NADA, NHTSA Share CARS Advice for Dealers

July 22, 2009

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McLEAN, Va. — With Cash for Clunkers guidelines expected to be rolled out Friday, the National Auto Dealers Association and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced they are teaming up to assist dealers in taking advantage of this offering.

An NADA/NHTSA Webinar on the Cash Allowance Rebate System will be held Monday from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. (EST).

The presenters — Daniel Smith, NHTSA associate administrator for enforcement; and Michael Harrington, NADA chief legislative counsel; along with Douglas Greenhaus, NADA director of environment, health and safety; and Scott Addison, of Fitzgerald Auto Malls — will go over details of CARS and recommend compliance strategies.

The first part of the online seminar was designed to provide an overview of the program and to field questions from dealers. That Webinar was held earlier this month. The second part will focus on the information dealers need to participate in "clunkers" transactions.

The special rate of $199 includes both parts of the seminar, and those who participated in the first seminar (or purchased the archive) will automatically be e-mailed information about the second seminar.

Those who register for the second seminar will receive login instructions as well as a link to the archive of the first part, which they can view and hear in its entirety. For more information, visit www.nada.org/seminars or call (800) 252-6232, ext. 2.

Furthermore, NHTSA has added a dealer support section on its CARS Web site, where it addresses issues, questions and concerns about the program.

"It's the only approved gateway for dealer participation in the CARS program," officials explained. "Dealer registration will begin through this Web site on Friday, July 24, while transactions must wait until Monday, July 27."

On Friday, NHTSA began sending out letter to all new-car dealers for each franchise they operate letting them know of their eligibility to register and participate.

Dealers who do not receive a notice by Friday should immediately contact the CARS Hotline at (888) 327-4236.