Update: The program ended in December 2010

‘Cash for Clunkers’ Appliance rebates started in California on April 22, 2010.  Many states ran out of money on the first day, but as of May 13, 2010 only $5.8 million of rebates had been used. ONLY $0.79 million remains as of December 16,2010.

California is offering rebate on fewer appliances than other states.  The energy efficiency standards are  higher and the old appliance needs to be recycled. Additionally, many appliances are on backorder because other states have depleted inventories earlier in the year.

Energy Star website has links for each State’s program as each state is different.

In California, we had $35 million total California Appliance Rebate started on April, 22 2010 covering:

• Refrigerators
• Clothes washers
• Room air conditioners

Three residential appliance categories were selected to be eligible to receive rebates: clothes washers (rebate $100), refrigerators (rebate $75), and room/window air conditioners (rebate $50). FAQ link. These rebates are in addition to existing rebates offered by California’s utilities or appliance manufacturers

The rebate funds are estimated to last six weeks, so start shopping now. Be sure to recycle your old appliances, as it is required in California. You need to send in the mail and claim form as quickly as possible to ensure you get your rebate.

Some states ran out of rebate money in a matter of days.

President Obama signed into law a program NHTSA is calling the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS). This is a government program that helps you purchase a new, more fuel efficient vehicle when you trade in a less fuel efficient vehicle aka Cash for clunkers.

Your clunker must be less than 25 years old on the trade-in date and must be drivable. The credit is $3,500 or $4,500. It must be continuously insured and registered to the same owner for the full year preceding the trade-in. Do not wait as there is a fixed pool of credit money.

Bonus! Autonation is giving an extra $100 for every mile per gallon improvement.

Cash for Clunkers is currently slated to run out of funding on Monday, August 24, 2009, so hurry.

The program was extremely popular, but has now EXPIRED.