Amex AutoBuy Program: How It Works

If you have an American Express card and are looking to purchase a new vehicle, check out the American Express AutoBuy program. The site is designed as a perk for all Amex cardholders and is loaded with potential savings in the form of discounts, competitive pricing and rebates. In addition, all dealers on the platform will accept American Express cards for at least $2,000, meaning you can earn great rewards along the way.

What is the American Express AutoBuy Program?

The American Express AutoBuy Program is a platform where Amex cardholders can purchase a new or used vehicle. The site has a network of dealers that offer competitive prices, benefits, and the option to pay partially (or fully) with an American Express card.

The Amex Auto Purchasing Program website is powered by the TrueCar platform, which shows users fair prices based on what customers actually paid for the car. Amex cardholders can search for new or used vehicles (by make) by their zip codes and then filter by the specific features they are looking for, such as mileage and color.

If you buy a car through the Amex Auto Purchasing Program, you can also report it online to see if you qualify for additional benefits that can save you more money, such as repair reimbursements.

How does the Amex autobuy program work?

To purchase a car through the Amex Auto Purchasing Program, start a search on the website. Simply enter your preferred vehicle and location information into the search bar.

When searching for a new car, you will first get a results page with an average market price. You can then answer additional questions about your personal information to narrow it down to the best result. For a used car, you’ll be redirected to a more traditional search results page where you can filter the results by year, mileage, and more. The website lists competitive prices to show you that you are getting a great deal.

Once you have selected the new or used vehicle that best suits your needs, you will be asked to provide contact information. Keep in mind that filling out this information will result in calls from the dealership, so you should only ask for TruePrice (for used vehicles) or member price (for new vehicles) after you are sure you have selected the car you want.

Once you show interest in a vehicle, dealers will contact you directly for vehicles that match your requirements.

Benefits of using the Amex AutoBuy Program

So, what is the advantage of finding a car this way? There are several benefits that come with buying a car through the Amex Auto Purchasing Program:

You will receive points or cashback

While it can be difficult to fully pay for a car with a credit card, the Amex Auto Purchasing Program ensures that you can charge at least $2,000 from your Amex. This can be a huge plus as you will get a lot of cash or points with the right card. Also, if you’re trying to meet the spending requirements for an introductory bonus, this type of large purchase can be a great way to get there.

You’ll love the savings

In addition to the competitive pricing you get through TrueCar, you may be eligible for repair costs or auto reimbursement if you report your purchase on the Amex Auto Purchasing Program website. American Express claims this can save you $2,000 or more. When you use this method to buy a car, you can be sure you’re getting a great deal without having to negotiate at the dealership.

Research done for you

TrueCar is a shared resource for car buyers, and the site claims that over a third of car buyers interact with its network. With such a wide range of users and a comprehensive database, TrueCar is a great place to start researching how much people are actually paying for the car you want. This way you can be sure that you are paying a fair price.

Disadvantages of Using the Amex Auto Buy Program

You will have limited opportunities to negotiate

While buying a car through American Express has many potential benefits, it may not be the best choice for everyone. If you’re a professional negotiator focused on getting the best deal when buying a new car, you may be able to find a better price yourself.

You will receive selective offers

Because the Amex Auto Purchasing Program only displays results that accept partial American Express cards, you don’t get the full picture of available prices. And while TrueCar is great for finding great deals, there’s always the possibility of finding a better deal from another source.

Choosing an American Express card to use

If you decide to buy a car through American Express, it is important to choose the right card for partial or full payment. You want to earn first-class rewards without taking on more than you can pay.

First, you should keep in mind that many of the most popular American Express cards are debit cards, which means you must pay your balance in full every billing cycle. If you’re charging a car down payment on your card, hoping you’ll have more time to pay the balance, you can enter the cost on your credit card instead.

If you want to get the maximum reward, choose the American Express card with the highest rate on general purchases as it doesn’t fall into any of the main bonus categories. Flat-rate cards that offer cashback on every purchase can be especially beneficial for larger purchases.

Best American Express Cards for Amex AutoBuy Program

Map	Interest rate	Bonus for registration
Platinum Card® by American Express	5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year) 5X points for prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travelamextravel.com Double points for prepaid car rental through American Express Travel 1X points for other purchases Terms apply	100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first 6 months
American Express® Gold Card	4x points for restaurants worldwide and Uber Eats purchases in the US. 4X points at US supermarkets (on purchases up to $25,000 per year, then 1X points) 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel. 1X points for other purchases Terms apply	60,000 Membership Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 on qualifying purchases within the first 6 months.
American Express Cash Magnet® Card*	6% cashback on select U.S. and supermarket streaming subscriptions on purchases up to $6,000/year (then 1%) 3% cashback on transit and gas stations in the USA 1% cashback on other purchases	$300 on your statement after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 6 months.
American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card	3% cashback at US supermarkets on purchases up to $6,000 per year (then 1%) 2% cashback at gas stations in the USA, 1% cashback on other purchases	$200 credit statement after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 6 months.

bottom line

The American Express AutoBuy program offers a large database of competitive prices that you can check out the next time you start looking for a vehicle. In addition, you will be able to use your Amex card to cover part of your purchase so you can earn solid points or get a refund for your transaction.

Emily Sherman is a senior editor at CreditCards.com, specializing in news and product recommendations. She is also a founding member of To Her Credit, a two-week series of women’s financial advice for women. When she’s not writing about credit cards, she’s spending her points and miles planning her next big vacation.