Quick answer: There are two genuinely free ways to win a car in the UK: no-purchase giveaways run by car makers, dealers and magazines, and the free postal entry route that commercial car prize draws offer to stay legal under the Gambling Act 2005. A postal entry costs a stamp and has the same chance as one paid entry.
Key takeaways
- Free giveaways from brands and dealers are real but rare and short-lived, usually one entry per person, and often with no cash alternative.
- Postal entry into a paid car draw is slower (one entry per envelope, and it must arrive before the closing date) but it goes into the same draw as paid entries.
- A won car still costs money: insurance before you drive, £200 a year vehicle tax from the second year, and an extra £440 a year for five years if its list price is over £40,000 (£50,000 for electric).
Want a free first go while you read? New MrRaffle players can claim free tickets, and every paid car draw on the site has a free postal entry route.
How can I win a free car?
You can win a car without paying in two ways: enter a free giveaway from a brand, dealer, magazine or motor show, or use the free postal entry route of a paid car prize draw. Everything else, from paid tickets to charity raffles, costs money per entry, even when the entry price is small.
If you are working out how to win a car, it helps to see the routes side by side.
| Route | Cost to enter | Effort | Your chance per entry | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand, dealer or magazine giveaway | Free (online form, app or social post) | Low, usually one entry per person | 1 in the number of entrants, rarely published | The promoter's own website and social accounts |
| Free postal entry into a paid car draw | A first or second class stamp | High: one entry per envelope, must arrive before closing | Same as one paid entry | The promoter's terms or free entry page |
| Paid car prize draw | The entry price set by the promoter | Low | 1 in the total entries; any entry cap should be stated | Prize draw sites, such as our car competitions |
| Charity raffle (society lottery) | A paid ticket, no free route | Low | 1 in tickets sold | Charities and clubs; the money must go to good causes |
The first two rows are the only genuinely free options. The trade-off is volume: one entry per giveaway and one per envelope. You will not match a big spender's entry count for free, but each of your entries has the same chance.
Where can I get free cars given away in the UK?
Free car giveaways come from car makers, dealer groups, car marketplaces, motoring magazines, motor shows, and energy or leasing companies promoting electric cars. They appear with little warning, run for a few weeks or months, and are announced first on the promoter's own website, app and social accounts.
How to find them, and check them:
- Follow the source. Newsletters and official accounts of car brands, local dealer groups, car marketplaces and motoring magazines.
- Search with the right words. "Win a car" plus "no purchase necessary" or "terms and conditions".
- Enter on the promoter's own page, never through a link someone messages you.
- Check who is behind it. The terms should name the promoter and address, ideally with a company number you can look up on Companies House.
- Read eligibility: age, UK residency, driving licence, and sometimes being a customer.
- Note the closing date.
What the small print looks like: a real example
Dealer group Vertu Motors ran a free car giveaway for a new BYD SEAL U from 9am on 1 July to 23:59 on 30 September 2026 (terms checked 24 September 2026). It was open to UK residents over 18, one entry each, no purchase necessary. Its terms show what to check:
- No cash alternative. The car could not be exchanged for cash.
- Short insurance. Seven days of drive-away insurance, the first registration fee and the first year's road tax were included. After that, tax and insurance were on the winner.
- Deadlines. The winner had 14 days to respond, and handover had to happen within 21 days of notification.
Looking for an electric car specifically? See our guide to free electric car competitions in the UK.
How does free postal entry into a car competition work?
Paid car prize draws decided by chance offer a free entry route so that they are not treated as lotteries. Under Schedule 2 of the Gambling Act 2005, you must be able to choose to enter by ordinary first or second class post instead of paying, and the draw must not treat postal entries differently from paid ones.
In practice:
- Find the free entry instructions in the promoter's terms.
- Check the closing date and any entry cap.
- Write out the details the terms ask for, usually the competition name, your name, address, phone and email.
- Post one entry per envelope, first or second class.
- Post early. The entry must arrive before the closing date, and proof of posting is not proof of entry.
The Gambling Commission does not license or approve these draws, so checking the terms is your job. Our step-by-step guide to free postal entry competitions covers what to include and why entries get rejected.
At MrRaffle you need a free account first, and your postal details must match it. The address and full rules are in our competition terms.
Is there a way to get free cars?
Not without winning one. Beyond genuine giveaways and free entry routes, treat any "free car" offer with suspicion and check what it is really selling. The clearest scam sign is being asked to pay to claim: under the Gambling Act 2005, a fee to collect a prize counts as paying to enter.
Red flags:
- A fee to claim, whether it is called delivery, release, admin or tax. The CAP Code bans claiming someone has won when they must pay to claim the prize.
- Lookalike social accounts that message you a link, or ask for bank details, after you comment on a post.
- No named promoter, address or terms, or terms you can only get by messaging someone.
- No way to check the winner. Under the CAP Code, promoters must publish or make available information that shows a valid award took place, usually the surname and county of major winners.
If you spot one, forward scam emails to [email protected] and texts to 7726. If you have lost money, contact Report Fraud in England and Wales, or Police Scotland. Our checklist on how to spot a legit prize competition goes further.
What does it cost to keep a car you win?
More than nothing. You need insurance before you drive, vehicle tax every year, and possibly travel to collect the car. From the second year, standard vehicle tax is £200 a year, and cars with a list price over £40,000 (£50,000 for electric) pay an extra £440 a year for five years.
| Cost | What to know |
|---|---|
| Insurance | Third party cover is the legal minimum to drive on UK roads. Prizes often include only short cover, if any |
| Vehicle tax, first year | Set by CO2 emissions at first registration: £10 for a zero-emission car, rising with emissions. Some giveaways pay it |
| Vehicle tax, from year two | £200 a year for cars registered on or after 1 April 2017 |
| Extra for pricier cars | Another £440 a year for five years if the list price is over £40,000 (petrol or diesel) or £50,000 (electric) |
| Income tax | A prize won by a private individual is not normally taxed as income; HMRC notes prizes linked to your work or business can be |
| Capital Gains Tax if you sell | Your car is exempt |
| Cash alternative | Not always offered. MrRaffle's terms allow a cash alternative for some competitions, stated in the prize description, and the choice is the winner's |
| Delivery or collection | Check who pays, where the handover happens and the deadline |
For the full tax picture, read do you pay tax on lottery or competition winnings. Prefer two wheels? Here is how to win a motorbike in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
What are some free cash competitions available in the UK?
Free daily games on prize sites, no-purchase giveaways from brands and magazines, and the free postal entry route into paid cash draws. MrRaffle's free daily games need no purchase, and our cash competitions each have a postal route. Cash prizes on MrRaffle are tax-free cash.
Are car competitions legal in the UK?
Yes, when they are set up properly. A paid draw decided by chance needs a genuine free entry route, and a paid skill competition needs a real test of skill. The Gambling Commission does not license or approve either kind, so it is worth reading the terms before you enter, whichever route you choose.
Can I choose cash instead of the car?
Only if the promoter offers a cash alternative. Many free giveaways do not: the Vertu terms above ruled it out. MrRaffle's terms allow a cash alternative for some competitions, with the amount stated in the prize description, and it is the winner's choice whether to take the car or the cash.
Do I need a driving licence to win a car?
It depends on the promoter. Some require a full or provisional UK licence to enter or to collect the car, while others do not mention one. Everyone needs a valid licence and insurance to drive on UK roads, so read the eligibility clause before you enter rather than after you win.
Sources
- Gambling Act 2005, section 14 (Lottery), legislation.gov.uk, accessed 24 September 2026
- Gambling Act 2005, Schedule 2 (Lotteries: definition of payment to enter), legislation.gov.uk, accessed 24 September 2026
- Free draws and prize competitions, Gambling Commission, accessed 24 September 2026
- Raffling a house or car, Gambling Commission, accessed 24 September 2026
- CAP Code, Section 8: Promotional marketing, ASA and CAP, accessed 24 September 2026
- Vehicle tax rates, gov.uk, accessed 24 September 2026
- Vehicle insurance, gov.uk, accessed 24 September 2026
- Income Tax: what you do not pay tax on, gov.uk, accessed 24 September 2026
- BIM45090: prizes and incentives, tax treatment of recipient, HMRC, accessed 24 September 2026
- Capital Gains Tax: what you pay it on, gov.uk, accessed 24 September 2026
- Avoid and report internet scams and phishing, gov.uk, accessed 24 September 2026
- Vertu Car Giveaway and terms and conditions, Vertu Motors plc, accessed 24 September 2026
- MrRaffle Competition Terms and Conditions, accessed 24 September 2026
Play responsibly
MrRaffle is for UK residents aged 18 and over. Only play with money you can afford to spend, set a budget before you start, and take a break if it stops being fun.
Ready to look at the cars up for grabs? Browse our car competitions, where every draw has a free postal route, or claim free tickets as a new player and start without spending.
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