Believe it or not, the long-awaited (and debated) Cash for Clunkers program (a.k.a. CAR Allowance Rebate System [CARS]) is here—while the money lasts. Under the cash for clunkers program, the government will give you a voucher for up to $4,500 for qualifying used vehicles that can be used to purchase a new car. It’s a great deal if you can get it. First, your car must qualify. Second, you’ll have to get your act together before November 1, 2009 or the $1 billion allotted for the program runs out, which some analysts forecast could be by the end of August! [...]

My father drives an old Lincoln town car that has over 300,000 miles on it. That’s right, 300,000. Not only does he drive it, but he commutes over 90 miles each way in it, every day. Everybody who knows him thinks he should have gotten a new car oh, about 100,000 miles ago. But my dad is fanatically frugal and, perhaps more importantly, he simply likes his car. He’s determined to drive that old Lincoln until it simply doesn’t want to drive anymore. Unless the so-called “cash-for-clunkers” bill becomes law. The bill (which the House passed it today) could offer drivers like my dad up to $4,500 towards a new, more fuel-efficient ride. What’s the cash-for-clunkers bill all about? And could you benefit? [...]

It’s best to buy a car with cash—but not everybody has saved up thousands of dollars when the need for new transportation strikes. Although car shoppers have several options for financing a new or used car, including many online lenders, buyers with good credit may want to consider another option available to them—a peer-to-peer personal loan of up to $25,000 like those available from Lending Club. [...]

Earlier this week I wrote about the importance of bodily injury liability coverage, arguably the most important part of your auto insurance coverage. But what about all the other auto insurance coverage types? What do you need to load up on? And which can you skip? [...]

Here’s an interesting tidbit about auto insurance many people don’t know: bodily injury liability coverage is the most important type of car insurance to have and, often, the least expensive. How much liability coverage is enough, and how can you tell? [...]

There is a bright side to all of this economic doom and gloom going around. If you’re poised to buy a home—or even a car—in the next few months, you’re going to get quite a deal. [...]

Even as the price of gas keeps dropping, fuel economy is still on a lot of people’s minds, and it’s certainly a selling point for auto manufacturers. Is it something you’re thinking about? [...]

Few parts of your car are as important to safety, comfort, and fuel economy as your tires, which should be replaced approximately every 50,000 miles, 5 years, or when they begin to show excessive wear. But with new tires running between $60-$200 each plus installation, replacing four tires can give your wallet a serious whack. To save yourself some dough on tires, follow these tips. [...]

Buying a car with cash is stressful enough; finding the right auto loan is even harder. In my car shopping tips from an ex-car salesman, I recommend getting a pre-approved car loan online before heading to the dealership (even with bad credit). Here’s how, plus reviews of online car loan sites. [...]

On Forbes.com Monday, Charles Biderman of Trim Tabs Investment Services says that if things don’t change, escalating oil prices will topple the U.S. economy. [...]