JULY 28, 2009

Residents can request vehicle record at any branch office

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land is making it easier for residents to participate in the federal "Cash for Clunkers" program by offering them a new, convenient way to obtain the registration history of their current vehicles.

To qualify for a trade-in discount, consumers must provide participating new-car dealers with documentation that a vehicle has been continuously insured and registered to the same owner for at least one year prior to trade-in. Under Land's new initiative, customers can request their own vehicle's registration record at any branch office. Simply show your driver's license, provide the license plate or vehicle identification number, pay a nominal $7 fee and walk out with the record in hand.

"Many people don't keep copies of the previous year's vehicle registration, which is understandable," Land said. "So we want to help them out by making the records easy to obtain at all branch offices. We're doing our part to help consumers and the economy. It's all part of our never-ending drive to make our customers' lives more convenient."

Cash for Clunkers is the popular name given to the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It is designed to stimulate car sales and get less fuel-efficient vehicles off the road.

Under the program, consumers work directly with participating new-car dealers, who will apply a credit to the price of the vehicle being purchased or leased if the trade-in vehicle meets the requirements. The government then reimburses the dealer.

Transactions on or after July 1 potentially are eligible for credits under CARS. The program ends Nov. 1, 2009.

The Michigan Automobile Dealers Association is at the forefront in providing program information to its members and their customers.

"We are very pleased that the Secretary of State has implemented this new option for customers who want immediate access to their vehicle's registration history," said MADA's Terry Burns. "The CARS program has gained a huge amount of consumer interest and dealers are anxious to begin offering the rebate to owners of qualified vehicles. We appreciate the quick response from the Secretary of State to expand their options so more consumers can take advantage of this rebate program."

Customers in immediate need of their vehicle's registration history are encouraged to visit their local branch office where they can obtain same-day service. While all branch offices accept cash and checks, PLUS offices and SUPER!Centers also accept Discover and MasterCard.

Please note that vehicle history information is also available by mail, fax and telephone request with a turnaround of seven to 10 business days. Customers must provide their license plate number or vehicle identification number when requesting a vehicle record using any of these options.

• For mail or fax service, just fill out and submit the record request form at www.Michigan.gov/sos. Keep in mind the following when selecting an option: Payment must be made with Discover, Visa or MasterCard. You will need to indicate "Cash for Clunkers" on Section 6 of the form and how you prefer to receive your record -- by mail or by fax. Completed forms may be faxed to (517) 322-1181.
• For telephone requests call (517) 322-1624. Records requested by phone can only be mailed to the vehicle registration address on file. If immediate access to vehicle history information is necessary, the record request must be made in person at a branch office.

Visit www.cars.gov for more information about Cash for Clunkers and to determine your eligibility. Additional information on vehicle registration, record requests and branch office locations can be found at www.Michigan.gov/sos.