Growing up, The Price Is Right was the go-to for sick days. It’s been a game show that resonates because you can play along. Developing a fondness for the series, kids become fans who dream of getting to “come on down” as adults. Maybe it’s the desire to play Plinko or just make it to Contestant’s Row. Or maybe, it’s the dream of winning a “brand-new car!” But winning that shiny new vehicle is not as straightforward as one might think.

Should that lucky contestant end up winning their dream car, they don’t hop into the driver’s seat and ride out into the sunset. First, you must hit the road and navigate the treacherous streets of taxes, paperwork, and even vehicle swaps. The dream of winning big on The Price Is Right has some major downsides. And it’s called reality.

From Stage Lights to Dealer Lot: The Hidden Rules of Winning

The reason many of us dream of appearing on a game show is to win, whether it’s an incredible destination vacation or money, that is almost impossible to imagine. But once the confetti finishes floating down and the studio lights turn off, reality sets in. Specifically, when it comes to winning a brand-new car on The Price Is Right, the keys will only reach your hand after you pay up. First, let’s discuss taxes. According to previous winners Debra Field and Shawn Allen, you must pay a 7% California state tax, no matter where you live. From there, it’s federal taxes. And then you get your fancy new ride—that is, if you even want it.

With such hefty price tags attached to these vehicles, winning may mean more than you think. Because the prize gets included in your income taxes, it might immediately bump you up into a higher tax bracket. And that means more to pay later on. There have certainly been winners who have passed on taking their new cars because, in the long run, it may be more of a headache than your dream ever imagined. Even with monetary prizes, some contestants have turned down portions of their winnings because it could result in a loss in the future.

Should the car that you win on the show be out of your realm of possibility, there have been instances in which contestants have swapped cars for a different vehicle. While it could help, it still comes at an incredible cost. There is something brilliant about watching the genuine excitement of seeing a deserving individual win big, but the reality behind the prize reveal, which is never witnessed, is more complex than you believe. It would become an entirely different show should the cameras capture contestants reading through the tax letter they must sign post-show.

While many winners have remained in the dark following their vehicle conundrum, one individual has taken to TikTok to spill the tea behind her experience post The Price Is Right. Kate Steinberg shared on her social media platform about what it was really like after she dropped to the floor in disbelief after host Drew Carey told her she won. “I won a Nissan Versa — you can keep that car or you can take that credit and get a new car, and that’s what I did,” she said while revealing her upgraded white Toyota RAV4. The winning car came into her possession four months after the episode aired, and there’s no telling when the game was actually filmed.

While the influencer opted to take the upgraded car with the voucher, Allen revealed to Redditors during his AMA that the biggest prizes cannot be exchanged for cash equivalents. While he did receive the cash equivalent of a few of the prizes instead of the real item, what you win on the show is likely what you have the option of taking home. At some point.

When you have a dream like appearing on The Price Is Right, you tend to minimize the reality of its aftermath to keep up the illusion. At the end of the day, the long-running game show is a beloved spectacle. It’s a show that may seem out of reach, so there’s no reason to think of what happens when Carey says goodbye for the day. Not to be the bearer of bad advice, but if you truly want to have your dream car moment, take a moment to reflect on what it means the moment after. The cost of winning may be higher than you think.