We found out today that the EPA, over the weekend, changed the MPG ratings of many cars and trucks sold in the years which would make them eligible for the so-called “clunker program” (vehicles not more than 25 years old).

The result is a hodge-podge of new ratings, but, most importantly, some cars and trucks you thought were on the list are now off — and some of you might have checked last week and saw that your cars were ineligible, but as of this week they are eligible … Washington giveth and taketh away, but much more quickly than in biblical days.

Check the (current) status of your car at www.cars.gov … and if you’re interested in the program and your vehicle is now eligible, get down to a new car dealer fast, before DC steps in again to “help” or “clarify.” If your car or truck was eligible and now is not, write your congressperson … and see if you get a reply before the program ends.

This is very important — Every new car dealer, import or domestic, is participating in the clunker program. There are no “official” or “sanctioned” dealers … ALL new-car dealers can help you with your trade-in and voucher. Some car companies can just afford more advertising than others … hence the confusion, where some car-makers infer their dealers are “clunker specialists,” as if they have more experience or training in dealing with this brand-new program, explained by a 136-page law. The truth is, it’s new to everyone involved, and dealers are handling it as best they can.

The program is funded with only $1 billion and is slated to be in-effect for just four months. That’s not a lot of time, and, especially, not a lot of money. I don’t think there’s much doubt the program will run out of money before it runs out of time. Again — if your car or truck is eligible and you want to participate in the program, don’t wait any longer than you must to get to a new car store and make a deal.

Your trade-in clunker will indeed be crushed; it’s not going to show-up at some wholesale auction (if it does, your dealer will face federal charges; and I’m sure we’ll see one or two cases of this happening). So be sure you want to participate in the program before you go shopping and make a deal. This isn’t a situation where you trade-in your old car for a new one, have problems with or just don’t like the new one, and think you might be able to get your trade-in back from the dealer. Nope … once you trade it in and it’s a clunker, it’s gone, forever.

What’s the bottom line? A pretty good one for customers, meaning a voucher for either $3,500 or $4,500 depending on the year and mileage of your trade-in clunker compared to your new car or truck.

Chrysler seems to be running the most-aggressive, customer-friendly campaign for this program, promising to match the government voucher with their own, equal discount in addition to whatever rebates and discounts were already in-effect for that model. Worth checking out, at the least.

Ford and Toyota are also, not surprisingly, forceful with their clunker program promotions; they both have advertising dollars to spend (heck, Ford even showed a profit this past quarter … not enough to get them out of the hole they’re in, but if things continue in that direction, by the end of 2010 they could be truly profitable and paying a dividend).

Finally, understand that even if your car or truck is an eligible clunker under the latest NHTSA and EPA rulings (and these could change on a daily basis), you won’t get the voucher unless the new car you’re buying is rated as getting a certain MPG above your clunker. So, don’t think trading-in your 1993 high-mileage Honda Civic on a 2009 Cadillac Escalade is going to get you that $3,500 or $4,500 government pay-out. It ain’t.

Be careful, follow the rules, check www.cars.gov before you start new-car shopping, study the advertising and see which dealers are matching the voucher amount or giving other special incentives and go out there and do your best … you’re helping the environment, but most of all, helping the beleaguered auto industry. Trust me … they appreciate your business … more than ever.

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