3 Companies That Pay You to Advertise on Your Car

Unless you live in a city or somewhere with good public transit, you probably spend a lot of time in your car.

With all that driving — to and from work, running errands, visiting friends, going to the gym — the cost of gas and car maintenance can start to add up. But what if there was a way you could offset those costs?

If you’re in search of some extra cash, consider adding a unique passive income stream.

Get Paid to Advertise on Your Car with These Three Companies

If you don’t mind putting stickers or wraps on your vehicle, there are a number of companies that will pay you to advertise on your car.

1. Nickelytics

In a space wrought with scammy looking websites and empty promises, Nickelytics is a clear standout in terms of instant trust. You can listen to an interview with the CEO (above) and hear him talk in depth about the business model and how drivers can benefit.

How the Program Works:

The first step towards making money with Nickelytics is to download the app and sign up to become a driver. From there, you will fill out a short questionnaire answering questions about yourself and your driving habits, your insurance coverage, etc. From there, you’ll just need to activate the app while you are driving so that Nickelytics can then match you with advertising campaigns that you are eligible for.

Once you’ve been matched with a campaign, you will have the option to accept or reject the campaign. If you decide to move forward, depending on the wrap style of the campaign, you will either have a self-install wrap sent to you or you will have a custom install performed. 

Pros:

• Backed by reputable names: Trust is huge in this space. Nickelytics is backed by some of the most prominent VC firms and has a stacked team.
• Focused on delivering strong advertising results: Based on their client-focused approach, it’s likely that Nickelytics will continue to grow in popularity (which means more opportunities for drivers)

Cons:

• Mileage requirements: To drive for Nickelytics, you should drive a minimum of 30 miles a day, 150 miles a week, and 450 miles a month.
• Newer model required: Your vehicle must be no more than 10 years old without any major body damage to qualify for Nickelytics.

How Much You Can Expect to Earn

Nickelytics reports that most of their drivers earn between $175 and $250 per campaign, with some campaigned earning drivers up to $500. Most campaigns last somewhere between 7 days and three months. 

2. Wrapify

Founded in 2015, Wrapify partners with advertisers who are interested in rolling billboards. It hires drivers who don’t mind placing ads on their car and pay them based on how far they drive.

How the Program Works:

To work with Wrapify, download the app and sign up to become a driver. Then, drive to the places you normally go to and receive offers for campaigns. Your offers will be based on your driving habits, which the app will track.

Once you see a campaign that piques your interest, you’ll register, get the advertisement placed on your car, and start to earn money.

The miles you drive within a campaign zone, which is usually within 50 miles of the advertiser’s location, will determine your earnings.

Pros:

• Easy, consistent payments: Wrapify will pay you every other week via direct deposit.
• No long-term commitments: Most campaigns are between 1 and 3 months long, so you don’t have to make any long-term commitments.

Cons:

• Must pass a background check and be at least 21: To drive for Wrapify, you’ll need to pass a background check, which requires no more than two accidents in the past three years.
• Newer model required: You must have a 2010 or newer vehicle without any major body damage to qualify for Wrapify.
• Early termination fees: If you break a contract before its end date and remove the wrapping, you’ll be charged with early termination fees.

How Much You Can Expect to Earn

Wrapify drivers report earning $196 to $452 per month, depending on mileage driven.

Related: 18 Passive Income Ideas for Generating Continuous Wealth

3. Carvertise

Carvertise is a Delaware-based advertising company. It was founded in 2012 and hires thousands of drivers throughout the country.

How the Program Works:

To apply to Carvertise, you enter your name, phone number, and email on a short form on its website. The company will match you to a brand that targets the areas you normally drive to.

After you are approved to become a driver, the company puts car wrap advertising on your car and pays you via direct deposit. The company pays $100 per month for the duration of the campaign. If you participate in a three-month campaign, for example, you’ll earn a total of $300. At the end of the campaign, you will remove the ad.

Pros:

• Opportunities to earn more by parking: If you park your car in certain locations during a set time frame, you may be able to boost your earnings.
• Can accept or decline campaigns: You don’t have to commit to a certain number of campaigns and can participate as much or as few as you’d like.

Cons:

• Must drive 30 miles per day: If you drive less than 30 miles per day, Carvertise won’t hire you as a driver.
• Newer car requirement: Your car must be a 2008 or newer model.

How Much You Can Expect to Earn

Pay ranges from about $300 to $1,200 per campaign.

Related: 28 Online Jobs That are Legitimate, Easy, and Flexible

Companies We Aren’t Sure of But Have Seen Mentioned

A quick Google search will give you long list of car wrapping advertising companies, but that doesn’t mean all of them are worth your time. The names on the list below kept popping up on other articles across the web, but we can’t vouch for their authenticity. We recommend trying to work with Nickelytics, Carvertise, or Wrapify before trying any other companies.

Free Car Media

Why we left them off our list:

❌ Very outdated website along with a weird “start your online business today” link on their homepage that is unrelated to car wrapping. Clicking on the sign up page takes you to a totally different URL.

ReferralCars

Why we left them off our list:

❌ While a clunky website isn’t always an automatic fail, the ReferralCars website leaves a lot to be desired. For starters, the site is not secure, which is a red flag. It also appears that the link to sign up for campaigns just redirects back to the homepage, so it’s impossible to sign up. Chances are, the site used to be legit but is no longer active.

StickerRide

Why we left them off our list:

❌ According to App Store reviews, the customer service has been on the decline. According to users, the app also appears to be very buggy. Proceed with caution.

Related: 13 Ways to Make Money Delivering Food, Packages, and More

What Kinds of Ads Will be Placed on Your Car

Each company has its own strategy for placing ads on cars. While some companies pay to advertise using simple decal stickers, many of them opt for vinyl car wrapping. The wrapping option makes it look like the ads were actually painted onto the cars.

Depending on the size of the ad, the wrapping may cover your entire vehicle or a small part of it. Car wrapping isn’t permanent, so the car advertising company can easily remove it from your car if and when you decide to stop working for it. It’s unlikely that vinyl wrapping will cause any damage to your car, so you shouldn’t have to worry about expensive repairs or new paint.

Related: How to Make Money as an Airbnb Host

How to Find Legitimate Car Advertising Companies

The reality is that car wrap scams are rampant. Do your due diligence and vet a company to make sure it’s legitimate before you agree to work with it.

Application Process: A legitimate car advertising company typically has a formal application process and evaluates your car’s make, model, and year as well as your driving history. If a company isn’t asking those kinds of questions, it might be best to go in a different direction.

No Application Fee: You shouldn’t be charged any application or annual fees to work with car advertising companies.

Insurance Requirements: If a company is reputable, it’ll require you to show proof of car insurance coverage. The company won’t hire you to drive with its ads unless you meet the minimum car insurance requirements in your state.

It Pays for Your Car Wrapping: If a car advertising company asks you to cover the cost of applying or removing car wraps, or states that it’ll reimburse you, it may be a car wrap advertising scam. A legitimate company will pay for this process.

Good Customer Service: Make sure the company you choose offers a customer service phone number or email address you can use to contact it when you have a question or concern. If there’s no customer service information, consider looking elsewhere.

Other Ways to Make Money with Your Car

There are a number of other ways to earn passive income with your car. You can deliver packages for Amazon Flex or restaurant meals via Uber Eats or DoorDash. If you’re a stay-at-home parent, live in a city, or work from home, you can also rent out your car with a company like Getaround to make money when you’re not using your vehicle.

To maximize the earning potential, try combining a few of these options. With just a little time and effort, you can turn your car into a money-making machine.

Related: DoorDash Driver Review: How to Make Money Driving for DoorDash