Auto Trader calls for scrappage extension
01 September 2009
Auto Trader is calling for an extension of the government's 'cash for bangers' scrappage scheme.
As of 23 August, a total of 185,273 new car orders have been taken since the scheme began.
This could see the £300 million government funding dry up by Monday November 9 - almost four months earlier than the scheduled end date.
The scheme - first announced in the 2009 Budget - is available to the first 300,000 eligible buyers or until February 28, 2010, whichever is sooner.
It offers buyers £2,000 towards the price of a new car in exchange for a vehicle over ten years old.
View some of the cars scrapped so far:
Could you scrap your car for £2,000? Find out on Auto Trader’s scrappage site
Auto Trader marketing director Matt Thompson said: "The scrappage incentive scheme has made it easier for thousands of drivers buy a new car - and we'd like to help that continue.
"If the government view the scheme by itself, then of course they will pull out.
"But if they step back and take a more strategic overview, the scrappage scheme is vital for achieving the long-term goal of lowering CO2 emissions."
"If a joint policy emerges to motorists, we'd like to play a strategic role in that.
"We talk to more dealers and drivers than anyone else, so we're the right people to do it."
"Buying a new car is also a huge and thorough purchase, with many considerations to make including size, running costs and performance.
"Auto Trader is an extraordinary place to enable drivers to do this and our new car search has the most new and nearly new cars online."
Some car makers are also asking for an extension of the scheme, including Toyota, Kia and Hyundai.
Should the scheme be extended? Have your say on the Auto Trader Blog
RSS