Conquest cash incentives are manufacturer rebates that pay you for leaving one car brand and buying or leasing another. Right now, several automakers are offering between $500 and $5,000 in conquest cash, and some deals stack even higher when combined with other offers. If you’re already shopping around, this “get paid to switch” money can be one of the easiest discounts to miss.
What exactly is conquest cash?
Conquest cash is a rebate a manufacturer offers specifically to people who currently own or lease a competitor’s vehicle. It’s the automaker’s way of luring you away from a rival brand rather than rewarding you for staying loyal.
As Chase explains it, a conquest rebate is a valuable tool that can save you money when you choose to switch car brands. Unlike a general rebate available to everyone, conquest cash only kicks in if you can prove you own or lease an eligible competing make. According to Chase, there are actually a few different flavors of these deals: general competitive cash that pays a flat amount regardless of which model you’re buying, lease-to-purchase conquest offers aimed at people nearing the end of a lease with another company, and segment-specific deals that pay more if you’re switching within the same vehicle category, like luxury sedans or electric trucks.
How much conquest cash can you actually get?
Most conquest offers fall between $500 and $3,000, though a growing number of deals now reach $5,000 or more, especially in the luxury and EV segments. Stack them with other rebates or lease cash, and the total savings can climb even higher.
A few real examples show the range. CarsDirect reports that the 2026 Genesis G90 has offered a $5,000 Loyalty/Competitive Owner Bonus, stackable with a separate $5,000 Retail Bonus Cash offer, which can add up to $10,000 off the sedan’s roughly $89,700 MSRP. On the more modest end, Mazda rolled out a $750 Conquest Trade-In Reward on the redesigned 2026 CX-5, aimed at pulling in owners of everything from a $20,000 Kia Forte to a $100,000 Tesla Model X. Land Rover has offered a $2,000 Welcome Credit on the Range Rover Discovery for shoppers coming from an eligible competitor, and Polestar has run a $2,000 Conquest Bonus on the Polestar 3 for owners of a long list of gas, hybrid, and EV brands. Honda has used smaller conquest amounts, like a $1,000 offer on the CR-V, aimed at drivers of brands including Chevrolet, Ford, Hyundai, Toyota, and Tesla.
Do you have to trade in your old car to qualify?
No, most conquest cash offers don’t require a trade-in at all. You typically just need to show proof that you or someone in your household currently owns or leases an eligible competing vehicle.
Dealers usually accept a current vehicle registration or proof of insurance as proof of ownership. Many programs also extend to immediate family members living at the same address, as long as you can show matching household documentation. That means if your spouse drives a qualifying brand, you may be able to use their ownership to unlock the rebate on your new car, even if your own trade-in isn’t eligible.
Which brands are targeted most often?
Luxury and EV brands frequently show up on conquest eligibility lists, since automakers are fighting hard for buyers switching out of Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and similar competitors. Mainstream brands like Honda, Chevrolet, and Hyundai run conquest programs too, just usually with smaller dollar amounts.
Tesla owners in particular have become a popular conquest target. Lucid, for example, has run a $2,000 conquest offer aimed specifically at owners of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Genesis, Audi, Porsche, Lexus, Land Rover, and Tesla. If you’re weighing EV options and want to see where the biggest combined discounts are showing up, our roundup of the best EV cash-back deals is worth a look, since several of those offers overlap with conquest programs. It’s also worth knowing that EV incentives have been shifting lately, which affects how aggressive some of these conquest numbers get from month to month.
Are conquest deals worth switching brands for?
Conquest cash can be a genuine bonus if you were already planning to switch brands, but it shouldn’t be the only reason you buy a car you don’t actually want. Treat it as a nice discount on top of a vehicle that already fits your needs, not a reason to change your mind.
Before you sign anything, confirm the offer’s expiration date, since these programs often run for just a month or two before changing. Also ask whether the conquest cash stacks with other rebates, low APR offers, or lease cash, since combining incentives is where the real savings show up. If you want more strategies for squeezing out extra savings at the dealership, our guide on how to negotiate car prices covers additional tactics that work well alongside conquest offers.
FAQ
Is conquest cash the same as a rebate?
It’s a type of rebate, but a targeted one. Regular rebates are open to any buyer, while conquest cash only applies if you own or lease a specific competing brand listed by the automaker.
Can I get conquest cash without owning the exact competing model listed?
Usually yes. Most programs list eligible brands broadly rather than specific models, so owning any qualifying vehicle from that manufacturer is often enough, though it’s smart to confirm with the dealer.
Does conquest cash lower my monthly payment or come as a check?
It typically reduces your purchase price or lease cap cost rather than arriving as cash in hand. That means it lowers what you finance or your monthly payment, but you generally can’t pocket it separately.
How do I find current conquest cash offers near me?
Check the automaker’s official offers page or ask a dealer directly, since these deals change monthly and vary by region. The manufacturer’s own official incentive page is usually the most reliable source for exact eligibility rules and expiration dates.