Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising
Offset high gas prices by turning your car into billboard
Gas prices suck and the job market is almost as bad, but a little uglification of your car or truck can net you some big bucks. Alternative marketing companies that want to plaster your car with "tasteful" advertisements are paying hundreds of dollars to the right people, but chances are you aren't one of them. There is a reason you don't see many of these driving billboards, because the companies with the money are looking for people who travel a lot and park their car in interesting places. More scrupulous types know that people are willing to do just about anything to get relief from the rising cost of transportation, so there are a lot of scams out there, too. If anyone asks for, say, a deposit or a car for keeps, that's probably not going to really happen. Most arrangements only last a few months, and pay can fluctuate wildly.
If you've actually worked as a rolling billboard, let us know in the comments. Be sure to add the company you worked for, how your experience went, and whether you'd do it again.
[Source: Wallet Pop]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TwinTurbo3000GT 3:14PM (6/07/2008)
no, i'd rather not, thanks
Reply
hotwings1 3:17PM (6/07/2008)
That picture of the teeth "after" is going to look a lot more like the one from "before" after you get into a collision because of the total distraction all those Ads on cars will create.
Reply
Bill Coates 9:50AM (6/09/2008)
Oh ya....sure it will, just like all the city buses that cause collisions every day, and oh my those darn taxi's too....what a scmuck you are!!
Just this morning a billboard caused a huge pile up....it's total world destruction!!
hotwings1 2:45PM (6/09/2008)
@ Bill Coates:
Who are you calling a shmuck? I only mean that if there are too (keyword "too") many of those things on the road, not like it currently is today. And when I say "you" I mean "you" in general not "you" as a person in particular! Please comprehend.
rodan32 3:23PM (6/07/2008)
So I see these around everywhere, and I think in my area (the Wasatch Front) they're mostly self-employed types trying to get a write-off on their car. The other typical thing is the car is generally one that stands out a little. A few typical examples would be Scion xBs, Hummer H3s, Chevy HHRs, Beetles (like your example) and so forth. So if you have a '99 Prism or something you're not a good candidate, I'd think.
Reply
Mike 3:53PM (6/07/2008)
'round my parts in western PA, only hummers are used for advertisements, and you're more likely to see a HHR or an xB as actual work vehicles for companies. Sure they'll have advertisements on them, but its a company vehicle. But no organization would be caught dead actually owning a hummer, so....
Dylan 4:06PM (6/07/2008)
The Outback steakhouse in my area in the suburb outside of LA actually has a Hummer H1 that does the take outs/catering for them. I think it's awesome.
TwinTurbo3000GT 6:55PM (6/07/2008)
Mike- theres a bunch of companys/businesses in my area that have company hummers...i can think of 2 H1s and a bunch of H2's...Monster energy drink and Silver State both have H1s and it seems like every other place on the strip uses an H2 as their billboard/delivery/service vehicle.
Not to mention almost every radio station in my area.
so, yea, your prettymuch dead wrong there
Johnny 3:48PM (6/07/2008)
I have heard of these companies before and theyu typically look for the following drivers:
1-Drives a lot
2-Drives in urban areas
3-Has a new car or relatively new
4-The car must be washed and maintained
5-The interior of the car must be clean and organanized. No empty coffee cups or paper and wrapper everywhere
6-The funkier the car the better ie:Mini, Prius, Hummer
7-You are paid based on your odometer reading to indicate you drive a lot
and so forth....
Reply
Kevin 3:57PM (6/07/2008)
I'd hardly call a set of ass-ugly teeth "tasteful".
Aside from that, I see it all over already... most "company cars" around here that are owned by a company that would benefit from advertising to the general public are already well covered. The local pharmacy has their Yaris vinyled up from bumper to bumper with their name, logo, etc etc.
That being said, I'd have no problem selling out my own car for a company I actually might use or believe in.
Reply
garth 3:59PM (6/07/2008)
Not a bad idea for the countless thousand fools who bought those giant gas guzzling Hummers, Suburbans and the clones to use them as billboards.
Reply
Galley 4:07PM (6/07/2008)
Count me out. I'll be lucky to put on 7,000 miles this year. Of course, if someone offered to cover my mortgage payment every month, I'd consider uglifying the Galleymobile.
Reply
ChazzMichaelMichaels 4:20PM (6/07/2008)
The way I drive people wouldn't be able to see the ads anyway unless they're fluent in blur. :)
In all honesty though, I looked into doing this at one point when I was in college because, naturally, money was tight. Usually these companies want to make sure that you:
1) Live in or work in an urban area with a high population density
2) Drive a car that will attract attention
3) Have a car that is newer than 3-5 years old
4) Drive an ample amount (15000k+ a year)
5) Have no damage to the vehicle
Some of you have identified those already, but what I learned in my experience is that they also:
6) (sometimes) want a credit check
7) Want insurance records
8) Want no accidents on your record for a period of 3+ or 5+ years (basically the period at which they fall off your insurance)
9) Want no citations on your record for the same period
I think there were a couple others too.
Reply
James T 6:45AM (6/08/2008)
Something tells me they're going to have a difficult time finding drivers who travel 15000k+ per year.
oly va ha 6:44AM (6/09/2008)
James T
Actually you're very wrong. People on the west cost drive a average of 12k per year. My dad drives 40k a year in his Silverado. My friends dad drove 60k in a Accord.
010111 7:37AM (6/09/2008)
"Actually you're very wrong."
read what he said again. very slowly. 15000k+ a year... get it yet? i'll help you out.
15,000*k*... as in 15,000,000 miles a year. you'd have to drive to the moon and back a good 30 times to rack up that many miles.
so please explain to me how he is "very wrong". thanks!
Kristovar 5:04PM (6/07/2008)
There's a red Hennessey Viper GTS running around North Austin advertising for a dentist's office complete with stickers on the sides and windows. That gets attention like no other.
Reply
2LaneBlackTop 9:08AM (6/09/2008)
Hey, that's my brother's car! And yes, he is a dentist, so he's advertising his own business.
Big John 5:31PM (6/07/2008)
I worked as one (sorry, won't say for who) and it wasn't bad. It offset my gas cost per month (sometimes a little more left over) but after a while you get sick of seeing the adverts on your door.
Reply
John 5:32PM (6/07/2008)
You also have to remember that once you put this advertising on your car, you now have a commercial vehicle. Your insurance should be adjusted accordingly, normally upwards.
Reply