Cash for Clunkers Rebate Eligible Vehicles List by Edmunds

A federal plan designed to boost sales of automobiles with better gas mileage is getting closer to passing Congress, despite its uneven provisions for improving fuel efficiency. The Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save and Act (CARS) will provide consumers with vouchers ranging from $3,500 to $4,500 for trading in their old vehicles for new cars or trucks that offer higher miles-per-gallon ratings. Based on data contained in the bill that passed the House of Representatives, Edmunds.com compiled a list of vehicles that would be eligible for the so-called “Cash for Clunkers” program.

According to Edmunds, owners of passenger cars or minivans that get 18 mpg or less could receive a $3,500 rebate for buying new cars or minivans with 22 mpg, and $4,500 for those with 28 mpg or higher. But owners of light-duty trucks would only have to purchase new trucks that get 20 mpg to receive the $3,500 voucher, and the threshold for large light-duty trucks is only 1 mpg over trade-ins that currently get 15 mpg.

Lawmakers hope CARS, which has passed in the Hoouse of Representatives and is currently being considered by the U.S. Senate, will prompt 500,000 to 1 million new auto sales. Edmunds experts, though, believe the plan will be lucky if it yields even half a million new sales. “A program intended to stimulate new car sales should target people in the market for a car, but the program does not,” says Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl. “The only people who qualify are those willing to take no more than $4,500 for their current car and immediately buy a new one — quite a narrow profile.”

This following list is based on the requirements set forth in the most recent version of the “Cash for Clunkers” bill and was compiled on June 11, 2009.

We compiled this list by searching the Edmunds.com vehicle database for models that have an average fuel economy of 18 mpg or less and for which at least one of the styles of that vehicle has a current average national trade‐in True Market Value® price (assuming clean vehicle condition and average mileage) of $4,500 or less. Accordingly, it is possible that some styles of a model may have a value higher than $4,500, and that the value of a particular vehicle may be higher because it is in exceptional condition or has very low mileage.

Please note that almost all vehicles that are model year 1989 or earlier have a trade in value of less than $4,500, and for that reason we have not included them on this list. Exceptions include vehicles that had limited production runs, such as the 1984‐86 Buick Regal T Type Turbo, the 1985‐89 BMW 6 Series 635CSi, and the 1987‐89 Porsche 911 Carrera – as well as most collector and exotic vehicles.
List of Vehicles Eligible for the Cash for Clunkers Rebate (Edmunds) (PDF)