Put a Dent in Driving Expenses
Looking for a way to reign in seemingly never ending increases in how much money it takes to drive around town? By participating in special programs that pay you to drive your own car or drive a special advertisement car, you can earn perks that will help you fill up the tank or spend in any other way you please.
When you participate in programs like these, there is always a “catch”. The obligation is that you’ll be required to drive around town in a provided car painted up brightly in the sponsor’s advertisements or to put a magnetized billboard on the side of your own car. There will also be requirements to keep a driving log to prove that you are driving the car around for a certain, pre-determined amount of time in the specified parts of town. You also may be asked to complete online surveys or join focus groups to talk about your experience. The sponsor is counting on the program participants to be their rolling billboard; so the more miles driven, the more people will see the advertisements.
These opportunities to drive cars for money are typically located in large, metro areas where there is a high concentration of potential viewers of the ad. If you are sent a magnetic ad to adhere to the side of your car, don’t be worried about it causing any harm to the paint’s finish. These large magnets can safely and easily be removed as needed or when “off hours”. Other products that can be used in these “get paid to drive” programs include entire car wraps and jumbo-sized, transparent decals that adhere into the car window.
Joining these programs is largely based on where the client has a need for advertising; applicants living in very large cities, who log lots of miles commuting, spend the weekends driving to popular festivals or outdoor activities, and have the opportunity to park at work or home in a high-profile and visible part of a parking lot. Sometimes, the client will install a GPS unit inside the car a way to prove that you are driving the required number of miles, on the required roads and times of day.
Joining a “get paid to drive” program is typically word-of-mouth because it is such a popular program to get accepted into. Sometimes, survey sites and advertising agencies might advertise an opportunity to get paid to drive; before joining, run a Google search to uncover any important feedback from past participants that may influence your opinion to join.
Recently, even the big automakers are getting into the concept. Ford Motor Company launched a social marketing campaign focusing on their sub-compact Fiesta. With traditional advertising providing lackluster results, Ford decided to give away 100 cars to targeted 20-something consumers who agreed to take online surveys, tweet, blog, update Facebook status and create general word-of-mouth buzz about the car for 6 months.