Dealers' clunkers filing deadline extended

The Transportation Department has extended the cash-for-clunkers filing deadline again, to 8 p.m. EDT tonight after reporting that its computer system for dealers "has been fully operational overnight."

In an e-mail to the National Automobile Dealers Association that was confirmed by Transportation spokeswoman Jill Zuckman, the Obama administration said, "The system will be closed to new submissions" after 8 p.m.

It was the second deadline extension since last Thursday because of Transportation's computer outages.

The original deadline of Monday at 8 p.m. EDT was extended to today, Aug. 25, at noon because of blockages stemming from government efforts to increase computer capacity.

Zuckman said last night that today's noon deadline would be extended again because of high user volume. At the time, she didn't specify a new deadline.

Dealer claims are expected to spike today, the last day of the popular program.

Transportation warned today that dealers may still experience delays in accessing the system at peak times because of high volume.

"If this occurs, dealers are requested to try again in 30 minutes," the e-mail said.

Despite Transportation's assurances, dealer Peter Fetz of Rockaway, N.J., said today, "As of this morning, I cannot log in to the CARS Web site. It is telling me my log-in information is incorrect or my account is locked."

Zuckman did not immediately respond to a question asking when Transportation computers became ""fully operational."

As of yesterday morning, dealers had entered 635,186 transactions seeking $2.65 billion in reimbursement.

If dealer claims top the $3 billion limit set by Congress, the administration may have to go back to Congress for more money. Congress is in recess until after Labor Day.

NADA had been seeking another extension because of the blockages of dealer access to the system.

"We're pleased that Transportation has responded," NADA spokesman Bailey Wood said. "We hope that any further computer problems will be dealt with in a similar manner."

By Neil Roland- Automotive News