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Turn your car into a moving billboard, get free gas

By Greg Fogg

February 20, 2006

Oceanside, CA--San Diegans are getting a little relief on the roadways thanks to an Oceanside company that’s giving drivers free gas if they'll turn their cars into moving billboards.

In exchange for outfitting their vehicle with a magnetic advertisement that promotes a local business, such as Toyota of Escondido or Becky's Cleaning Service and Organizing, drivers receive pre-paid gas cards from the advertiser-funded web-based business, Freegashelp.com.

A magnetized ad from freegashelp.com (Photo courtesy freegashelp.com)

Freegashelp’s Marketing Director, Mel Jacob, says he’s not surprised that many of the cars enrolled in the program are gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks. He added, however, that an owner of a Lexus GS is enrolled in the program. Jacob says the amount of gas money drivers can earn depends on the size of the ad and where it's located on the car.

A license plate or bumper sticker pays $5 a month while a window box sign, like the ones atop of cabs and pizza delivery cars, will pay $80 a month.

Drivers must meet certain conditions: They must drive 1,000 miles a month, keep their vehicles in good cosmetic condition, and keep the magnetic signs on their car at all times. Noncompliance means they could be booted from the program.

Jacob says the company launched two months ago, and so far has 100 drivers enrolled and another 500 on their list revved up to be accepted.

He says the company also takes photos of drivers grinning in front of their car and sends the snapshots to the sponsors, much like adopt-a-child programs will do with kids in foreign countries.

So far, the program is limited to San Diego County, Orange County and Riverside County, but the company is gearing up to expand into Michigan and Florida.

Drivers can contact the company through its website, www.freegashelp.com or by calling 1-888-88GASAD (1-888-884-2723).

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