KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana |Cash for clunkers

Cash for clunkers

By Evan Johnson - bio | email

LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) - Like most people, Sue and Kit Kittrell are tired of the high gas prices and are looking for a more fuel efficient vehicle.

They say, "We have been wanting to get a small, economical car to run about town in and this made good sense to us."

It seems they picked the perfect time to find the perfect car.  President Obama signed into law a federal program known as the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS).  The program, also called Cash for Clunkers, encourages consumers to trade in older, less fuel-efficient vehicles for new vehicles that get better fuel economy.  The goal of the governmental program is to help stimulate the economy.

Billy Navarre, Owner of Billy Navarre Chevrolet, says, "It stimulates the automotive industry and the automotive industry of America creates a lot of jobs. And taxpayers, that takes care of teachers salaries and it runs our country."

But the country as a whole isn't the only beneficiary, individual car owners benefit as well.

Owner of Nissan of Lake Charles John Stelly says, "Just say for instance, if you have a vehicle that gets 18 miles to the gallon or less the government may give you $4,500 and you want to buy a Nissan Versa, which gets 40 miles to the gallon.  You have $4,500 and a $2,500 rebate.  You have $7,000 taken off of the price."

That kind of incentive is exactly what drove the Kittrells to purchase a new vehicle.

They say, "We wouldn't have been considering it at this point in our lives, but we decided to take advantage of it now while the opportunity's available."

Although the final details of the Cash for Clunkers program are still being hashed out, it's said to begin July 23^rd and end November 1^st.

Click here for more information about the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS).

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