Buy One Car, Get One Free Offers [Are they Legit?]

Some dealers offer BOGO car deals, where you can buy a car and get one free.

When I first saw these deals, I thought they must be too good to be true.

Is it ever a legit deal?

Yes, but there are a few things you should consider before opting for this deal.

Let’s take a look.

Key Takeaways

• Buy One Get One Free car deals are real offers some dealerships have posted that allow you to drive off with two cars for the price of one.
• Many BOGO car deals include an expensive first car and a second used car bought from auction, so the dealerships walk away with profit still.
• Auto market crashes have also prompted some dealerships to offer insane BOGO deals for genuinely good prices.
• You must carefully evaluate the terms, the vehicles being offered, and the value of the deal to determine if it’s worth it.

How a Buy One Get One Free Deal Works

Here’s a typical BOGO offer:

When you buy a qualifying vehicle, you get a select pre-owned vehicle at no extra cost.

The obvious explanation here is: you buy a new car and you get a second “free” used car along with it.

Without naming any names, we’ve recently seen this gimmick offered by Nissan and Ford dealers in Florida and a Kia dealer in Ohio.

How Does a Dealership Make Money with a BOGO Deal?

Here’s how dealers make this type of “too good to be true”, two-for-one deal work.  And don’t worry about them, they’re not going to lose money on the deal.

It’s all about how much they make on the primary car and how little they lose on the “free” car.

The Primary Car is usually a new, expensive vehicle with a high margin for the dealership.  And not only will the dealer require you to pay the full retail price, but they will often require you to add-on a specific options package for a couple thousand dollars more, further increasing their profit.

The “Free” car is typically a used, bare-bones beater car that was bought at auction.  And the dealer will advertise an inflated retail price that is thousands more than what they actually paid.

The bottom line is that dealers will make sure they have enough profit on the deal to cover the cost of the second car.

Another Reason for BOGO Car Deals: Car Market Crashes

Many “Buy One Get One” car deals are set up to favor the dealership, with the second vehicle being a cheap used one.

However, that’s not the only case.

A crashing auto market is another reason for this type of sale. 

Back in 2008, for example, car dealers faced plummeting sales. A British online car dealer, Broadspeed.com launched a shocking BOGO deal: two Dodge Avenger SXT 2.4i models (with AC and leather seats) for £20,000.

The sale worked wonders, with the dealer offloading its stock in no time (and demand crashing its website).

Typical Restrictions for Buy One Get One Free Car Deals

There are often several rules surrounding a car dealership’s BOGO deals such as:

• You can’t use any other factory incentives or dealer discounts on the primary car and must pay full price
• You must pay for a specific trim level or upgrades to the primary car
• You must have good credit to qualify
• The second car has a low resale value or it’s just a short-term lease
• The dealer may not have the advertised models in stock and are just offering a teaser to get you to the dealership

Questions to Ask Before Opting for This Deal

While you can get a discount buying two cars at once, before you fall for this gimmick consider these questions.

• How much more do you have to pay for the first car above the typical sale price if you had negotiated?
• What is the actual resale value of the second car?
• Do you really want either of those specific cars?
• Can you find a better new car deal on something you really want and still afford a second car?

Conclusion: Is a Car BOGO Deal Worth It?

BOGO deals for cars can seem like a hoax, but they are real offers. Admittedly, this is a rare sale that often has some crucial caveats. Before considering the deal, carefully evaluate the terms and the cars being offered.

If you truly do want both cars and find the overall value to be good, then it could be a great deal. Just make sure to take your time and assess the offer without getting sucked into the glam of the deal.

For more detailed advice about buying a new car, check out our Ultimate Guide to Buying a New Car.