Create Your Own ‘Cash For Classics’ Program
August 29th, 2009
OK, so the government and the environmentalists want to get as many old, gas guzzlers off the road as possible. You happen to have your heart set on owning a classic from the 70s in the near future. You fear your make and model just will not be available if you wait too much longer.
What can you do?
If you are ready to buy, you can start an aggressive search right now. By creating your own Cash for Classics program, so to say, you just might be able to entice a seller to take your money today in lieu of dealing with the government paperwork attached to the rebate.
To get the ball rolling, consider following these steps:
- Research your make and model – Before diving into a hunt for your car, make sure you understand the make and model you are after. You need to be able to recognize a good purchase or at least have a classic mechanic or evaluator lined up to do the job for you.
- Understand the value – To turn someone away from the Cash for Clunkers rebate in favor of historic preservation, you will want to know how much is a fair price to offer for the vehicle. If a seller can get $6,000 from you (and it is a fair price), they will be more apt to take your money than the government rebate, which is less.
- Line up your cash – The rebate applies right away for sellers, so make sure you have financing in place before you look.
- Start the search – Once you have your homework done, start advertising what you are looking for. Try local newspapers, car clubs and even online sites that cater to the classic car industry.
Cash for Clunkers has its definite perks, but it can hurt your ability to buy the vehicle of your dreams. This does not have to be the case if you launch your own Cash for Classics program.
|