The money is only good towards a trade. The dealers arent handing out cash.
They have to destroy the engine and tranny but the rest of the car can be parted out at the junkyard. I read an article in the paper about it a few days ago. They pour some chemicals into the engine to ruin it.
To me this program is a stupid waste of money but it wouldve been nice back in '05 when I traded in my '96 Blazer for a new Elantra. I probably wouldve gotten $4500 instead of $2000.