[Expired] American Express Auto Purchasing Program by TrueCar [How It Works, Benefits]

Update:

This program ended as a cardmember benefit on April 28, 2025.

Purchasing a vehicle from a dealership can be a frustrating experience. The negotiation process can be challenging, and it can be difficult to know if you’ve ultimately secured a good deal.

The American Express Auto Purchasing Program, powered by TrueCar, could be helpful for alleviating the annoying negotiation process, securing a fair price on a new or used vehicle, and enjoying benefits after your purchase. Fortunately, the benefit is available to American Express cardmembers.

Best of all, and something we champion greatly, the program allows you to use an American Express card for a portion of the purchase and earn Membership Rewards points or cash-back.

Here’s how the American Express Auto Purchasing program works, why you’d want to use it, and which American Express cards might be good choices to use toward the purchase.

How the American Express Auto Purchasing Program Works

We’ll expand on the program’s details shortly, but first, here’s a brief overview of how the American Express Auto Purchasing Program works.

Eligible American Express cardholders can search for a vehicle they’d like to purchase and see the price other buyers have paid for the same one.

After you submit the information for your desired vehicle, participating dealers contact you with pricing offers. Once you find a price you like, you work with the associated dealer to complete the purchase.

You then use your American Express card to put at least $2,000 toward the purchase price.

You receive postsale benefits worth up to $2,000 after registering the sale with TrueCar.

Bottom Line:

The American Express Auto Purchasing Program benefits American Express cardholders by connecting buyers with dealers that provide pricing and guaranteed savings on select vehicles. Cardmembers can also use an American Express card for $2,000 or more of the purchase price. Registered buyers qualify for postsale benefits.

Benefits of Using the Program

There are several key benefits to using the American Express Auto Purchasing Program.

First, a key benefit is eliminating the cumbersome in-person negotiating process, sometimes with several dealerships.

Here are some of the additional benefits of using the program:

• You can research vehicles online versus visiting several dealers in person.
• You receive a confirmed price before visiting a dealership.
• You save money on the purchase.
• You can use an American Express card to pay for at least $2,000 of the purchase price.
• You receive postpurchase benefits.

Now let’s dive into more information on each of these potential benefits.

Research Online

The American Express Auto Purchasing Program is powered by TrueCar, a digital marketplace and information company that gathers data on vehicle pricing, performance, technical information, and safety data for new and used vehicles.

Access to this information and the convenience of researching online for a vehicle, versus the time-consuming process of visiting several dealerships in person, is a real benefit.

Once you select a make and car model, you can customize the vehicle or choose a common default build. You’ll then see the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) and the average market price others have paid for the car.

Finally, submit the request for quotes from local certified dealers, providing an email for dealers to contact you.

Hot Tip:

American Express cardmembers can access special bonus cash brand incentives on the TrueCar homepage. We saw Mercedes offers 1 such incentive, which was posted on the page for $5,500 off the MSRP. Bonus cash incentives are in addition to the American Express Auto Purchasing Program.

Receive a Confirmed Price

Certified dealers provide you with the prices of actual cars in stock, information on accessories, and any additional fees that would apply.

If there are several local dealers, you receive multiple quotes. You still have the option of negotiating.

Save Money on the Purchase

The advantage of upfront pricing, knowing what others have paid in the marketplace for the same vehicle, and the ability to negotiate further with the dealer, ensure savings on your car purchase.

For some car models, you can request a Guaranteed Savings Certificate, which ensures you’re not paying full price for the car.

Once you’ve reached an agreed-upon price, you can visit the dealership, test-drive the vehicle, and complete the purchase.

Use an American Express Card for the Purchase

Each certified dealer determines the amount of the purchase price you can put on your American Express card. Participation in the American Express Auto Purchasing Program requires at least $2,000 down.

Hot Tip:

You may be able to use your American Express card to pay more than $2,000 of the purchase price! Each dealership determines the amount it will accept, and $2,000 is just the minimum. Some dealerships will accept much more, up to the full purchase price.

Postpurchase Benefits — TrueCar Buyer’s Bonus

Buyers receive the TrueCar Buyer’s Bonus program once they complete the purchase and register with TrueCar. Registration must be completed within 45 days of the purchase.

These postpurchase benefits can be worth up to $2,000:

• Repair Discounts — Receive 20% reimbursement of an eligible payment, up to $500, for repairs to a vehicle purchased through the program. Car parts qualify, and there is a limit of 2 reimbursements per year (service is unavailable in New York or New Hampshire).
• Deductible Reimbursement — Receive reimbursement, up to $500 twice each year, for your insurance deductible when you file a claim (not available in New York or New Hampshire).
• Access to Auto Experts — Have access to a certified mechanic to discuss potential repairs, sounds your car is making, and related car issues. This benefit includes unlimited access to expert opinions.

Only purchases made with a certified dealer qualify for the TrueCar Buyer’s Bonus program. Car purchases from dealers not participating in the American Express Auto Purchasing Program are ineligible for benefits.

Bottom Line:

Purchase a vehicle with a certified dealer participating in the American Express Auto Purchasing Program, register your purchase with TrueCar within 45 days of the purchase, and receive up to $2,000 in postpurchase benefits with the TrueCard Buyer’s Bonus program.

Which American Express Card To Use

Meeting the minimum spending requirements of a card’s welcome bonus offer is one of the key reasons to use an American Express card toward a vehicle purchase. This opportunity yields the best value. Any American Express card offering a welcome bonus offer with spending requirements would be an appropriate choice.

You also want to earn rewards on your purchase. These recommended American Express cards have access to the American Express Auto Purchasing Program and earn Membership Rewards points:

Platinum Card^® from American Express

Using the Amex Platinum card for a portion of your car purchase can help meet the minimum spending requirements for the welcome offer. Welcome offers vary, so review the most current offer (detailed above) before applying.

The card has no preset spending limits* and earns 1x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on car purchases.

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Business Platinum card earns 2x Membership Rewards points on purchases of $5,000 or more.

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

The Amex Blue Business Plus card earns 2x Membership Rewards points for every $1 spent, up to $50,000 in purchases yearly.

Bottom Line:

Using an American Express card toward your car purchase can help you meet the spending requirements for a card’s welcome bonus offer and earn valuable Membership Rewards points or cash-back.

Pros and Cons of Using the Program

Using the American Express Auto Purchasing Program has obvious benefits, but it can also have downsides.

We think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, but here is a quick overview of the pros and possible limitations:

Final Thoughts

Using the American Express Auto Purchasing Program carries no risk other than providing your contact information to several dealerships.

When multiple dealers compete for your business, you’ll likely save money. And you could establish an email specifically for communicating with them to segregate the volume of emails.

The program is worth using if you can save money on your car purchase, earn Membership Rewards points or cash-back, and receive postpurchase benefits.

The program would have less value if you live in an area with few or no participating dealers or have an established relationship with a specific, nonparticipating dealer you prefer to work with. Still, using the program to gather initial pricing information could be helpful.

If you have questions about the American Express Auto Purchasing Program, you can find all the details in your online card account or call 877-924-2922.

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*No Preset Spending Limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.