• by Tanya Gazdik , November 13, 2022

Vehicle-buying site TrueCar is launching a sweepstakes on TikTok and Instagram to help consumers who need a car.  

The company is partnering with influencers who know firsthand the impact a car can have, with a giveaway, in which 10 people will win $5,000 each. 

There are currently more than a million cars  on the TrueCar platform, with roughly 3,000 of them listed for under $5,000.

When Nathan Apocada's 2005 Dodge Durango with 330,000 miles broke down on his way to work, he created his now-famous TikTok video where he is skateboarding, drinking cranberry juice,and lip-syncing to Fleetwood Mac.

He didn't think his "I need a car" moment was going to change his life. But the viral 2020 video has been “liked” 13.6 million times and counting.

Apoocada is joined by several other influencers to promote the #INeedaTrueCar sweepstakes.

Consumers can enter the sweepstakes by posting a video on TikTok or Instagram sharing why they need a car with hashtags #ineedatruecar and #truecarsweepstakes in the caption.

Participants are encouraged to be creative and authentic in their submissions. The challenge runs until Dec. 18 and is part of the launch of TrueCar’s TikTok channel. Winners will be announced in January.

The other influencers include race car driver Karah Behrend and professional car detailer Jessica Tran and Nikita Crump, who calls her Honda Civic “home.”

Buying a car can be challenging for many reasons, says Allison Mac, vice president, brand marketing at TrueCar.

“We have noticed a growing number of people voicing their need for a car and the difficulty in obtaining one,” Mac says in a release. “That is where our inspiration came from for the #ineedatruecar sweepstakes.”

TrueCar says it empowers people with tools for buying a car by providing upfront pricing on vehicles and ways to do more of the shopping process from home.