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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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The pros and cons of Amex’s Auto Purchasing Program
Augusta Stone is a credit cards writer for TPG. She joined the TPG team in 2023 and is excited to take points and miles beginners with her on a journey toward maximizing rewards.
Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
also contributed to this story
January 10, 2025 • 9 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: Amex discontinued its Auto Purchasing Program on April 28, 2025.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
The Auto Purchasing Program allows cardholders to connect with thousands of participating car dealers who accept cards for at least part of a vehicle purchase.
The program provides upfront pricing data, potential savings codes, and the ability to use a card for a minimum portion of the purchase price.
Dealers set their own policies on the maximum amount that can be charged to a card, so paying the full price this way is not guaranteed.
The program can simplify the process for those seeking to use a card for a car purchase, but negotiation and dealer flexibility remain important.
What to consider
All participating dealers must accept at least $2,000 on a card, but the maximum chargeable amount varies by dealer and may require negotiation.
The online platform may not filter inventory by your exact preferences, and you may receive numerous follow-up communications after submitting contact details.
Special savings codes and bonus cash offers may be available, but terms and eligibility can differ by manufacturer and location.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed walkthrough of using the Auto Purchasing Program, including negotiation tips and how to maximize both savings and rewards on a car purchase.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Paying for large purchases with a card can be an excellent way to generate a substantial amount of points.
When former TPG contributor Richard Kerr charged a new car to The Platinum Card® from American Express, he earned almost 40,000 American Express Membership Rewards points, which are worth $800 based on TPG's December 2024 valuations.
Still, making a purchase this major isn't always easy; he had to negotiate with five dealerships before he found one that would allow him to charge the entire amount to his card. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
If you want to use an American Express card to purchase a car, Amex’s Auto Purchasing Program may be the way to go. All the dealers affiliated with this program allow you to charge at least $2,000 on an Amex card, and some dealers will allow you to charge the entire purchase price. Here’s what you need to know about Amex’s Auto Purchasing Program.
The Amex Auto Purchasing Program is an Amex-specific version of the TrueCar digital automotive marketplace. TrueCar provides data on what other consumers have paid for specific vehicles and “upfront price offers” from participating certified dealers in your area.
AMEXNETWORK.TRUECAR.COM
The Amex version of TrueCar lets Amex cardholders connect with 7,000 dealers that accept American Express. All participating dealers accept American Express cards for at least $2,000 of the purchase price, and some allow Amex cardholders to use their cards to pay for the full purchase price. Plus, you can use the site to request discounts from certain dealers, such as Mercedes-Benz dealers in the U.S., for special savings.
AMEXNETWORK.TRUECAR.COM
You could also stack these deals with bonus cash offerings from certain car manufacturers.
AMEXNETWORK.TRUECAR.COM
These deals contribute to total savings off the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Once you know what type of car you want to buy, you can check your options through the Amex Auto Purchasing Program by visiting amexnetwork.truecar.com. Enter the make of the car you want to purchase, as well as the ZIP code for the area in which you want to make the purchase. Then, select the desired model type and continue to the next page to select the style, color and options.
AMEXNETWORK.TRUECAR.COM
Once you click “See Offers on Local Inventory,” you’ll be taken through a series of pages where you’ll need to provide your name, email, phone number and address. The phone calls and emails will start about a minute after you enter this information, so I recommend not using your primary phone number and email — or setting up filtering options so you can shop and communicate on your own schedule.
AMEXNETWORK.TRUECAR.COM
You’ll be given a few options on the next page. For my search in Charlotte, I was given five dealers with a large number of offers available at each.
Although I inputted the car style, color and options that I wanted on a previous page, the results shown to me at this point seemingly ignored these selections and instead simply showed me all the options for the model type, which was a bit overwhelming.
AMEXNETWORK.TRUECAR.COM
I wasn't able to find an explicit mention of whether these dealers would allow me to pay in full with an Amex card, though each is required to accept at least $2,000 from the card. You may need to negotiate with each dealer regarding the exact amount they'll allow you to charge.
There are three main reasons why you might want to use the Amex Auto Purchasing Program when buying a car:
1. It can help you gather data on what others have paid for the car you want.
2. You can obtain a special savings offer code that could save you thousands off the MSRP.
3. It will show you dealers that will accept an Amex card for the purchase.
THOMAS BARWICK/GETTY IMAGES
The special savings offer code gives you a dealer-provided price on the car and options you selected, as well as your guaranteed savings. If you don’t like haggling, this may be a good way to ensure you pay a reasonable price.
Plus, if you’re looking for a dealer that will accept an Amex card for part or all of a car purchase, the Amex Auto Purchasing Program will help you find such a dealer.
The two main benefits of going through the Amex Auto Purchasing Program are:
1. The special savings offer that you receive should provide you with a fair price, especially if you aren’t good at negotiating.
2. You can find a dealer that will allow you to charge most or all of a purchase to your card. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
After looking into the program, though, I believe most customers can do better on their own.
AMEXNETWORK.TRUECAR.COM
I was unable to find evidence that dealers would allow you to pay full price for your car with an Amex card. The only term I found that explicitly mentioned the amount you can use your card toward said: "Fulfillment of the opportunity for you to use your American Express Card for at least $2,000 of your purchase price is the sole responsibility of the participating Certified Dealer. Credit limitations apply." Therefore, how much you're able to put on your Amex card appears to be determined on a case-by-case basis.
GRADYREESE/GETTY IMAGES
If you have the cash saved up to pay for your purchase, the most appealing aspect of using the Amex Auto Purchasing Program is likely being able to put the full amount on your Amex card.
But, unless there happens to be a dealer marked as willing to accept an Amex card for up to the full purchase price in your area, it will likely be better to work with dealers directly. After all, it shouldn’t be difficult to find a dealer that is willing to accept a $2,000 to $5,000 down payment on a card. And, if you’re a good negotiator, you may be able to work out a better deal.
So, you’ve found a dealer — either through the Amex Auto Purchasing Program or directly with a dealership — that will let you charge part or all of your vehicle purchase to a card. Now you need to decide which card to use. You should consider the following:
Are you planning on using a card? Do you have any credit cards with high credit limits? Can you increase your credit limit on any cards?
What is the earning rate you would get? Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
ZORANM/GETTY IMAGES
Here are some Amex cards you might consider for the purchase:
The Platinum Card from American Express: Earn 1 point per dollar spent; $895 annual fee (see rates and fees). Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 1 point per dollar spent on eligible purchases under $5,000 and 2 points per dollar spent on purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million in combined purchases each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar); $895 annual fee (see rates and fees). Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: Earn 2 points per dollar spent on the first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year (then 1 point per dollar); $0 annual fee (see rates and fees). Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
You should only charge as much to your card as you can pay off when your bill comes due. Some cards do have 0% introductory annual percentage rate offers. If you use a card with a 0% introductory APR offer to finance your car purchase, be sure to pay off your balance completely before the end of the introductory period to avoid interest and fees.
I had high expectations that the Amex Auto Purchasing Program would simplify the process of finding a dealer that would accept a card for most or all of a car purchase. However, the website interface is frustrating to use, and I was unable to find a guarantee that I could pay for my entire purchase with a card.
If you want to use a card to pay for some or all of an upcoming vehicle purchase, you may just need to do what Richard Kerr did: Visit a dealership, negotiate a firm price offer and then say you plan to pay for the entire purchase using your card. If the dealer won’t allow you to charge as much as you want, then move on to the next dealer.
You’ll eventually find a dealer that’s willing to make the sale — although it may cost you some time and energy to do so. But getting points on the purchase as well as a good deal will be worth it. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
Apply here: Amex Platinum
Apply here: Amex Business Platinum
Apply here: Blue Business Plus Amex
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here. For rates and fees of the Blue Business Plus Amex, click here.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
