| There seems to be a never ending fascination to the | | | | campaigns and that is where they remain at this point. |
| notion that some people get paid to drive their cars. | | | | For certain advertising campaigns, the auto wrap still |
| While it is true that a few lucky people are able to do | | | | has an appeal of being different than typical advertising |
| this, the entire field of paid to drive opportunities has | | | | campaign. |
| changed dramatically over the last few years. | | | | From time to time there will be a company that is |
| The get paid to drive concept was at the height of its | | | | looking for a unique advertising campaign, and the auto |
| popularity during the Internet bubble of the late 1990s. | | | | wrap can offer a cost effective way of getting their |
| Roadside advertising was near capacity leaving the | | | | brand name out there. In this case, a company would |
| many companies that wanted to advertise their | | | | "rent" space on individual private citizen's cars. In return |
| service or product to those driving in their cars without | | | | for letting the company "wrap" the car with their |
| a place to do so. At this time, billboard and other | | | | advertisement, they'll compensate the car owner with |
| traditional advertising space along busy roads and | | | | a monthly payment. The payment can be as high as |
| highways was severely limited and prices for such | | | | $400 a month for a full car wrap and lesser amounts |
| space was rising fast. | | | | for a partial car wrap or a window wrap. |
| One solution to this advertising shortage was | | | | The catch is that there are far more drivers wanting |
| addressed with car wraps. Basically, the advertiser | | | | to be paid to drive than advertising campaigns |
| would wrap their advertisement around a car (instead | | | | available. If you don't drive a lot of miles (typically over |
| of on a billboard) for everyone to see. This way | | | | 800 miles a month) or live in a highly populated area |
| companies could advertise their products or services | | | | where the advertisement will be seen by a lot of |
| to reach people driving along the roads in areas where | | | | people, your chances of being chosen are slim. |
| they couldn't get advertising space on billboards. | | | | While the chances of getting paid to drive today are |
| The car wrap gained popularity through the 1990s | | | | not very good, they are still better than playing the |
| when traditional billboard advertising remained tight, but | | | | lottery. If you believe your car and location would be |
| when billboard advertising softened in the late 1990s, | | | | desirable to advertisers, it could be worth contacting |
| this took a heavy toll on the car wrap advertising | | | | auto wrap companies directly to see if you can get on |
| companies. Today, only a fraction of those that were | | | | their list. If you are lucky and do get picked, you will |
| once in business remain so. | | | | significantly reduce your driving expenses with little |
| Most car wrap companies that remain have had to | | | | effort on your part. |
| reinvent themselves as niche advertisers for specialty | | | | |