Cash for Clunkers does not benefit me

According to the dictionary.com, "clunker" means something worthless. But it also stated that "Klunker" means an old, worn out vehicle or machine, esp a car.

The US government came up with a program name "Car Allowance Rebate System" to boost up sales for the auto industry, therefor boost up the economy in the States. A very popular program that launched last Friday, July 24, the government willing to pay $1 billion dollars for car consumers to trade in their old vehicles for new vehicles. Consumers can receive between $3,500 to $4,500 depend on the mpg differences between the old vehicle and the new vehicles.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take advantage from this program as I am driving a gas saving (22 city/27 hwy) mpg 1997 Toyota Corolla. My husband thought he could trade in his nephew 1990 Toyota pickup truck for a new car, but we ran into several problems. First of all, the car does not own by me, insured by me or even registered by me. Then we found out that the car title is actually under my sister in law (my husband sister) name,, so how can I pay for the insurance and not actually bother my sister in law into this. Second of all, we then found out that his nephew car get overheated easily after running for a block.

To solve the first problem, we thought of co-owning the new car with my sister in law, then I can buy the insurance for the car under my name. Then we thought to tow the truck to a near by parking lot or plaza by the car dealer and have the truck run less than a block to prevent it get overheated.

With all the problem solved, I went to the Toyota car dealer to look for my new car that I wanted- 2010 Toyota Corolla S. We test drove the car and the salesman explained the features between the 2009 and the 2010. Then we went inside of the building to start talking about the price. Out of all problems that we never thought of when we asked one question from the salesman. My sister in law also wanted to trade in her white van for her son to get this benefit as well and the title of the white van is owned by my sister in law and her husband . So the question is can a person who has name on two titles can apply for two trades?

No, as soon as she apply for one of her vehicles for the program, she will automatically be disqualify for the second vehicle. This program is very limited that does not benefit many people. How if a couple co-own two cars? They can only trade in one car.

On the other hand, the funds still ran out with all the limited requirements within a week. I believe it is a record of speed selling. How many of the applicants can actually qualify for the program? It is possible for some of the car salesmen sell as much vehicle as possible to meet their status quote for the week even they don't care if their customers really getting the benefit from the program by selling with false information.

Well, many problems are raised, and I have no answer for them as I am not an expert for this. I hope that the government can continue with the program and benefit more people with looser restrictions.

Requirement:
The working vehicle made before 1984 that can runs under 18 mpg.
- own by you continuously for the pass 12 months.
- insured by you continuously for the pass 12 months.
- registered by you continuously for the pass 12 months.

* Any of the above requirements cannot even have a day without insurance in between, no late registration.

According to Yahoo Finance News, estimate of $96 billions is used by Wednesday July 29. But my nephew went to the car dealer found out that those funds are no longer available today (July 30, 2009).

For details about the program, please visit www.cars.gov.
To check if your old vehicle qualify for the trade? Please visit www.fueleconomy.gov.

Reference:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/AP-sources-Govt-to-suspend-apf-3529110957.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode=