Free Car Programs

Free car programs are usually facilitated by a middleman - a company who brings the two parties together. This has most effectively been managed online. The company who provides the service of connecting the parties usually has a website through which interested drivers can register and apply. This provides them a source of drivers.

The company also finds businesses who want this type of advertising and builds a database of on-going campaigns, contacting these companies regularly either through phone, email or electronic interface, so that they have a regular supply of work to offer.

The company then finds the right drivers for each advertising campaign. By "right type of drivers", I really mean that they're looking for people who live in a certain place and have certain driving habits in order for them to make the best match for an ad campaign.

For example, let's say a regional bank in Dallas, Texas, wants drivers who will drive around their pre-wrapped cars for one year in order to stir up more deposit customers. The free car program company is not going to match that business with drivers in New Jersey.

The company in the middle is only successful as its ability to match drivers and ad campaigns. That's why it is critical that they acquire as much information as possible from interested drivers up front. It's not because they're being nosy about your driving habits or because they are looking for a way to eliminate you as a possible candidate - it's simply so that they can match you with the program which not only gives the advertiser the best exposure for his money but also gives you, the driver, the best chance of being successful at the job.

The application process is crucial. Be honest and think through the questions carefully. Almost any company of any size keeps track of how well their advertising dollars did at bringing in new business. If you are selected to drive a free car through one of these programs because you said you drive 1,000 miles a month when, in fact, you only drive 500, it's likely the advertiser will notice that in their marketing reports and will think that either your particular city is not successful for their campaign or that you were not as effective in helping them get their ad seen as they thought you might be.

"Do a good job and help create new business and you'll have a better chance of being selected for more free car programs in the future."

Photo by: JZB CC BY-SA 2.0

When you're ready to apply, go to a site like TheFreeCar, and sign up for their service. You'll be requested to fill out several forms. These forms are going to ask all kinds of questions such as:

Are you a licensed driver?

Are you over 18 years of age?

Do you have car insurance?

How many miles you drive each day/week/month?

What routes do you take on a regular basis?

Remember, this is all information they need in order to find the best free car program for you.

This is often the part where some people get frustrated. Don't stop, though. If you need help with the forms either because you're not as internet savvy as my teenage son or because tests make you nervous (this isn't really a test!), then get help with the form.

Some people have referred to these programs as scams. You can read the news reports for yourself that confirm they are legitimate programs which have been around for quite some time. The reason people start to whisper that it's a scam is because they signed up and didn't get chosen for a program. This is going to happen to some applicants but there are very valid reasons for why:

Valid reasons some applicants are not selected for a free car program:

The applicant didn't complete all of the requested steps required of the free car program.

The applicant didn't follow through after they'd submitted their application by checking into the service regularly and getting engaged in the process.

The applicant lives in a small, rural town with little opportunity to expose the car wrap advertising to as many consumers as the company required for their ad campaign.

This doesn't mean the program is a scam - it means it just isn't for everybody. However, if you're highly interested and willing to comply with the program, live in a highly populated area, and drive around 1,000 miles a month - the standard average driving mileage in the US - then you're in a great position to take advantage of these programs and could be driving a new car for free.

Photo by: Mynameisharsha CC BY-SA 2.0

Once you've been selected through one of the free car programs, you'll be notified by phone or email. Arrangements to deliver the car to you will be finalized and you'll be sent confirmation details of the assignment. The assignment could be anywhere from a month to a year but you'll see all of these details up front and you can always reject the ones that don't work well for you - although, think carefully about rejecting an assignment. If you want this to be a steady arrangement, you'll want to show you are committed to the job.

Remember, this is just like a job. You are, in fact, being hired to perform work for the company by agreeing to drive a new car that's covered in their advertising car wrap. If you want to do a really good job and help improve your chances of getting your next assignment, think about some ways you can get more advertising exposure. For instance, don't drive the same route to your regular job, the kids' school, the gym. Mix it up and get that car out and about on different streets. You can often mix up your driving route and get to where your going in the same amount of time as your normal route but you'll be getting that car seen by people and businesses on different streets if you change up your driving habits.

In a way, you're representing the advertiser by driving their car with their advertisement on it and you're getting paid to do so. Don't drive recklessly or cause the advertiser to suffer any negative impressions of his or her brand by racing through traffic. Their name is completely visible to the world once you're in that car and it will be associated with how you behave on the road.

"You have a responsibility to make sure the advertising car is well maintained and that the ad wrap is clean and visible at all times."

Keep track of the mileage on the car at time of delivery and follow any program requirements for tracking your driving miles, your driving pattern or anything else that the program has asked you to track. Keep their supplied forms or your own notebook in the glove compartment so it's always handy when you need to make notes.

Be sure to contact the service through which you received the assignment if you ever have any problems with the car or the advertising wrap.

Photo by: Phillip StewartCC BY-SA 2.0