Edmunds.com sponsored online seminar w/ panel of experts

Topic was Cars Allowance Rebate System (CARS) or Cash for Clunkers

Experts say annual selling rate could exceed 10M units w/ CARS

Dealers already reacting positively, getting early consumer response

Many say CARS sales are conquest sales

Dealers responsible for scrapping trade-ins under program

Dealers address consumer confusion over MPG requirements

Window-sticker not always same as new EPA standards used in program

Not all trade-ins qualify, so dealers should be prepared to offer alternative

Also be prepared to promote values, benefits of moving to smaller vehicle

Dealers need to be aware of money left in CARS fund for reimbursement

"As dealers, you're responsible for the transportation of the trade-in to whatever entity disposes of the vehicle. You have to provide a good-faith estimate on the scrap value (to the consumer). $50 of that scrap value goes to you as dealers for the administrative costs of providing the transfer and storing the vehicle if necessary." -- Jessica Caldwell, manager of pricing and industry analysis, Edmunds.com

"You have people that remember what their window sticker said is the fuel economy of their vehicle, but the new estimated mpg is what is going to be standard for the program. So you really want to check www.fuelecomony.gov." -- Caldwell

"You need to be aware of this and may need to make some modifications to help these people that come in with non-qualifying vehicles. What you can do is cut deals based on the non-qualifying vehicles where you can come up with a program to satisfy what this customer was coming in for." -- John Giamalvo, director of strategic marketing, Edmunds.com

"We predict that the annualized selling rate for July will exceed 10 million vehicles for the first time this year due to the government program bringing dormant consumers back into the market. We think August could do even better with a million or more sales due to increased demand from the CARS program." -- Sharon O'Connell, cashforclunkersinformation.org