You’ve probably seen cars driving around encased in advertisements. Did you know the drivers of those cars are likely getting paid just for driving around?
Car advertising is a legit way to make several hundred dollars a month — maximizing income from your vehicle if you already use your car for ride-share or food delivery services.
However, there are a few things you need to know:
- Car wrap scams are rampant, and there are lots of companies with poor reviews
- Some people report their cars were damaged by the wraps
- Depending on where you live, you may have to pay for commercial car insurance, which typically costs more than personal car insurance
In this post, I’ll show you how to safely advertise on your car with a legitimate company:
- What is car advertising?
- How do you get paid for advertising on your car?
- 3 companies that pay you for car advertising
- How do you spot car wrap scams?
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Car advertising: What is it?
Car advertising, or car wrap advertising, is when companies pay you for driving around with their advertisements on your vehicle.
Car wrap advertising companies match you with local brands, whose ads will be affixed to the outside of your vehicle. Depending on the company, you can choose two types of ads:
- Full-car wrap that covers your vehicle's paint job
- Decal ads that only cover specific areas of your vehicle, such as the side, hood, or rear window.
Most car wrap companies, like Carvertise and Nickelytics, have partner shops where you can have the ads placed on your vehicle for free. Other companies may require you to have the decals placed yourself.
How to get paid for advertising on your car
Typically, car wrap advertising companies pay you based on how often you drive your car and where. Most have an app or website that allows you to track your miles and get paid (usually through ACH deposit or PayPal).
Who can get paid for car ads: The car advertising process
Most companies only hire drivers with cars less than 10 or 15 years old. Drivers must have a good driving record with current vehicle insurance.
Uber/Lift/DoorDash drivers can also sign up and make money on top of their ride-share earnings.
How much do you get paid to advertise on your car?
The amount you make by advertising on your car depends on several factors, like the size of the advertisement and the location and amount of time you drive. Larger, more prominent ads have larger payouts because of increased visibility and potential reach.
Driving around in a more populated metropolitan area will also fetch you more money. Most companies use an app to track your mileage and location whenever you drive.
These Reddit users shared how much they made through car wrap advertising. As a side note, several of these drivers claimed they had trouble fully removing the ads from their vehicles:
3 companies that pay you for car advertising
These are three legit car wrap advertising companies that will pay you to display ads on your vehicle:
1. Carvertise
Carvertise is a car ad company that allows you to match with relevant ad campaigns in your area for free. Drivers can choose partial or full wraps, which brand to advertise with, and can accept or decline any campaign, which typically last 2 to 6 months.
Carvertise will suggest brands to partner with, targeting areas you frequently commute, and arrange for a shop to install your car wrap for free.
Carvertise driver requirements:
- 18 years old with a valid drivers license/insurance
- Regularly drive in one of the top 200 markets in the country
- Drive at least 30 miles per day (mileage tracked via the Carvertise app)
- Car must be at least model year 2008
Payout: $100 to $300 per month or $450 to $1,500 per campaign, depending on the size of the car wrap advertisement and the length of time you display it. Carvertise pays via PayPal or direct deposit (ACH deposit).
BBB: B+
Trustpilot: 3.2 stars
App Store: N/A
Google Play: 2.6 stars
2. Nickelytics
Nickelytics is a car advertising company based in Tampa, Fla., though they work with drivers across the U.S. To start, download and create an account on the Nickelytics app (available on both IOS and Android devices), which will also be used to track mileage.
Once you're approved for their advertising program, Nickelytics will put you in touch with and pay for a wrap installer. Drivers can choose between back windshield, light wrap, or full body ads. Campaigns can last anywhere from one week to three months.
Nickelytics driver requirements:
- 18+ years old with a clean driving record
- Car is no more than 10 years old
- Drive a minimum of 30 miles per day, 150 miles per week, or 450 miles/month
- Rideshare and delivery drivers welcome
Payout: Nickelytics says most drivers make between $175 to $250 per car wrap advertising campaign and can make upwards of $500 depending on the type of advertisement and duration of the campaign.
BBB rating: N/A
Trustpilot rating: N/A
App Store: 3.5
Google Play: 2.5
3. Wrapify
Wrapify works with drivers across the U.S., who can get their back window, doors, or whole vehicle wrapped.
There is a whole subreddit for drivers who use Wrapify to ask questions/discuss the service with other drivers:
Wrapify driver requirements:
- 21+ years old
- Pass background check
- Drive a vehicle that is a 2010 model year or newer with no significant damage
Payout: Depending on whether it's a partial or full wrap, Wrapify says you can earn between $180 and $450 per month. Payments are made via direct deposit to your bank account.
BBB rating: C-
Trustpilot rating: N/A
App Store: 3.9
Google Play: 3.9
See how Wrapify works here:
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Other car advertising companies:
These are some other car advertising companies that have raised concerns from drivers (or that have no reviews at all):
1. Free Car Media
Free Car Media has a bare bones website and claims they are still in the process of growing and making new brand partnerships. They even warn potential drivers it may take several months before a compatible ad match can be made.
We were not able to find any customer reviews for Free Car Media.
Free Car Media driver requirements:
- Clean driving record
- Drivers can elect to opt out of a campaign if not satisfied
- Drivers manually track miles driven
Payout: Free Car Media claims rear window advertising pays $50+ per month, while full vehicle wraps pay up to $400 a month.
BBB rating: N/A
Trustpilot rating: N/A
App Store: N/A
Google Play: N/A
2. Stickr.co
Formerly called ReferralCars, Stickr.co isn’t like other car advertising companies. Rather than paying you based on the number of miles you drive, you only get paid when someone signs up for the advertised service with the referral number on your sticker, a perforated see-through advertisement placed in your back window (which you install yourself).
People on Reddit are rightly suspicious of Stickr.co for several reasons:
- Stickr.co charges a $10 monthly “deposit,” which they say you’ll get back once you take a picture of the advertisement on your car each month.
- Some people claim they were only paid in restaurant coupons or gift cards
- People say they worked with Stickr for months with no payouts
Here’s what people on Reddit had to say:
Payout: Stickr claims drivers can earn upwards of $2,300 in cash and gift cards each year, though based on customer reviews, this appears to be far from the truth.
BBB rating: F
Trustpilot rating: 3.8 stars
App Store: N/A
Google Play: N/A
3. StickerRide
StickerRide is a 10-year-old company based in the United Kingdom that claims to also hire drivers in the United States.
However, there are hundreds of reviews on Google Play that claim the app is impossible to log into because of a faulty verification process.
StickerRide driver requirements:
- 18+ years old with a clean driving record
- Drivers can only participate in one campaign at a time
Payout: StickerRide allows you to calculate your potential income on its app before starting the application process, though most users claim they were never able to successfully create an account.
BBB rating: N/A
Trustpilot rating: N/A
App Store: N/A in the U.S.
Google Play: 1.7 stars
How to spot car wrap scams
Car advertising is a legitimate venture if you're willing to display ads on your vehicle. Unfortunately, scams are rampant1, so proceed with caution when selecting a vehicle advertising company.
The Federal Trade Commission2 offers this advice to spot and avoid car wrap scams:
- Car wrap scammers often place ads on job boards, send email solicitations, and message people on social media.
- Companies may offer to send you a large check, then ask you to deposit it and wire a portion of the check to another company that will wrap your car.
Legitimate car wrap advertising companies will only hire drivers who are at least 18 years old, with proof of a valid driver's license and a good driving record.
These Reddit users shared their experiences with car wrap scams:
Other cons of car advertising
Car wrap advertising is a legit way to make money, but there are some risks involved:
Potential damage to your vehicle
While companies claim the ads will do no damage to your car, some Reddit users claimed they had trouble fully removing their car wraps:
Insurance costs
Some insurance companies may require you to purchase commercial insurance for advertising on your car.
According to insurance marketplace Insureon3, commercial car insurance typically costs more than personal car insurance.
Risk of standing out
Some Reddit users warn that if your car is wrapped, you may be more susceptible to road rage incidents and being stopped for traffic violations, though there is no legitimate data to back up these claims:
Consider making extra cash with car advertising
If you frequently use your car, either for long commutes to work or as part of your job as a ride-share or delivery driver, it might make sense to get paid for advertising on your car.
However, it’s crucial to read driver reviews so you know you’re working with a legitimate company.
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