billion in funding for the Cash for Clunkers program.  The additional monies will keep car dealer showrooms in New Jersey filled potential buyers.

The CARS funding passed by a 60-37 vote but it had to overcome many attempts to kill the measure by adding amendments to the bill.

New Jersey consumers are encouraged to get out of shop for a new car as soon as possible. Dealers  in the Garden State have been blessed with heavy floor traffic and interest in the CARS program but the money will not last forever.

New Jersey Cash For Clunkers Checklist

New Jersey consumers are reminded to prepare for the CARS program requirements BEFORE going to a local car dealer.  Here are some steps that can save you time and aggravation.

1. Download the New Jersey Cash For Clunkers Checklist
2. Using this checklist, go to www.cars.gov and qualify your clunker.
3. Understand that if you don’t qualify, your local dealer cannot change the rules.
4. Review all factory rebates that may be added to your CARS credit. Check our list
5. Negoitate your best deal and keep in mind that you may not be able to drive away with your new car untill all your paperwork is approved by the government.

New Jersey Cash For Clunkers Dealers

New Jersey residents who would like a local dealer to contact them about their Cash for Clunkers reade-in should request a call by going to: www.cashforclunkersfacts.com and completing the dealer contact form.  A participating CARS dealer in New Jersey will contact you and help you with your questions and new car purchase.

Senate Coverage of CARS Vote on C-SPAN

Senator Richard Shelby says the Cash for Clunkers program is a “clunker”. He claims that many clunkers that were traded in would have been traded in normally without any stimulus needed.		Senator Johnny Isakson is an advocate for a Home Buyer Tax Credit plan to help stimulate the housing and real estate industry. Refers to Cash for Clunkers as a successful program and wants a similar plan for housing.
Senator Debbie Stabenow encouraged the Senate to continue the stimulus bill saying it is a tangible program that consumers can see and feel. She calls the bill a winner. She also asks that no ammendments be adopted which would derail the bill since House is out of session.		Senator Carl Levin urged the Senate not to add any ammendments to the House Bill which would put the death spike in the heart of the Cash for Clunkers Bill. He pointed out that many good amendements would have to be considered when the Senate returns in September.
Senator Jon Kyl wanted to introduce an amendment that would put the CARS program on hold to review spending and make sure deals that were submitted get paid. If the amendment was approved the CARS funding bill would be killed.		Senator Judd Greg claims that his amendment would make sure that the $2 billion in CARS funding debt is not passed to our children. If the Gregg amendment was approved the CARS $2 billion funding bill would have been killed for immediate future.
Senator Tom Coburn’s amendment proposed to give the clunkers to the poor and not to crush them. If his amendment was approved it would have killed the Cash for Clunkers spending bill since the amendment would require a House vote.		Senator David Vitter proposed an amendment on the TARP program which has nothing to do with the CARS program but any new amendments introduced today would kill the Cash for Clunkers funding measure.