Reading fine print gets man $200 more for clunker

EUGENE, Ore - In addition to the $4,500 discount that lots of Americans got in the "Cash for Clunkers" program, some are also getting a bonus check. 

Fred Miller in Eugene traded in his van for a Toyota Corolla at Kendall Toyota in Eugene, Ore.

"We got a very nice car," he said. "My wife likes it."

Recently, Miller went through some paperwork and read the fine print. Turns out, dealerships get scrap money for a car that's traded in. Where does that money go?

"It indicates the dealer negotiates for a salvage value for our old van and that they send a check back to us," said Miller.

Miller called the dealership and asked if he was entitled to the extra money. In his case, $200. "They said, yeah, you're right."

Miller got a check.

Here's what you need to know:

According to the Cash for Clunkers deal, the dealership is entitled to $50 of the scrap money per car. They are required to tell a customer the best estimate of a scrappage value and can negotiate where the rest of that money goes.

This was all supposed to happen at the time of sale.

So have car dealerships followed protocol?

KVAL called around. At Sheppard Motors, customers got a credit for the estimated scrap value. Some are now receiving checks if that value turned out to be more than predicted.

Places like Lithia Nissan and Kendall Subaru worked out the scrap money at the time of sale. Lithia Chrysler said their scrap money never went over $50.

Miller said the whole Cash for Clunkers experience was good but confusing. He hopes his story might help others get back a littler more cash for their clunker too.

"Yeah, it's something they're entitled to so they should check into it," he said.