Cars for Cancer & Charity Car Competitions in Australia
Win a brand-new car while supporting causes that matter. From Mater's iconic $450K+ Cars for Cancer adventure packages to Mercedes-Benz draws for Act for Kids — Australia's charity car lotteries offer some of the biggest vehicle prizes going.
What Are Charity Car Lotteries?
Charity car lotteries are licenced draws where you purchase tickets for the chance to win a brand-new vehicle, with proceeds going to Australian charities and not-for-profits. Unlike commercial car competitions, these are operated by registered charities under strict state gaming regulations.
The charity car competition space in Australia is dominated by two major forces: Mater Foundation's "Cars for Cancer" lottery — offering massive adventure packages worth $430,000–$510,000 — and Aspire Charity Gaming, which operates regular car draws on behalf of multiple charities including Act for Kids, PCYC, Guide Dogs Victoria, and more. Between them, they run dozens of car draws every year.
Key Fact
We currently track over 100 charity car draws across these brands on Competitions.com.au. Many of these charities run new car draws every 4–6 weeks, so there's almost always an active charity car lottery open for entry.
Mater Cars for Cancer — The Flagship
Mater Cars for Cancer is a dedicated lottery run by the Mater Foundation in Queensland. Unlike other charity car draws that offer a single vehicle, Cars for Cancer gives away complete adventure lifestyle packages — a custom vehicle, a caravan or camper trailer, gold bullion, and styling packages — with total values regularly exceeding $450,000.
The lottery has run 55+ draws to date, with new draws approximately every two months. Proceeds fund cancer research and patient care at Mater Hospital. Draws frequently sell out early — recent draws have closed days ahead of schedule due to demand.
Recent Cars for Cancer Prize Packages
Real data from the 5 most recent draws (source: materlotteries.com.au)
| Draw | Vehicle | Caravan/Camper | Gold Bullion | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draw 126 Jan 2026 |
Toyota Tundra Limited $165,793 |
Vacationer Roughrider 216C $164,000 |
$120,000 | $460,793 |
| Draw 125 Nov 2025 |
Custom Toyota LC 79 Series $262,051 (inc. mods) |
Lifestyle Reconn R4T RX $138,175 |
$100,000 | $510,226 |
| Draw 124 Sep 2025 |
RAM 1500 TRX Final Edition $270,213 (1 of 140 in AU) |
Custom Wildtrail Caravan $123,646 |
$50,000 | $450,459 |
| Draw 123 Jul 2025 |
Custom Toyota LC Military GXL $270,990 (inc. mods) |
Austrack Talawana X15 $69,340 |
$100,000 | $450,088 |
| Draw 122 May 2025 |
Toyota LC Prado Kakadu $112,396 |
Essential Cruiser F2-6 $88,031 |
$220,000 | $430,427 |
High Demand
Draw 125 (the $510K Custom LandCruiser 79 package) sold out 4 days early and Draw 123 sold out 3 days before the scheduled close. If you're interested in Mater draws, don't wait until the last minute.
Aspire Charity Gaming Lotteries
Aspire Charity Gaming is the operator behind many of Australia's most popular charity car lotteries. They run draws on behalf of multiple charities, with each brand having its own signature prize style. Between them, Aspire's charity partners have given away over $4.7 million in prizes tracked on Competitions.com.au alone.
Act for Kids
Mercedes-Benz SpecialistAct for Kids draws exclusively feature Mercedes-Benz vehicles — AMG GLA35s, GLC300s, EQBs, and more. With 27 draws tracked and $2.7M in prizes, they're the go-to for luxury European car prizes. Current draw: Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA35 SUV worth $152,493.
PCYC Lottery
Toyota & Subaru FocusPCYC Lottery consistently offers Toyota and Subaru vehicles — LandCruiser Prados, RAV4 Hybrids, Foresters, and Fortuners. With 22 draws and $1M+ in prizes, they offer solid mid-to-premium range vehicles. Current draw: Toyota LandCruiser Prado Kakadu worth $108,789.
Guide Dogs Victoria
Gold Bullion or Car ChoiceGuide Dogs Victoria offers winner's choice prizes — typically $20K–$50K in gold bullion, a Coles Myer gift card, or a brand-new car. Great flexibility for winners. Current draw: $50K Gold Bullion or Toyota RAV4 GXL Hybrid worth $55,755.
Animal Welfare League
Car of Your ChoiceAnimal Welfare League draws let the winner choose their own car up to a set value ($30K–$49K range), or take the cash alternative. A flexible option if you want to pick your own vehicle. Current draw: Car of Choice or $34,700 Cash.
Cerebral Palsy Alliance
Toyota RAV4 or CashCerebral Palsy Alliance consistently offers a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or cash alternative ($20K–$45K). They've run 7 draws since 2024 with $337K in prizes. Simple, reliable format. Current draw: RAV4 or $45K Cash worth $57,775.
Mater Home Lottery
Prize Homes + CarsAlongside Cars for Cancer, Mater also includes vehicles in their prize home packages. The current $5.6M Gold Coast package and $4.5M Bribie Island package both include cars as secondary prizes.
Currently Active Charity Car Draws
Here are the charity car competitions you can enter right now. For the full list of all car competitions (including commercial and free-entry draws), visit our car competitions page.
| Competition | Charity | Prize Value | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA35 SUV | Act for Kids | $152,493 | Feb 23 |
| Toyota LandCruiser Prado Kakadu | PCYC Lottery | $108,789 | Mar 9 |
| RAV4 or $45K Cash | Cerebral Palsy Alliance | $57,775 | Mar 25 |
| $50K Gold Bullion or Toyota RAV4 | Guide Dogs Victoria | $55,755 | Feb 19 |
| Car of Choice or $34,700 Cash | Animal Welfare League | $34,700 | Feb 24 |
| $5.6M Gold Coast Prize Package (inc. car) | Mater Home Lottery | $5,683,882 | Apr 20 |
Last updated: February 2026. Visit car competitions for the latest active draws.
Pro Tip
Most of these charities run new car draws every 4–6 weeks. If you missed one, just wait — the next draw is usually announced within days of the previous one closing. Follow the brand pages above to be notified when new draws go live.
How Charity Car Lotteries Work
Pick a Draw
Browse active charity car draws on our car competitions page or check the brand pages above. Each draw clearly shows the prize, value, ticket price, and closing date.
Buy Tickets
Purchase online through the charity's website. Prices typically range from $2–$100+ depending on the prize value. Most charities offer multi-ticket discounts (e.g., buy 3 get 1 free). All purchases are tax receipted.
Wait for the Draw
Draws are conducted by independent auditors using certified random number generators. All draws comply with state gaming regulations. You'll receive your ticket numbers by email after purchase.
Winner Notification
Winners are contacted by phone and email. Results are published on the charity's website. Most prizes include a cash alternative option (typically 80–90% of value) if you'd prefer money over the vehicle.
Eligibility
- Australian residents aged 18+
- Valid email and phone number
- Some draws open to specific states only — check T&Cs
- Charity employees and families typically excluded
Safety & Regulation
- All draws held under state gaming licences
- Charities registered with ACNC
- Independent auditors conduct all draws
- Financial reports publicly available
Charity Car Draws vs Regular Car Competitions
Our car competitions page lists both charity draws and commercial competitions. Here's how they compare. For a deeper dive into all types of car comps, see our complete guide to car competitions in Australia.
| Feature | Charity Car Draws | Commercial Competitions |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Type | Purchase tickets (lottery) | Often free or skill-based |
| Prize Range | $34K–$510K+ | $20K–$100K typically |
| Frequency | New draws every 4–6 weeks | Varies widely |
| Your Money | Supports charity causes | Goes to the promoter |
| Cash Alternative | Usually available | Rarely offered |
| Regulation | Strict state gaming licences | Trade promotion permits |
| Tax on Prize | Tax-free in Australia | Tax-free in Australia |
Why Choose Charity Draws
- Higher prize values (especially Mater)
- Your entry supports a real cause
- Cash alternative usually available
- Strictly regulated and audited
When to Try Commercial Comps
- Many are completely free to enter
- Skill-based = fewer entries per comp
- Wider range of car makes/models
- More frequent — radio, supermarket, brand promos
See our guide: Car Competitions Australia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mater Cars for Cancer?
Cars for Cancer is a dedicated lottery run by the Mater Foundation in Queensland. Unlike standard car draws offering a single vehicle, it gives away complete adventure lifestyle packages — a custom vehicle, caravan or camper trailer, gold bullion, and styling packages — with total values between $430,000 and $510,000. Draws occur roughly every 8 weeks, with 55+ completed so far.
What is Aspire Charity Gaming?
Aspire Charity Gaming is a lottery operator that runs car draws on behalf of multiple Australian charities including Act for Kids, PCYC, Guide Dogs Victoria, Animal Welfare League, and Cerebral Palsy Alliance. They manage the lottery logistics while each charity receives the fundraising proceeds. This is why you'll see these charities running draws on very similar schedules with consistent prize formats.
Are charity car lotteries legitimate?
Yes. All charity car draws listed on Competitions.com.au are operated by registered charities under state gaming licences. They're subject to independent auditing, financial reporting to the ACNC (Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission), and strict gaming regulations. Major operators like Mater Foundation and Aspire Charity Gaming have run hundreds of draws over many years.
Can I take the cash instead of the car?
Most charity car draws offer a cash alternative, typically valued at 80–90% of the advertised prize value. Some draws (like Cerebral Palsy Alliance and Guide Dogs Victoria) explicitly advertise the cash option upfront, making it easy to decide. Check the specific draw's terms and conditions for details.
Do I have to pay tax on the car prize?
No. In Australia, lottery and competition prizes are generally tax-free. You won't pay income tax on the vehicle or cash alternative. However, you'll be responsible for ongoing costs like registration, insurance, and running costs from the date you take possession.
Which charity car draw has the best prizes?
By sheer prize value, Mater Cars for Cancer dominates — their adventure packages are worth $430K–$510K. For luxury vehicles, Act for Kids consistently offers Mercedes-Benz models worth $130K–$167K. For maximum flexibility, Guide Dogs Victoria and Animal Welfare League let you choose between the car, gold bullion, or cash.
Can I enter multiple charity car draws at once?
Absolutely. There's no restriction on entering multiple draws from different charities. Many regular entrants buy tickets across several draws simultaneously. You can also enter both car draws and prize home lotteries from the same charities.
How often do new charity car draws open?
Very frequently. With 5+ charities each running draws every 4–6 weeks through Aspire, plus Mater's Cars for Cancer every ~8 weeks and Mater Home Lottery packages, there are typically multiple active charity car draws at any given time. We currently track over 100 completed draws across these brands.
Ready to Win a Car for a Great Cause?
Browse all active charity car draws plus free-to-enter commercial car competitions — all in one place.
Also interested in winning a home? These same charities run prize home lotteries:
Explore Prize Home Lotteries | Home Lotteries ComparedDisclaimer
This article provides general information about charity car competitions in Australia. Prize details, ticket prices, and closing dates may change — always verify current information on the charity's official website before purchasing tickets. Competitions.com.au is an independent information resource and is not affiliated with any charity or lottery operator mentioned. Please gamble responsibly.