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You may think of Sam’s Club as a place to buy in bulk. That’s not all it has to offer, though. You might also consider a membership if you plan a car buying adventure for a new or used vehicle. The Sam’s Club Auto Buying Program makes the process easy, helps buyers save money on cars, and provides a variety of perks.

What is the Sam’s Club Auto Buying Program?

A Sam's Club logo seen at a store in Streamwood, Illinois
Sam’s Club logo | Scott Olson/Getty Images

In addition to the various other pluses of having a Sam’s Club membership, customers can buy a vehicle through the Sam’s Club Auto Buying Program. This service, explains iSeeCars and Nexstar Media Wire, connects customers to the 10,000 participating TrueCar certified dealerships.

Interested car buyers first get a Sam’s Club membership through the club’s website or a store location. The Sam’s Club Auto Buying Program is available with all membership levels, ranging in price from $45 to $100 annually. Those not sure whether paying for a membership will be worth it can take a look at the Sam’s Club Auto Buying Program website. It’s easy to browse for vehicles and see actual estimated prices.

Whether looking for a new or a used vehicle, including electric vehicles, the service’s website allows buyers to filter to find the desired cars to pick. To check availability and the member price, buyers need to enter their contact information. After receiving price options from local TrueCar certified dealers, buyers can contact the dealers they choose to complete the purchase. Some dealers are part of the TrueCar Buy from Home program, so they’ll complete the sale online and deliver the vehicle to the buyer’s home, reports FindTheBestCarPrice. There are also options to sell your current car. Sellers quickly see the vehicle’s value and get a cash offer.

What are the benefits of the Auto Buying Program?

The Sam’s Club Auto Buying Program saves members money in multiple ways. Buyers of new cars save an average of $3,463 off the MSRP with a pre-negotiated price. Members also have access to additional benefits that could be worth more than $2,000 after the vehicle is registered with the program within 45 days of purchase. Outside of New York and New Hampshire, deals include reimbursement of 20% of the cost of repairs, up to $500 twice a year, and reimbursement of insurance claim deductibles, up to $500 twice a year.

The program also makes buying a vehicle stress-free. The program’s website makes it easy to collect information from many dealerships and includes information on what other local buyers have paid for the same vehicle models. Other benefits include discounted prices for tires and their installation, batteries, and other vehicle items through the Sam’s Club Tire Center. Members also have discounts on gas and get flat tires fixed, batteries tested, and windshield wiper blades repaired for free. After purchasing a vehicle, owners also have access to advice from a certified mechanic as much as needed.

What’s not awesome about the Sam’s Club Auto Buying Program?

Some buyers will love the pre-negotiated prices through the Sam’s Club Auto Buying Program, but that also means buyers don’t get to negotiate. There’s also no guarantee that the price is the lowest out there. The Sam’s Club Auto Buying Program does not offer financing, so buyers will need to work with the dealership or a bank or credit union to set this up. The program is only for buying new or used vehicles, so it isn’t useful for customers who prefer to lease.

Since the program only shows vehicles associated with TrueCar dealerships, other local options may not be listed on the website. There are several available discounts, but there are no deals on insurance through the program.

Sam’s Club isn’t the only way to access the TrueCar network of vehicles and get benefits, points out LendingTree. Navy Federal Credit Union, AAA, AARP, and Consumer Reports also have programs similar to the Sam’s Club Auto Buying Program. Costco also has its own vehicle buying program. While all of these services have a cost to use them, the Sam’s Club Auto Buying Program offers a simple way to purchase a new or used vehicle, and the membership will get you perks and groceries in bulk as well.

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