ALEXANDRIA, Va. - 7 is On Your Side Friday night with the latest efforts to keep the popular "Cash for Clunkers" program afloat. On Thursday night, Congress said they were suspending the program because it was possible it ran out of money.

But just hours ago, the House voted to pump an additional $2 billion into the program. In any case, all the confusion is leading consumers to race to the dealerships so they can get as much as $4,500 in government money.

Their stories are all pretty similar: they weren't thinking of buying a car but when they heard about the program and what could be at the 11th hour, they rushed out to make a deal.

A half hour before closing time and Ourisman Dodge was buzzing Friday. Laura Bowling almost didn't come because it sounded too good to be true.

"It was kind of incredible because I'd never heard of a trade-in being 35 to 45 -- especially for such an old clunker," she said.

That's $3,500 to $4,500 for old cars if the owner buys a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle. "I mean, it makes sense. For those who qualify, it's perfect," said Nathan Sellers, an Oxon Hill resident.

It's not every day you hear the words "perfect" and "government program" in the same sentence. But so many people are trading in their clunkers for cash, the government almost ran out of money.

"Yeah, it's free money. And you can't pass up a deal. It's a great deal," said Eric Jeter.

It's also a win for those doing the dealing. At a time when the auto industry has nearly grinded to a halt, dealers like DARCARS' Tammy Darvish lobbied Congress to inject more money into the program and it worked.

"It's really great. It's been a long time since there's been that kind of commotion and excitement in the showroom," she said.

Bowling wasn't in the market for a car and neither were the Osmanis. "No, I've been thinking, but I just couldn't afford it," said Fouzia Osmani. 

That is, until now.

Edmunds.com is predicting a nearly 11-percent increase in car sales in July when compared with June -- in part because of the buzz generated by this initiative.

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