Government unlikely to buy old auto

Dear Terry,
I heard on the news about a program to "sell" cars 10 years and older to the government and get $3,000 toward a new car. Is this true or a myth? And if it's true, how do we go about it? My niece is in need of this service.
-- Renee

Dear Renee,
I have never heard of such a program. The closest I can recall is that some areas of California once were offering tax credits for people who junked old, smog-producing cars and bought cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles. If you live in California, I'd check with the state Air Resources Board to see if any such programs are still available.