MONROE - The federal "cash for clunkers," or CARS, program is not having a big effect on salvage yards or used auto parts businesses in the area, as in some parts of the country.
"Not in the least," said Steve Hooper of Hoops Garage and Salvage in Juda. "Maybe down the road it may help."
Hooper has been in business for 27 years.
"I've been selling used car parts my whole life," he said.
Sheila Fry, scale master at Behr Green County Salvage in Monroe, said about six "clunkers" have been turned in under the government program to get inefficient vehicles off the road.
Salvage dealers had to sign up under the program to get the cars from auto dealers and have 180 days to dispose of them, Fry said.
Auto dealers must freeze up the motors, but Behr's drains the fluids and removes the batteries before crushing and selling the rest of the car for scrap.
Used auto parts dealers may remove pieces they want to keep, and destroy the remaining, Fry said.
Scott Watkins, at Watkins James Auto Salvage in Belleville, said his business didn't even get involved because they had little interest.
"They ruin the engine, so you can't resell that. We get enough vehicles in the surrounding area. We stay busy enough with them," he said.
Watkins also was leery of the government's involvement, saying anything the government gets into is "a mess."
Dale Amundson, owner of Murray's Auto Salvage in Brodhead since 1991, said it still is too early to estimate how the program will work for him.
"It might be good," he said.
Amundson said he is getting his cars from dealers, but not through the "clunkers" program.
"I guess you could take the starter and alternator off. But the rest I would be too afraid to use," he said. "The stuff they put in them to freeze them up, you couldn't use anything else off them. You wouldn't know if that stuff would cause problems later on."
Besides the transmission, the rest of the vehicle goes to the shredder.
Business has been slow in the past couple weeks, which Amundson attributes to people taking their junkers to the dealers for trade.
"There's a lot going in, so I've heard," he said.
Hooper said vehicles from certain years being turned into the program could make getting used parts harder in the future.
"But a lot are not qualifying," he said. "And a lot of people never buy a new car."
What has been affecting his business is the number of people losing their jobs.
Sales have dropped and the number of people coming in has dropped by half what it was in October 2008, when the recession hit, he said.
"If you don't have a job, you don't need to fix your car," Hooper said.
"Not in the least," said Steve Hooper of Hoops Garage and Salvage in Juda. "Maybe down the road it may help."
Hooper has been in business for 27 years.
"I've been selling used car parts my whole life," he said.
Sheila Fry, scale master at Behr Green County Salvage in Monroe, said about six "clunkers" have been turned in under the government program to get inefficient vehicles off the road.
Salvage dealers had to sign up under the program to get the cars from auto dealers and have 180 days to dispose of them, Fry said.
Auto dealers must freeze up the motors, but Behr's drains the fluids and removes the batteries before crushing and selling the rest of the car for scrap.
Used auto parts dealers may remove pieces they want to keep, and destroy the remaining, Fry said.
Scott Watkins, at Watkins James Auto Salvage in Belleville, said his business didn't even get involved because they had little interest.
"They ruin the engine, so you can't resell that. We get enough vehicles in the surrounding area. We stay busy enough with them," he said.
Watkins also was leery of the government's involvement, saying anything the government gets into is "a mess."
Dale Amundson, owner of Murray's Auto Salvage in Brodhead since 1991, said it still is too early to estimate how the program will work for him.
"It might be good," he said.
Amundson said he is getting his cars from dealers, but not through the "clunkers" program.
"I guess you could take the starter and alternator off. But the rest I would be too afraid to use," he said. "The stuff they put in them to freeze them up, you couldn't use anything else off them. You wouldn't know if that stuff would cause problems later on."
Besides the transmission, the rest of the vehicle goes to the shredder.
Business has been slow in the past couple weeks, which Amundson attributes to people taking their junkers to the dealers for trade.
"There's a lot going in, so I've heard," he said.
Hooper said vehicles from certain years being turned into the program could make getting used parts harder in the future.
"But a lot are not qualifying," he said. "And a lot of people never buy a new car."
What has been affecting his business is the number of people losing their jobs.
Sales have dropped and the number of people coming in has dropped by half what it was in October 2008, when the recession hit, he said.
"If you don't have a job, you don't need to fix your car," Hooper said.