The car prize goes to the family that wins the entire game, not a single round
On Family Feud, the car is not won by answering one question correctly or winning one round. The winning family — the one that reaches the final Fast Money round and scores enough points there — gets to play for the car. The car itself is the grand prize that sits on stage, and the family has to beat a specific score in Fast Money to drive it home.
The exact score you need to beat changes from episode to episode. The show's producers set a target number at the beginning of each episode, and that target is what the Fast Money winners have to exceed. If they do, they win the car. If they fall short, they win the money they earned in Fast Money instead, which is usually several thousand dollars.
Key Takeaways
- Only the family that wins the main game and reaches Fast Money gets a chance at the car prize.
- The car is won by scoring above a predetermined target number in the Fast Money round, not by any other method.
- Fast Money is a two-person round where one family member answers five questions quickly, then another family member answers the same five questions.
- The target score for the car varies by episode and is set before the game begins.
- If a family does not beat the target, they keep the money they earned in Fast Money but do not win the car.
How Fast Money works and why it matters for the car
Fast Money is the final round of Family Feud, and it is the only round where the car prize is on the line. Two members of the winning family sit at the Fast Money podium. The first person has 20 seconds to answer five survey questions. Their answers are scored based on how many people in the original survey gave that same answer — a popular answer is worth more points than an unpopular one.
After the first person finishes, the second person answers the same five questions in 20 seconds. Their score is added to the first person's score. The combined total is what gets compared to the target number. If the family's total is higher than the target, they win the car. If it is lower, they win the money value of their Fast Money score instead.
The survey questions in Fast Money are designed to have answers that most people would think of — things like "Name a reason you might go to the beach" or "Name something you do before bed." The more common your answer is, the more points you earn. This is why Fast Money winners often shout out obvious answers rather than clever ones.
What the target score means and how it is set
The target score is a number the show's producers decide before the episode is filmed. It is usually somewhere between 200 and 300 points, though the exact number varies. The target is displayed on screen when the Fast Money round begins, so both the family and the audience know what they are trying to beat.
The target is set based on how the survey questions were answered by the original group of people surveyed for that episode. If the answers are very popular and straightforward to guess, the target might be higher. If the answers are more scattered or harder to think of, the target might be lower. The producers use this method to keep the car prize challenging but not impossible to win.
Over the course of a season, some families will beat the target and win the car, while others will fall short. The car is a real vehicle — usually a sedan or SUV — and the family that wins it gets to take it home that day.
The main game rounds that lead to Fast Money
Before a family can play Fast Money, they have to win the main game. Family Feud has several rounds before Fast Money begins. In each round, two families compete by answering survey questions. The family that gives the most popular answer to each question scores points. The first family to reach a certain score (usually 300 points) wins the main game and advances to Fast Money.
The main game rounds test how well families can guess what ordinary people said in a survey. There is no car prize during these rounds — only the chance to move forward. The family that loses the main game leaves with nothing, which is why winning the main game is the first critical step toward the car.
Why not every family wins the car, even if they reach Fast Money
The target score is set high enough that many families who reach Fast Money do not beat it. This is intentional. If every family that made it to Fast Money won the car, the show would give away dozens of cars per season, which would be too expensive. By setting a challenging target, the show keeps the car prize rare and valuable.
Families that do not beat the target still win money — usually the dollar amount of their Fast Money score, which can be $5,000 or more. But they do not get the car. This is why you see families on the show celebrating a Fast Money win even when they did not beat the target — they are still taking home a significant amount of money.
How to improve your chances if you make it to Fast Money
If your family reaches Fast Money, the best strategy is to answer with the most obvious, most common answers you can think of. Do not try to be clever or funny. Think about what the average person would say, not what you would say. For example, if the question is "Name a type of fish," answering "salmon" or "tuna" is better than answering "pufferfish" because more people would think of those common fish.
The 20-second time limit means you cannot think too long about each answer. You have to respond quickly and move to the next question. This is why families often shout out the first thing that comes to mind — it is usually the most common answer anyway. Hesitation and overthinking tend to lead to less popular answers, which earn fewer points.
The two family members playing Fast Money should be people who think alike and can guess what most people would say. Some families choose their youngest members because they think younger people are faster, but speed is less important than giving popular answers. Choose the two people who you think will give the most mainstream, obvious responses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you win the car more than once if you come back to play again?
Yes. Family Feud champions return to play multiple episodes, and each time they reach Fast Money, they have another chance to win the car. Some families have won the car multiple times across different episodes, though this is rare because the target score is challenging.
What happens if two families tie in the main game?
Ties are broken with a tiebreaker question. Both families get one final question, and whoever gives the more popular answer wins the main game and moves to Fast Money. The losing family does not get a chance at the car.
Is the car prize the same every episode?
The car changes from time to time, but it is always a real, drivable vehicle. The show typically features a new car model each season. The exact make and model may vary, but the prize is always an actual car that the winning family can drive home.
What if you win the car but cannot drive it home that day?
The show handles logistics for winners who cannot take the car when ready. Families can arrange to pick up the car later or have it delivered. The show's production team works with winners on the details, but the car is theirs to keep once they win it.
Do you have to pay taxes on the car if you win it?
Yes. Winning a car on a game show is considered taxable income. The show provides documentation of the prize value, and the winner is responsible for reporting it to the IRS and paying taxes on it. This is why some winners choose to take the money equivalent instead if the show offers that option.