A LUCKY contestant who walked away with a free car worth $16,000 was thankful he had savings to fall back on.
The winner said he gave up some of his own money even after scoring big-time on the TV show.
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In August 2016, the lucky game show contestant won a brand new car on the popular TV show Let’s Make a Deal.
The winner was thrilled to ditch his old car that was on “its last legs” and swap it for the new one that was delivered in November — three months later.
“I had heard rumors throughout life about winning on gameshows ‘costing you’ and things like that,” he wrote on the Reddit thread.
The winner said he was cautious about the additional charges that are often tacked on to “free” game show prizes like a brand new car, but had brushed off his reservations because he’d been saving up for a big purchase anyway.
“I guess because I had already had some money saved for fees and taxes it ended up really painless,” he added.
In his case, the car ended up costing roughly $3,000 in fees.
Still, the lucky driver said the experience was “totally worth it” and would recommend it to other prospective winners.
He called the Hyundai Accent SE a “great upgrade” from his beaten-down Chevy that had been running for a while.
Currently, Hyundai offers three different trims in the Accent model — the Accent SE, Accent SEL, and Accent Limited.
A Hyundai Accent SE starts at $16,645 and goes up to $19,000 for the Accent Limited.
The vehicle is touted as an affordable car with good fuel economy, and a strong warranty.
Other benefits include a spacious interior and a user-friendly technology system with features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
“Nothing too fancy but my other car was a cheap Chevy that I had been driving for a long time and used to make the drive across the country,” he said.
The winner did have a couple tips for anyone looking to secure a spot on the big screen: “As long as you’re lively without being theatrical, and seem interesting without being crazy, you have a good shot at being picked.”
Steps drivers must take after getting new car
Purchasing a new car comes with a ton of follow-up:
- Insure your car: The first thing you should do is insure your new vehicle to protect yourself and other drivers in case of an accident.
- Estimate fees: A new car’s fees will depend on its weight, class, and where the driver lives. First-time fees include the sales tax, plate fee, title fee, use tax, and registration fee.
- Get temporary tags: Typically, dealerships will provide a 30-day temporary tag while your vehicle’s registration is being processed.
- Register and title your vehicle: The dealership should sign over the title to you (the new owner), and this paperwork should include the vehicle’s odometer reading. Within 30 days of purchasing the new car, drivers should register it with their state’s DMV. You will need to provide the title, loan documents, and proof of insurance.
- Schedule maintenance: It’s important to get your vehicle inspected for any damages or repairs. You should also check with the dealership and schedule regular maintenance checks to prevent any auto issues from arising suddenly.
- Save your paperwork: Drivers should keep their bill of sale, tax receipts, insurance certification, registration, and financing documents in a safe place in case they are needed later on.
Source: Car and Driver
“Loose cannons are big no-go,” he added.
It hasn’t always worked out for game show winners — some have been slammed with hundreds of dollars in fees after getting a “free” car.
One woman went on The Price is Right and left the show as the owner of a 2025 Nissan Versa.
Unhappy with the car she won, the winner decided to swap the Nissan for a Toyota RAV4, which she called a major “upgrade.”
“I didn’t want the Nissan Versa, so I traded it for a Toyota RAV4. But my ‘free’ car now comes with a $400 a month car payment,” she said, according to Torque News.
Winners who want to exchange their vehicle for car credit could be subjected to fees if the original ride was less costly, which is what happened in this case.
The Price is Right”winner was stuck with a $400 monthly car payment for trading in the Nissan Versa.