By now I’m sure we all know about the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), or as it as been not-so-affectionately dubbed, "Cash for Clunkers".  But how many of you are pumping it up in your marketing and advertising campaigns?  If your answer is not much, it might be time to rethink that strategy.

Though none of us can say if the program will work from an environmental standpoint, it can be a real boon for dealer advertising.  According to recent market research, three out of every four new car buyers now have the CARS program on their radar.  More over, numbers as high as 25% are being thrown out there as the percentage of consumers who are interested in participating in the program.

Consumer advocates are beginning to advise that now is the right time to buy a car , largely due to the CARS program, along with other tax incentives passed back in March.

So if you’re a dealership that is participating in the ‘ol "Cash for Clunkers" program, and you haven’t been making it a focal point of your advertising/marketing, now is the time.  Consumer interest is high, participant interest is high and the program only lasts until November (or until funds run out, which could be anytime soon).

What are you waiting on?