How to Give a Car as a Gift This Holiday Season

Kids might dream of sugarplum fairies on Christmas Eve, but adults often secretly dream of a Ford Mustang with a giant bow on it. This holiday season, giving a loved one a life-changing gift is more affordable than ever, so we created this guide to how to give a car for Christmas (or Hanukah, New Year’s Eve or any time during this generally festive winter season).

 

 

Step One: Pick out which Ford they would like.

Buying a car for someone else can be very stressful if you don’t know exactly what they prefer – namely the color, model and key features of the car. Most people planning on giving a car as a gift might know which model their loved one would like (such as a Fort Mustang or F-150), but panic when they don’t know other details like the color of the interior, the type of interior or the electronic features.

Luckily, though, there are some ways to be sneaky about it!

How can you find out their preferences?

• You can carefully ask your loved one about their current car. Do they like the color or the features? What would be a cool car feature that their current car doesn’t have?
• Point out similar cars in parking lots or on roadways and ask your loved one what they think of those models. Would that car be more attractive in red?
• Ask them what they plan on buying for their next car, hinting that this is something to think about in the next year or so.
• Ask a family member for a second opinion, or even ask them to help you shop around for the right car at the dealership.
• If you’re feeling especially confident that this won’t spoil the surprise and are questioning if your loved one will like how the car drives, take your loved one out to test drive several cars – no commitment required! Ask them how they like the feel of certain cars. Pick out one “just for fun”; this “fun” one can be your surprise car!

If you’re completely uncertain, there’s no shame in simply spoiling the surprise just a little bit to ensure that this purchase is something your loved one would like. If your buying new rather than used, you’ll especially want to know if this is their dream car.

Step Two: Connect with a dealership you trust to find a good holiday deal.

The last quarter of the year features a great deal of end-of-year deals to take advantage of, and this year is an especially incredible one for deals. Let the dealership in on the secret. The dealership can help to not spoil the surprise and avoid calling your home phone. They’ll also be able to explain your state’s title laws, telling you how to buy a car for someone else in your state. Sometimes, dealerships even have a complementary bow.

Step Three: Don’t wait until Christmas Eve – buy the car a few days ahead of time.

This is for several reasons: First, you don’t want to get stuck in a crowd on Christmas Eve, as often people don’t realize how time-consuming buying a car can be. Second, financing a car for someone else can be complicated, and you’ll want to make sure that you’ll be able to get a title in your state and put the car in your name. Of course, buying the car before Christmas means that you’ll need to hide the car for a few days at a relative’s house while not spoiling the surprise.

Can you buy a car for someone else?

Yes, the best way to do this is to put the loan in your name and then put the title in both of your names. Your loved one will need to come back to the dealership to have their name put on the title afterward. If you want to co-sign on a loan, however, you’ll need to have the gift receiver present when you buy it; it’s better that they are aware of such a commitment in any case. Another way to handle this situation is to pay off the entirety of the car and then gift the car using a bill of sale. Not that you’ll need to pay a gift tax.

Step Five: Retrieve the car and add a few touches.

This is the most fun part of gifting a vehicle, and a lot of our customers like to be creative about it!

What are some fun ideas for dressing up the gifted car?

• Go the traditional route and top your car with a giant bow.
• Find a clever way to present your keys – hidden in another gift or presented in jewelry box can be a fun way to go.
• Leave a love note or a thank you card in the cupholder of the vehicle.
• Give a gift that’s a tiny toy replica of the car before showing them the real one.
• For those who are giving a car as a Christmas gift, consider putting the keys on the tree in an ornament and then pointing it out once presents are done for the kids.

Those are the basics of how to gift a car, but your local dealership will have far more information on how to do so in a discrete and impactful way. Connect with us to check our inventory and prep for the big holiday gift!

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