As just reported on Fox news as well:
WASHINGTON - Auto dealers will get more time to submit their Cash for Clunkers deals to the government for repayment after the Department of Transportation extended the deadline for filing claims.

Dealers will now have until noon Tuesday to file the paperwork they need to get repaid for the Cash for Clunkers credits of up to $4,500.

The Transportation Department says the extension is due to an overwhelming demand on the computer system set up to handle the claims. The Web site was shut down temporarily Monday afternoon because of the overload.

The deadline of 8 p.m. EDT Monday still stands for the end of all Cash for Clunkers sales.

yeah, sometimes, also, that they are expanding the bandwidth and to try back later.

Let's hope they get the system up and running by then... I have three to submit and keep getting the message "the application is not available.... " Anyone experiencing this also?

great news, Deb!!! I wonder if it's true..

Automotive news just sent out that they've extended the deadline to noon on Tuesday due to "hours of computer problems hamper deadline filings"

wonder if they'll extend the time....

We've loaded a few... very, VERY slow.

i almost got one, but it crashed again.

I just got in...and actually finished one deal. I've been trying for hours also.

SUPER COOL!!

it was up for a few moments then crashed again.

I've been unable to log on for 3 1/2 hours. has anyone had any luck??

I was in the same situation in July. We waited over two weeks. You should call the dealer and tell them that you want to schedule a pick up date today OR you will be calling the hotline number immediately. He is sure to have more than your deal to lose and there are fines he could incur.

My dealer scheduled our pick up within 30 minutes of my call to him. We picked up our car mid-August

hi liz,
this is from the CARS website:
IF THE DEALER HAS THE NEW CAR IN STOCK, THE DEALER MUST ALLOW YOU TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THE NEW CAR BEFORE THE DEALER MAY SUBMIT THE CREDIT APPLICATION TO THE GOVERNMENT. PLEASE REPORT ANY DEALER TO NHTSA THAT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO TAKE POSSESSION OF A NEW CAR PURCHASED UNDER THE CARS PROGRAM. PLEASE CALL THE CARS HOTLINE AT (866)-CAR-7891.

The dealer says that I should take my trade-in car home after I sign the purchase agreement for a new car under the CARS program, and that I can pick up my new car after the dealer is paid by the government. Can I do this?

NO. The dealer must take title to and possession of your trade-in vehicle in order to submit a credit for reimbursement under the CARS program. You may not keep possession of your old car.
You have rights under the program. If the dealer is registered, they are supposed to play by the rules. I would suggest letting the dealr know (nicely) that you know your rights, and the rules, and suggest to them that all the other people waiting for their cars know the law too. Let them know that you are bringing your clunker back in and taking your car home so the dealer doesn't get into trouble.

JEFF,
THATS EXACTLY WHAT MY FATHER TOLD THEM WHEN WE WENT DOWN TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE GUY WHO IS DOIGN THE PAPERWORK ON THE CASH FOR CLUNKER DEALS TOLD US THAT IT REALLY IS UP TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE PAYING MONTHLY ON THERE INVENTORY THAT THEY WOULD BE LOSING ALOT OF MONEY IF THEY LET THE CARS GO AND THEN THEY COME BACK REJECTED. AND EVERYTIME I CALL THEY ALWAYS SAY THEY HAVENT GOTTEN ANY REFUNDS BACK YET BUT EVEYTIME I PASS BY THE DEALERSHIP THERE ARE MORE AND MORE CARS GONE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

liz
the dealer is required to let you take possession of your new vehicle. they cannot send you home without it. if you signed all of your paperwork and you are positive you meet the requirements they have to give you your vehicle.
also, if they sent you home in your "clunker", they are in violation of the rules of the program and you can report them. they have to have the "clunker" in their possession before thay can submit the application.

I WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ON SUN. AUG 2ND TO TRADE IN MY 1994 FORD EXPLORER UNDER THE CARS PROGRAM. THE DEALERSHIP SUBMITTED ALL MY PAPERWORK ON MON. AUG 3RD AND IM STILL WAITING TO HEAR IF I WAS APPROVED. I HAD MY DAD COME WITH ME TO TALK TO THE DEALER THAT FOLLOWING WEEK TO SEE WHAT WAS TAKING SO LONG AND THEY SAID THERE STILL WAITING. THIS DEALERSHIP ALSO WILL NOT LET YOU LEAVE WITH THE NEW CAR UNTIL YOU ARE APPROVED AND THE REFUND IS AT THE DEALERSHIP. MY FEAR IS THAT I WAIT ALL THIS TIME AND THEY REJECT ME AND I DONT GET THE NEW CAR. I KNOW ALL MY DOCUMENTS THAT I SENT IN WERE ALL SET AND I HAVE NO LAPSE ON ANYTHING. BUT I NEED THIS NEW CAR BEFORE THE SNOW COMES BECAUSE MY 94' FORD EXPLORER WILL NOT BE SAFE TO KEEP DRIVING. LITTLE THINGS ARE STARTING TO BREAK DOWN AND I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND I NEED THEM IN A SAFER CAR. IS THERE ANY OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO ARE STILL WAITING TO GET THERE NEW CAR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.

totally understood, but i'm just stressing the facts. The govt is not holding dealers liable for non-compliant paperwork. and if you didn't sign a sale summary form, you don't have a cars deal anyway. sounds like the dealer will have to take your car in trade for market value or nobody wins.

Yes, I am working closely VERY with my dealer. I am not looking to screw anyone over and am just trying to make sure everyone is happy with the outcome. They did indicate that they were also working with DMV and will supply me a "hotline" number to call. I did not sign any "Summary of Sale and Certification" so it sounds like that is an issue that will prevent them from submitting even if the registration is cleared up! Not good! I guess all of this then becomes a moot point and we will have to work towards a mutually acceptable outcome. Really, the difference between the book value of my trade and the $4,500 isn't THAT much, so the gap is all we will have to agree on handling, I would think. As for FRAUD, there is nothing that I did that would qualify. All documents I supplied were original. I did not sign anything that was not accurate either. The only reason I even checked with a lawyer is to know where I stand IF things get very ugly. It is NOT my intention to use any potential loophole of how this deal transpired to "pull a fast one". I just subscribe to the principal of "hope for the best, plan for the worst". Just like dealers are pointing out that they are not the bad guy, please understand that not all consumers are bad guys either.

amen kp

368 Deals in...1 to go. Waiting for the stupid site to get back up and running so I can submit our last deal and go home.

only two left to do, but no website is frightening...

West Herr Auto Group in Buffalo, stopped taking deals at midnight on Saturday.
Full Staff Sunday and Today, just to register the deals.
Government Site Down again for registration since 11:30am.. No Stress!!!!!

DealerRefresh realizes that a whole lot of consumers (more than the those who are leaving comments here) are finding this thread. We just want to say that you should not be confused by the NHTSA's claim that the program ends at 8:00 PM EST today because that does not mean dealers will be taking your Clunker deal till that time. 8:00 PM EST is the time dealers have to have everything reported in order to make sure you receive your rebate. It takes time to process these transactions and we are already seeing the system crash again. Most dealers ARE NOT accepting anymore deals at this time - be sure to check with yours before visiting.

Within the Checkered Flag Auto Group our mileage varies by store:

BMW, MINI, smart, Jaguar, Audi, Porsche: not accepting anymore.

Hyundai & Volkswagen: only accepting till 2:00 PM EST.

Toyota, Scion, and Honda: accepting till 5:00 PM EST.

can anyone get on the submission site?