Get Paid to Test Drive Cars: 4 Real Ways [$28/hr]

There are 4 reliable methods to receives a commission to check drive automobiles, they usually’re not all equal.

One pays $28/hour with no stress to purchase and no reward card trouble.

One other can earn you $200+ in a day in the event you plan your route proper.

I’ll present you all 4 methods, together with precisely methods to declare every one with out losing a visit.

Producer Take a look at Drive Promotions (The Present Card Methodology)

That is the tactic everybody talks about on Reddit, and for good cause.

One r/beermoney person stated they got a $100 gift card for test-driving a 2024 Dodge Hornet and have been doing these offers “for years at choose dealerships.”

One other person on the identical thread made $165 throughout three dealerships in a single day.

However the identical threads have individuals driving 20 miles and coming residence empty-handed.

The distinction is nearly all the time preparation.

Right here’s methods to be sure to’re within the first group.

Which Manufacturers At present Supply Take a look at Drive Promotions

These promotions rotate out and in.

The manufacturers under have essentially the most documented historical past of working them.

Hyundai

Hyundai runs reward card provides from $40–$100 relying on the mannequin and area.

As of early 2026, a $100 Visa card for test-driving the Elantra is lively in choose states by March 31, 2026.

Verify the JD Energy promo web page instantly for present availability and expiration dates.

A number of Reddit customers affirm e-gift playing cards arriving inside half-hour of redemption when the supplier processes the code appropriately.

Subaru

Affords normally vary from $35–$65 relying on the mannequin, with the Outback usually incomes essentially the most.

Digital reward playing cards are widespread and normally arrive the identical day.

Ford

Affords vary from $25–$100 at choose dealerships.

Availability is hit-or-miss, and the pop-up could not all the time present.

Price checking, however don’t make a particular journey till you’ve confirmed with the supplier.

Volvo

When lively, one of many higher offers is a $75 Visa, Amazon, or Nordstrom reward card.

But it surely’s unpredictable. Loads of actual testers say it has expired mid-campaign with out warning.

Lincoln

The best payout when obtainable is a $100 Visa reward card at choose dealerships.

Participation is proscribed, so name forward.

Dodge / Jeep / Ram

Affords vary from $50–$100 relying on the mannequin and dealership.

The Dodge Hornet promo on r/beermoney paid $100, with reward card choices like pay as you go Mastercard, Goal, or Amazon.

The way to Discover and Declare a Promo (Step by Step)

That is the place most individuals go mistaken.

They present up on the dealership hoping for a promotion that both expired or isn’t obtainable at that location.

Do that as an alternative:

Step #1: Flip off your advert blocker and open an incognito window. Many take a look at drive promo pop-ups received’t load in any other case.

Step #2: Go to the producer’s new stock or provides web page on your goal model. Enter your zip code and watch for a pop-up provide to seem. If nothing reveals, strive a zipper code for a unique supplier location in your space.

Step #3: Declare your promo code on-line earlier than you drive to the dealership.

Step #4: Name the supplier’s web division (not the primary gross sales desk). Ask: “Are you collaborating within the [Brand] take a look at drive reward card promotion?” Get the rep’s title.

Step #5: Once you arrive, be upfront. Say you’re there for the take a look at drive promotion and never shopping for at present. Most sellers will course of it shortly and ship you in your manner.

That final step surprises lots of people.

In accordance with a number of reviews from PhatWallet forum users, being easy concerning the promo usually means you don’t even must take the automotive out. Sellers would reasonably course of a code in 5 minutes than spend an hour pitching somebody who isn’t shopping for.

What Can Go Improper (And The way to Defend Your self)

One Reddit person accomplished a Hyundai take a look at drive, was promised a present card inside 24 hours, and by no means acquired it.

The gross sales rep stopped responding.

Right here’s what to do:

Earlier than you allow the lot, get the e-mail affirmation that the supplier submitted your redemption code. Should you don’t have that, you haven’t any recourse.

About Credit score Verify

The opposite factor to look at for: some dealerships inform clients a credit score examine is required earlier than a take a look at drive.

That’s not true, and it’s not authorized.

The FTC has explicitly advised that sellers can’t pull your credit score throughout a take a look at drive or window purchasing go to beneath the Truthful Credit score Reporting Act.

By no means give your Social Safety quantity for a take a look at drive. A driver’s license is all they want.

Automotive Thriller Procuring at Dealerships

Thriller purchasing a automotive dealership pays extra per project than virtually some other thriller purchasing gig.

However the vary is broad, and the distinction between a superb project and a irritating one comes all the way down to which firm you employ and what kind of store it’s.

One skilled shopper on the Mr. Cash Mustache discussion board logged 3.5 hours across two car test drive assignments and earned $14 total.

That’s brutal!

Automotive dealership assignments do are inclined to pay greater than a normal retail store, however how rather more relies upon fully on the corporate and project kind.

So all of it is dependent upon the duty and the corporate you’re working for.

Right here’s what it’s essential know.

How Automotive Dealership Thriller Procuring Works

You stroll in posing as a real purchaser. You’re not there to guage the automotive. You’re there to guage the dealership.

• Was the showroom clear?
• Did a rep strategy you promptly?
• How was the gross sales presentation?
• Did they provide a take a look at drive with out being requested?

The take a look at drive is simply your cowl, not the primary aim.

Afterwards, you write an in depth report about what you noticed, which normally takes 30–60 minutes.

Your pay is dependent upon turning it in on time and following directions precisely.

Miss a element or submit late, and your work will be rejected which imply you received’t receives a commission.

Finest Corporations for Automotive Thriller Procuring

BestMark

BestMark is likely one of the few thriller purchasing corporations that particularly lists automotive dealerships as a core business.

In accordance with their very own web site, normal pay falls between $7 and $20 per store, with automotive and extra concerned assignments paying increased.

Join, full your profile, and filter for automotive assignments in your space.

One heads-up: a number of consumers on Glassdoor and Certainly report fee delays with BestMark. Maintain information of each submitted project and observe up if fee doesn’t arrive on schedule.

IntelliShop

IntelliShop covers over 18,000 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada and has documented assignments at BMW and Mazda dealerships.

They pay between $10 and $40 per store relying on complexity.

You receives a commission through PayPal across the twentieth of the next month.

Sinclair Buyer Metrics

Sinclair Customer Metrics focuses closely on Toyota dealerships and pays round $60 per store.

They’ve been in enterprise since 1987 and maintain an A+ BBB ranking.

They pay by examine, despatched the final week of the next month.

Market Drive

Market Force covers a broad vary of industries together with automotive. Basic outlets pay $10 to $20, however dealership assignments are inclined to run increased.

Good possibility for combining with non-automotive outlets on the identical day.

Is Automotive Thriller Procuring Price Your Time?

It relies upon fully on the project and the way far you’re driving.

• Finest case: a higher-paying automotive store with a 45-minute go to and a 30-minute report can work out to a strong hourly fee.
• Practical case: a lower-paying store with a protracted drive and an in depth report can drop your efficient fee properly under minimal wage, as that MMM discussion board person came upon.

The neatest strategy is what skilled thriller consumers already do: mix a dealership project with different outlets on the identical route. Don’t make a particular 20-mile journey for a single automotive store. But when an project is 5 minutes from a restaurant store you’re already doing, that’s a superb afternoon.

Join with multiple mystery shopping companies so you might have choices when dealership assignments come obtainable in your space.

Efficiency Pushed Workforce: The Solely Constant Paycheck

Each different methodology on this listing is occasional revenue.

This one is a job.

Efficiency Pushed Workforce (PDW) is a staffing firm that hires drivers to guage new and pre-production autos for main auto producers.

Assume Ford, GM, and comparable.

The autos haven’t been launched to the general public but, and your job is to drive them and report again on what you discover.

No prior automotive expertise required.

What the Job Really Seems Like

You drive in small teams on predetermined public street routes for 8-hour shifts.

All through the shift, you fill out digital suggestions varieties overlaying issues like journey consolation, cabin noise, steering really feel, and total efficiency.

There are two 15-minute breaks and a 30-minute lunch.

You set your availability weekly, so that you select which days and shifts you need to work.

In accordance with Glassdoor data from 22 PDW vehicle test driver submissions as of November 2025, base pay averages $28/hour with a variety of $23 to $34/hour. Night time and weekend shifts include an extra hourly bonus.

To place that in actual numbers: a normal 8-hour day shift at base pay comes out to $224 earlier than taxes.

Necessities and The way to Apply

PDW’s necessities are easy:

• 18 to twenty years outdated minimal (varies by location)
• Legitimate U.S. driver’s license and clear driving report
• Not less than 2 years of U.S. driving expertise
• Skill to cross a written driving take a look at and observe map instructions
• Sturdy written and verbal communication abilities in English

To use, go to pdworkforce.com, click on “Apply Now,” choose “Drivers” within the job kind dropdown, and seek for openings in your space.

One factor value figuring out earlier than your driving take a look at: Glassdoor reviewers warn that the take a look at makes use of outsized cones arrange in areas longer than a traditional parking spot, and also you’ll seemingly be given a full-size pickup truck to finish it in. Faucet a cone and also you’re out on the spot. Apply parallel parking in a big car earlier than you present up.

The Actual Downsides

PDW sounds nice on paper, and the hourly fee genuinely is strong.

But it surely comes with actual limitations.

Hours will not be assured, particularly between November and April at Solar Belt areas. A number of Las Vegas-based Glassdoor reviewers particularly warn that winter shifts can drop to someday every week or disappear fully. PDW’s total compensation ranking on Glassdoor sits at 2.2 out of 5.

This isn’t steady sufficient to rely on as major revenue.

One of the best ways to consider it:

A well-paying part-time gig for automotive fans who stay close to a PDW-supported take a look at facility, not a substitute for a gentle paycheck.

PDW relies in Michigan, nevertheless it additionally has areas across the nation.

Verify their job listings to see if there’s a facility close to you earlier than getting too excited.

Native Vendor Stroll-In Promotions

That is essentially the most missed methodology on this listing.

Whereas producer promos require you to discover a pop-up code on-line and make sure supplier participation, native supplier promotions are simpler.

Particular person dealerships run their very own incentives utterly impartial of any producer marketing campaign, simply to get individuals on the lot.

You don’t want a coupon or to chase pop-ups. Simply name on the proper time.

The way to Discover Native Promotions

These aren’t marketed a lot, however you could find them if you realize the place to look.

Right here’s methods to discover them:

• Verify dealership web sites instantly, not producer websites, for native specials or provides pages
• Watch native newspaper inserts and supplier mailers
• Name dealerships instantly and ask: “Are you working any take a look at drive incentive promotions proper now?”
• Go to towards the top of the month when gross sales quotas are due and sellers are extra motivated to get individuals within the door

That final one issues greater than individuals suppose. Finish-of-month stress means native incentives pop up that you simply’d by no means see marketed anyplace.

What to Count on

Pay ranges from $25 to $100, in money or reward playing cards relying on the dealership.

It normally takes 30–60 minutes, shorter than producer promos since there’s much less paperwork and no on-line redemption course of

One Reddit person stated they acquired a $100 reward card from a Dodge dealership in San Fernando for test-driving a 2024 Hornet and talked about they’ve been doing these offers “for years at sure dealerships.”

Like with model promos, honesty helps. Inform the rep you’re there for the deal, to not purchase, and most will deal with it shortly.

Mix this with the model promo strategy, and you can hit a number of dealerships in a single afternoon. Some individuals make $150–$200+ in a day doing this.

It takes planning, nevertheless it provides up if the sellers are shut sufficient.

For extra methods to earn a living together with your automotive past take a look at drives, take a look at my information on making money with your car.

Tricks to Maximize What You Earn From Take a look at Drive Promos

Just a few easy strikes can flip a $50 afternoon into $200+.

Stack A number of Promos in One Day

Completely different manufacturers imply totally different dealerships, which implies separate promos you may stack in a single journey.

Plan your route the evening earlier than. Affirm participation by cellphone first. Be upfront at every cease.

One PhatWallet person stated they made $165 from three dealerships in one day and didn’t even have to check drive a automotive at any of them.

If you wish to maintain incomes out of your automotive past one-time promos, take a look at my information on getting paid to wrap your car.

Convert Your Present Playing cards to Money

Most take a look at drive promos pay out in pay as you go Visa or Mastercard reward playing cards. You possibly can spend these instantly anyplace Visa is accepted, or promote them on a present card alternate in the event you’d reasonably have money.

Amazon and Goal reward playing cards are simple to make use of on stuff you’d purchase anyway, saving your money for different issues.

Take a look at my information on how to turn a Visa gift card into cash if you wish to convert shortly.

Watch Out for These Crimson Flags

Most of what’s out there may be legit, however a couple of issues are value figuring out earlier than you go.

• Upfront charges: Any “take a look at drive job” that makes you pay first is faux. Actual corporations like PDW and thriller purchasing corporations are all the time free.
• Asking for SSN:Sellers can ask for a driver’s license, however not your Social Safety quantity. The FTC says this isn’t authorized.
• Huge guarantees: Promos promising $300–$500+ with no official backing are virtually all the time faux. Should you can’t discover the promo on-line, skip it.

Continuously Requested Questions

Remaining Ideas

Getting paid to check drive automobiles is actual, nevertheless it’s not the TikTok fantasy.

• Producer promos are the best manner in, however they take planning and the payouts aren’t assured.
• Thriller purchasing pays extra per project however requires actual work.
• PDW is the one path to constant revenue, and even that has limits.

Choose the tactic that matches your scenario and begin small.

Should you’re close to a Hyundai supplier, examine if the promo is lively in your space and name forward earlier than you drive out.

If you would like one thing extra regular, lookup PDW openings close to you.

Have you ever ever redeemed a take a look at drive promo or gotten paid to check drive a automotive in some other manner?

Drop a remark under and let me know which model really paid up.