Free Car - Scam or Real Deal?
You've probably seen the ads that claim to offer you a free car. Or let you get paid to drive your own car. Are these claims too good to be true? Is it real — or just a scam?
It's actually true. But before you decide to jump in and get your own free car, you need to know more about it and how it works. It can be great for some people, but not for all.
How do free car offers work?
Here's how it works. Advertising companies often promote client's products or services by "wrapping" cars, SUVs, minivans, and trucks with colorful ads made of paint-safe vinyl film. Ads might promote a new movie, a cell phone service, a new art museum exhibit, or a brand of perfume, as examples. You may have seen these vehicles in your town.
Since the advertising company doesn't have it's own drivers, they "outsource" that job to other people — people who are willing to drive around in their own car or in a car provided by the company. It is not unlike companies paying race car drivers who agree to put the companies' decals on their cars. Or taxi cabs with mini-billboards on top.
As you might expect, the advertising company wants to make sure its rolling ads are seen by as many people, as often as possible. Therefore, they want people who normally spend a lot of time in their cars driving in heavily populated areas. University campuses, large office parks, and downtown in large cities are prime areas for this kind of advertising.
Also important is where the car is normally parked during the day. It's most effective if it can be seen by a large number of people passing the parking spot, either pedestrians or other drivers.
If you only drive short distances to school or work, live in a very small non-university town, or don't drive heavily traveled streets, you won't be able to qualify for a free car or get-paid-to-drive advertising program.
Is there a catch?
Yes, there's always a catch, isn't there? There are several "catches" in this case.
First, not all advertising companies do "rolling" ads with wrapped cars, and the ones who do are often hard to find. As you might expect, they don't have to beg for willing drivers who want free cars or to be paid to drive their own cars.
Second, competition is stiff. The companies with this kind of program get plenty of applications and must select drivers who are the best qualified for a particular ad campaign in a particular location.
Third, don't forget that, if you are accepted, you will be driving your colorfully designed vehicle everywhere you go — to church, to school, to visit your friends, to weddings, and to funerals. Are you up to it?
Oh, and you must be 18 years old, have a drivers license, and have a good driving record.
How do I find them?
As previously mentioned, companies who offer free cars are hard to find, but not impossible. So you'll have to do some legwork to locate them to submit an application.
You can use the Internet or phone directory to contact companies and ask if they offer this kind of program. Or if you happen to see a vehicle with advertising on it, you might find the the name of the ad agency in small print somewhere near the bottom of the ad. Or you could contact the company whose product or service is being advertised and ask about the company they use. Or simply ask the driver.
There is an alternative way to find "free car" companies — buy a "membership" to a directory of such companies. These are offered by several companies on the Internet for a one-time fee that is typically about $30. For the fee you get a database of companies, with details and contact information, located all over the U.S. and other countries.
These directory services often promote themselves in a very aggressive manner, with "teasers" and borderline outrageous claims. Some provide better information than others. Some data can be outdated or incomplete. Therefore, if you decide to buy a "free car" directory service, make sure they have a money-back guarantee. If you don't like the service, simply request a refund. Also do not buy any kind of "premium" service that promises to speed up or help your application process.
A free-car directory service company we like is TheFreeCar.com. Give them a try. They have a solid money-back satisfaction policy.
Making application
The contact information and details about each ad company will tell you how to apply for their free-car program. Most will provide an online form for you to fill out and return. Complete the application honestly and provide accurate information about yourself. Be prepared to wait for results. The more applications you submit, the better your chances of being accepted into at least one program.
You can't know for sure if you'll be accepted or that you'll find a deal that you like, but completing an application is a small investment of your time for the chance at a rewarding possibility.
Summary
Free-car and get-paid-to-drive programs do exist and are available to qualified applicants from companies who specialize in mobile advertising. Competition is heavy and only a few are accepted, but it's well worth a try.
For additional information about finding cheap cars for sale, see our related article, How to Find Cheap Cars.