A federal program encouraging owners of old, gas guzzling cars to turn them in for a discount on a new fuel-efficient automobile was suppose to start Friday, but has been put off until Monday due to widespread confusion about how it will work.

The 'Cash for Clunkers' initiative is part of President Obama’s stimulus program. The goal is to get old, gas guzzlers off the street by offering thousands of dollars in a government rebate on a new car.

A few criteria for the program include the clunker must be more than 8 years old, but less than 25, its fuel efficiency must be worse than 18 miles per gallon and the car must be scrapped or crushed, not re-sold.

MORE INFO More Info On 'Cash For Clunkers' PDF: Official Rules Of Program Click Here To See If Your Clunker Qualifies

Those who give up their clunker would receive a minimum of $3,500 taken off the sale price of a new car.

Ben Smith runs Best Auto Parts, a giant used car and parts center in Lynnwood that would receive clunkers sold to dealers. His company would then recycle the used parts and destroy the engines.

"I think it's gonna be a great benefit to all recyclers in the state of Washington," Smith said.

But earlier Friday he was faxed the details by the federal government saying that they’ve delayed the program for a few days, so that the complex regulations can be studied.

Car owners said it seems a good use of taxpayer stimulus money.

"It's a good idea for the economy, for everyone," said car owner Kim, she did not disclose her last name.

The General Manager of Toyota of Seattle said he's already got 20 deals pending in the "Cash for Clunkers" program and expects many more to follow.

"It's a great deal for the consumer. It's a great deal for the dealer who's getting the additional business and it's a good stimulus package for everybody," said general manager Ryan Jupiter.

Once the "Cash for Clunkers" program does get underway, auto dealers expect it to be very popular. They also predict that the billion dollars in stimulus money will run out long before the scheduled end of the program on November 1.