California Re-Introduces Vehicle Retirement Plan

The state of California is returning a program that is geared toward removing many of the older automobiles in the state. The program will allow owners of automobiles who fail the state’s biennial Smog Check, will be able to sell the vehicles to the state for $1,000.

The state has allocated $4.5 million for the program this year, and hopes to get as many as 15,0000 cars in the state removed through the program. The program is expected to see the budget increased to $16.3 million next year.

Another goal is to sustain the retirement of 15,000 vehicles annually over the next ten years. By 2015, the effort would result in the cumulative elimination of more than 9,000 tons of smog-forming vehicle emissions.