You may Qualify for up to $3,500 to Replace it; ~ State Rep. Alonzo Urges Motorists to Look Into Program ~
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – (DALLAS, TX) – Is your car or truck 10 years old or older? Or has it failed an emissions test? If so, you may qualify for up to $3,500 to replace it . Texas State Representative Roberto R. Alonzo urges drivers to look into the program. Effective September 1, 2013, some older vehicles may qualify for this state program. Find out more about the program by visiting the website sponsored by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) at: http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/mobilesource/vim/driveclean.html or calling toll-free at (800) 913-3321.
Locally in the DFW region, you may log on to the web video sponsored by the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NTCOG) at www.nctog.org/airchecktexas and learn more details.
AirCheckTexas Drive a Clean Machine is a TCEQ program that removes older, more polluting vehicles from Texas roadways in counties with high ground-level ozone, and Dallas County is among the counties included in the list.
“I urge motorists in the DFW region to look into the program and help remove older, more polluting high ground-level ozone vehicles off our roads. High ground-level ozone remains a serious problem not only in Texas, but all over the United States. The state is willing to offer a financial incentive to help those from low-income families who cannot afford the cost of repairing or replacing older vehicles off the roads. More importantly, it is safe for the environment as well. I urge motorists to look into the program,” said Rep. Alonzo.
“Additionally, while the problem may be more prevalent during the summer months, it continues to be a problem year-round. By repairing or replacing older vehicles, you are also helping the environment by helping reduce the high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as high nitrogen oxides (NOx) levels, and in the end, it helps all of us live in an environmentally and healthier air environment,” continued Rep. Alonzo.
This summer NCTOG put together the web video on the AirCheckTexas Program that answers most of the commonly-asked questions. By visiting the web video at www.nctog.org/airchecktexas it may help you determine if the program could assist you with emissions-related repairs to your vehicle. It answers common questions residents have asked about the program, which has helped North Texans repair or replace more than 57,000 vehicles since 2002.
A motorist who meets the income guidelines and whose vehicle has failed the state emissions test in the past 30 days may receive a voucher worth up to $600 to help cover emissions repairs. The replacement component of the program, which allows qualifying North Texans to receive vouchers worth as much as $3,500 toward newer, cleaner-burning vehicles, has been suspended because of limited funding, but reliable sources tell us the program may resume replacement assistance for a limited period in 2014; however, an exact date has not been determined. Again, to watch the video or learn more about the program, visit www.nctcog.org/airchecktexas. Finally, NCTOG officials tell us that most likely they will have funding in early 2014 for the replacement component of the program. At that time, they can provide even more information that motorists can use.
