| Recent changes in the economy have affected | | | | country had the opportunity to work with car dealers |
| businesses across all industries worldwide. In North | | | | to buy cash for clunker cars for scrap metal. The |
| America people have had to adapt in many ways. As | | | | total number of vehicles traded in topped off at |
| the economy soured, many Americans started to cut | | | | 680,000. The majority of these vehicles ultimately |
| back on their spending. This caused the housing and | | | | landed at an auto wrecker. |
| automotive markets to take one of the hardest hits | | | | Although the program was a success among auto |
| of all. In response to the drastic slump of the | | | | dealers, it posed a unique challenge for auto salvage |
| automotive market, the government decided to | | | | yards. Most yards were not prepared for the vast |
| launch the cash for clunker program. Some viewed | | | | number of cars that needed to be picked up and |
| this as wildly successful while others viewed it as a | | | | disposed of. Towing companies, car dealers, and auto |
| complete failure. Regardless of these opinions, the | | | | salvage yards all worked together to meet |
| program had a "trickle down" affect that the | | | | government deadlines and pick up and dispose of the |
| majority of people aren't aware of. | | | | clunker cars efficiently. |
| The cash for clunkers program was initiated to | | | | The benefits that were largely unseen by your |
| stimulate the U.S. economy and automotive dealers | | | | average consumers were the infusion of available late |
| and manufacturers while aiding the environment. The | | | | model used car parts and volume of scrap metal. |
| program worked as follows: consumers could bring in | | | | These two things stimulated business for junk yards |
| their old vehicles and receive a voucher toward a | | | | all over the country. Some of these outcomes were |
| new more fuel efficient car. | | | | also somewhat paradoxical by the mere fact that so |
| Car dealers were required to disable all of the trade | | | | many late model cars were taken off the street, |
| in vehicle's engines and the vehicles had to be | | | | while all the parts off of the cars were made readily |
| disposed of to a NHTSA approved disposal facility. | | | | available to car owners who didn't trade their cars in |
| This means that the facility must hold an automotive | | | | during the cash for clunkers program. |
| salvage dealer license. Auto salvage yards all over the | | | | |