The #2 Way to Get a Free Car
June 16, 2008 by Marcie
You’ve probably heard of Free Car programs where you can get paid $500 to $2000 for driving your own car, or get a free car, or both.
A car wrap is when a vehicle is decorated with a logo or an ad. There are over one million car wraps on the road.
Companies like to use a car wrap to advertise because even small billboards cost $3000 and an ad in a daily newspaper costs $10,000+ to reach the same number of consumers.
It costs a lot less to lease a niche vehicle to drive the same road a where single car wrap ad will be seen by 40,000 people in a day and costs only $20 a day.
Vehicles commonly used are PT Cruisers, SUVs, vans, Ford Explorers. The cars could be new or nearly-new from a company’s fleet.
Competition is high for free cars and outstrips demand. It may take 90 days or more to be accepted. You are going to need to be well qualified and have patience.
Some programs you pay gas and insurance and some will reimburse insurance
Some pay an hourly fee for you to drive a specific route
Unlikely that you will be able to choose the model/make or ad or the duration of how long it stays on your car, you need to realize that it is on 24/7 and can’t be taken off and on at your whim.
Advertisers such as Lipton Tea, Yahoo!, Sony, Toshiba, Taco Bell, HBO, ABC, Mobile Engine, Pringles, IHOP, and Virgin Records have used car wrap for advertising campaigns.
Who Qualifies for a Free Car?
Must be 18 years old and over
Must be a permanent citizen or resident
Must have driver’s license and good driving record
Do not need to be employed
Most companies will not let you pick the advertiser
You can back out if you have a moral issue (cigarettes, alcohol, and other content)
Contracts are the length of the ad campaign, or 2 to 5 years
No leasing or payments are involved
.
At end, you can renegotiate the contract, renew/extend or purchase, lease/return vehicle
Acceptance is based on Three Factors
The numbers of miles you drive; 800-1000 plus miles are best
Where you drive-the route.
Highly populated, high traffic areas and large college campuses are ideal
Where you park
Selection is based on the number of people who will see the car each day.
Reasons you wouldn’t be accepted (Even one of these will move you further down the candidate list):
If you have ever been convicted
If you have a felony
If you have a DUI (drugs or alcohol)
If you have been convicted for two or more moving violations within the last 24 months.
Car Wrap Membership Directories
Companies with products have their marketing and ad agencies use directories to help them locate people like you. Directories get a percentage of ad revenue generated by advertisers
Directories average about $30 for membership and usually have a 90 day “guarantee”-read carefully before purchase to know exactly what it means and guarantees.
Do not pay for “help” to apply or for a “premium listing” or a “top of list” placement.
Directories say they don’t guarantee acceptance but do guarantee the legitimacy of programs and application process
The information you provide on your application is going to be checked so be honest and accurate.
Some companies require a credit check.
It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to fill out an application.
While there are several directories, the information is generally the same.
Look over the different directories offers and contrast and compare to find the best fit.
Read customer testimonials
Read the FAQ’s carefully
After you pay the membership fee and have access to the directory, be prepared for 80-90% of the offers not being viable for you because they are not in the area where you live or drive
An alternative to becoming a member of a directory is to check the Internet and Yellow Pages for local car wrap companies to see if they have a program. Just know that some are not going to offer a Free car program and only offer car wrap services to advertisers.
The Car Wrap Process
Ads can be magnetic/vinyl and will not damage your car
A GPS may be placed in the vehicle to make sure that the car is being driven on the agreed route per the contract
An ad can cover ¼, ½, ¾ or the entire car
The larger the ad, the more you will be paid
Your car must match the desired image of the advertiser
It must be your primary car and you must be the principal driver
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