These campaigns make use of everything from pranks to augmented reality in order to encourage people to book a car test drive. Unless a driver happens to be near a car dealership, or actively looking for a new car, it's not likely that they'll be taking the opportunity to take a car for a spin. Since a lot of people spend time at their desks at work or at home, a lot of these attempts to encourage test drives take the form of videos, games or interactive social media experiences to simulate the experience of getting behind the wheel.
Although their approaches are completely different, some fantastic examples of fun test rides include Jagular's Villain Academy and Toyota's Musical City stunt.
26 Car Test Drive Campaigns
26
Test Drive Prank Ads
Watch What Happens When Jeff Gordon Pulls Stunts in this Pepsi Commercial
25
Test Drive Advergames
The Volkswagen Polo Game 'Tame the Tank'
24
In-Mall Car Showrooms
Pennsylvania's Cherry Hill Mall is a New Place to Test Drive a Car
23
Gamified Test Drives
Volkswagen's Fun Test Drive Challenges People in a City-Wide Game
22
Augmented Reality Driving Apps
The Volkswagen Norway App Guides You Your Way
21
Augmented Reality Auto Showrooms
Volkswagen Singapore Promotes Cars With Interactive Newspaper App
20
Smart Car Test Runs
The Twizy Way Car-Sharing Scheme Lets People Take the Vehicles for a Spin
19
Extreme Tablet Demonstration Videos
The New Motorola Tablet is Taken For a Test Drive
18
Off-Roading Obstacle Courses
Land Rover Urban Jungle Stages a Test Drive to Celebrate Anniversary
17
Reprisal Car Chase Pranks
Pepsi Devises Another Jeff Gordon Prank to Prove That It's Real
16
Mind-Controlled Car Promos
The Hyundai i30 Online Hypnosis Experiment is a Head Trip
15
Virtual Reality Test Drives
South African Audiences Take Virtual Hyundai i30 Test Drive
14
Friendly Test Drive Campaigns
Toyota's 'Try My Hybrid' Put Fans at the Wheel of This Campaign
13
Virtual Driving Apps
Volvo's Car Test Drive Game Takes You Inside a Virtual Vehicle
12
Revived Ride Pop-Up Parties
Buick Regal Amazes All at Wired Store ‘Regal Remix' Event
11
Indoor Test Tracks
The Audi 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show Pavilion Blows Competitors Out of the Water
10
Tablet-Controlled Test Drives
Audi Built a Miniture Race Track to Promote the New Audi Quattro
9
Stat-Tracking Auto Trials
The Ford Get More than a Test Drive Event Adds a Competitive Element
8
Balloon-Popping Test Drives
Alfa Romeo Pops 2500 Balloons in World Record Attempt
7
Escapist Auto Ads
Land Rover's Pop Up Ad Encourages People to Book a Test Drive
6
Phone-Charging Car Ads
VW's Mobile Car Ad Cleverly Promotes the Electric e-Golf with an App
5
Driver-Rescuing Campaigns
MINI Turns Getting a Flat Tire on the Road into a Marketing Opportunity
4
On-Demand Test Drives
Peugeot's New Car Test Drive Lets Twitter Users Try Out a Car Immediately
3
Musical Test Drives
The Musical City by Toyota is a Choose-Your-Own Playlist Adventure
2
Villainous Driving Schools
Jaguar's Villain Academy Teaches How to Drive Like a Villain
1
Amusing Auto Safety Campaigns
Instabomb by C4 Lounge Shows How to Avoid the Unexpected
Related Ideas
AR Beverage Launches
Monster Energy Revealed Fantasy Ruby Red in Augmented Reality
Horror-Themed Phone Campaigns
Samsung's Join the Flip Side Takes Cues from 90s Horror Movies
Collaborative Gaming-Brand Cars
Lexus and Razer Teamed Up to Manufacture the Ultimate Gaming Car
Sneaker-Stealing Campaigns
Rob It To Get It by Distance Challenged Customers to Outrun a Sprinter
Metaverse-Based Virtual Rides
G-SHOCK THE RIDE Simulates Futuristic Durability Testing
AI-Lead Car Ads
Ford Launched an AI Campaign Dubbed 'Be Surreal, Be Ford'
Clear In-Game Billboard Advertisements
SCS Software's Truck Simulator Uses Real-Life Advertising
GenAI Flip Phone Campaigns
Motorola's Styled with Moto Features AI-Generated Virtual Models
Flying Car Concepts
Alef Aeronautics Comes Closer to Making Flying Cars a Reality with Model-A
Hands-Free Car Innovations
Ford Partnered with the British Deaf Association to Launch an Ad
Groundbreaking AR Posters
Wall's Out-of-Home Ads Make AR Experiences Unmissable with WinDOOH Tech
Emotional Poeticized Motorsport Campaigns
Honda Debuts the 'Unstoppable Dreams' Campaign
Impairment-Aiding Navigation Apps
The Commute Booster App is Made to Help the Visually Impaired
Novel AI-Generated Product Designs
Arcade Introduced a Transformative AI Product Creation Platform
In-Game Billboard Advertising
Gameloft Enables Partners to Advertise Natively in its Games
Technical Education Car Toys
The Conceptual 'GoCar' Helps Kids Learn to Code Autonomous Vehicles
Virtual-Only Vehicle Experiences
The Roblox x Lamborghini Lanzador Lab is Suited for All Ages
Humorous Automotive Campaigns
Hyundai’s 'Where Have You Been?' Ad Merges Nostalgia and Branding
Playful AI Travel Planner
Triplay is the Brainchild of Technology and Travel Enthusiasts
AI Travel Campaigns
Away's Extraordinary Is Out There Uses AI to Show Real-World Destinations
Car-Themed Film Contests
The Lexus Film Masters Challenge Spotlights Emerging Canadian Filmmakers
AR Shopping Malls
American Express' Door to Shop Small Highlights 10 Small Businesses
Magazine-Integrated QR Features
ARCADE Launches the ELLE x Clarks Shoe Visualiser and Experience
Vivaciously Redefined Car Brands
Jaguar Debuts its 'Copy Nothing' Campaign
Scenic Audio Apps
The Honda Scenic Audio App is Informed by the Perkins School for the Blind
Autonomous Driving Testing Models
'CARLA' is an Open-Source Tool for Autonomous Driving Research
Historic Fashion Try-Ons
The Design Museum's London Fashion Exhibition Integrates AR Mirrors
Adventurous Roadtrip Retail Campaigns
The Pilot Flying J 'See You Out Here' Campaign is Relatable
Smart Shopping Cart Ads
Instacart Unveiled Ads for Its AI-Powered Caper Carts
Driving App Enhancements
Waze Voice Feature Update Enhances Hands-Free Driving Safety
Hands-Free Driving Campaigns
Ford UK's Social Campaign Shares Merch for the "Passenger Princess"
Autonomous Vehicle Kits
This Kit Teaches Kids How AI is Changing Transportation Dynamics
Adventure-Ready AR Wines
Bandit Wines' Packs Invite Adults to Virtually Explore National Parks
AI-Powered Storytelling Travel Apps
Journi is an App for Tour Guides to Share Exciting Narratives
Racer-Inspired City Car Concepts
The Nissan Concept 20-23 is Imagined as the Perfect City Car
AI-Powered App Testing Tools
Mabl Launched a Low-Code Testing Tool for Mobile Applications
In-Car Blockbuster Services
Mercedes-Benz Unites with Sony Pictures to Enhance the RIDEVU Service
Orchard Drive-Thrus
Guaraná Antarctica Created a World-First Experience to Share Freshness
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Tech Brand Vehicle Features
Sony and Honda's Collaborative 'Afeela' Car Boasts Entertainment Tech
Car Metaverse Worlds
Hyundai Launched a Marketing World on Roblox to Reach Gen Alpha
AI-Powered Toy Cars
Rocar is an Interactive Ride-On Robot Car for Kids Ages Two to Six
Car-Specific Video Commerce
Audi and Bambuser Make a Significant Evolution in Business Strategy
Customer-Driven Holiday Campaigns
Amazon's Holiday Campaign is Inspired by 5-Star Reviews
Immersive Hybrid Billboards
Meta's Halloween Thrillboards Tease Immersive Meta Quest 3 Experiences
Color-Blasting AR Games
Samsung's Can You Beat the Box is an Exclusive Digital Game
Co-Branded Custom Ads
Lexus and Universal Pictures Partner for the 'Experience OZmazing' Spot
Optimized Driving Route Tools
Routora Promises to Reduce Drive Time by 30%
AR-Powered Cereal Games
General Mills Releases a New Digital Monster Game for Consumers
Ride-Hailing App Expansions
Uber and Turo Partner to Offer Vehicle Rentals to Uber Rent
Streetside Challenge Billboards
Gymbox Start Line Encourages Passersby to Try a Short Dash
Android-Powered Infotainment Systems
The 2025 Ford Explorer Boasts Advanced Tech in the Cabin
Motion Sickness Smartphone Features
Apple Vehicle Motion Cues Will Arrive in iOS 18
Car-Free Day Campaigns
Swapfiets Advocates for Car-Free Days in Dutch Cities
Simulation Parking Lot Games
The Car Park Capital Game is a Real-Time City-Building Experience
In-Car Gaming Experiences
BMW Introduces the UNO Car Party Experience for Immersive Fun
AI-Powered DIY Home Apps
Praxis Introduces New Features to Its Praxis Plus App
AR-Powered Furniture Lenses
Google Search Now Supports AR-Based Ikea Furniture Try Outs
Self-Driving Electric Cars
Rimac Introduces its First Autonomous Electric Car Brand, Verne
Immersive EdTech Platforms
Discovery Education's Sandbox AR Platform Surpassed 1 Million Downloads
Anti-Distraction Studying Apps
The 'StudyBug' Study Platform Offers AI-Enabled Assistance
Music-Inspired Avatar Campaigns
Bang & Olufsen Launches the See Yourself in Sound Ad
Weekend Excursion City Vehicles
The Playbox Urban Mobility Vehicle is Imagined for 2040
Unique Auto-Racing Campaigns
Liquid Death and NASCAR Partner to Launch the 'Pro Driver' Campaign
Movie-Inspired Truck Commercials
Ram Truck Partners with Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures
Expansive Motorsport Games
Torque Drift 2 Features Numerous Licensed Partnerships and Drifters
Childhood-Inspired Car Campaigns
Mercedes-Benz's 'Drive Pilot Story' is Based on Young Aspirations
Travel-inspired Brand Campaigns
Michelin Launches the On the Road and Beyond! Campaign
Social-First Car Campaigns
Škoda's Reddit Car Share Amplified the Voices of Passionate Fans
Late-Night QSR Vehicles
The Student Tour Campaign Shortens the Trip from the Club to Taco Bell
Virtual Car Meetups
7-Eleven is Inviting Fans to Meet Virtually in Fortnite
Swipable Curated Ad Inspiration
Swipify Lets Users Swipe Through the Latest Ad Campaigns
AI Vehicle App Features
Volkswagen Integrates Generative AI into Its myVW Mobile App
Gamified Shopping Carts
Instacart Unveils New Updates to its Smart Shopping Carts
Colorful Vivid Small Automobiles
Fiat Presents a New Colorful Update Transforming its Grey Cars
Omnichannel Automotive Services
Automotive Mastermind has Adapted to Modern Consumer Patterns
Car-Free AR Lenses
Bolt's Feels Like Home Campaign Uses AR to Envision Car-Free Spaces
Mobile Escape Rooms
Phone Escape: Hopeless Takes Mobile Entertainment to New Dimensions
Self-Driving Cab App Expansions
The Robotaxi Cruise Service Will Launch on Uber Platforms
Empowering Car Ads
CarMax's New Ad Campaign Takes a Witty Approach
Street Fighter-Style AR Games
Jadu is a New Multiplayer AR Mobile Fighting Game
VR Track Racing Games
Micro Machines: Mini Challenge Mayhem Pushes Virtual Cars to the Limits
Gaming Ads-Inspired Video Games
D3 Publisher and Monkeycraft Present the Ironic Those Games
AI Dare Generators
AI Truth or Dare Puts a Personalized Twist on the Classic Game
Reality-Bending Car Ads
CarGurus Ad Features Melting Lego and Gourmet Chef Toddlers
AR Pizza Menus
Hungry Howie's Uses AR to Promote a Secret Pizza Menu
Car-Identifying Apps
Scout Helps Enthusiasts Identify a Vehicle
Car Transfer Service Apps
Andersen Collaborated with a Ride-Sharing Provider on This New Product
Hard-To-Read Health Campaigns
A Specsavers Campaign Encourages Movie-Goers to Check their Sight
Autonomous Tandem Drift Sequences
Toyota Research Institute & Stanford Engineering are Pioneers
Influencer-Starring Car Commercials
Toyota's New Short Film Seeks to Resonate with Gen Z Customers
AI-Designed Drift Sequences
Toyota's New GR Supras Were Designed Autonomously Using AI
AI-Enhanced Map Softwares
Google Maps Announced a Suite of AI-Powered Enhancements Coming to Maps
Bizarre Soda Campaigns
Dr Pepper's Try More Weird Disrupts Life's Boredoms with Weirdness
AI Chatbot-Connected Vehicles
Volkswagen Will Be Integrating ChatGPT in Its New Vehicles
Car-Connected Retail Services
Target Drive Up and Order Pickup Has a New Apple CarPlay Function
Vacation Rental Campaigns
Airbnb Debuts an Animated Ad That Celebrates Booking a Place to Yourself
UAE-Based Smart Taxis
UAE Residents Will Be Able to Call AI Smart Taxis Thanks to Hyundai
Dynamic Auto Marketing Campaigns
Hyundai Promotes Its Electrical Vehicle Line-up
AI-Controlled Motorsport Simulations
AI Simulated Racing Controls the Cars and Racing Strategy
AR Car Wash Games
Splash Dash by Soapy Joe's Car Wash is Rewarding & Fund-Raising
Rewritten Christmas Song Ads
Burger King UK's Hijacking Christmas Will Guide You to the Drive Thru
In-Car Conversation Cards
Kelley Blue Book's "Car-fessional" Cards Inspire Family Connection
Phygital Televised Races
Michelob ULTRA's Lap of Legends Pits Formula 1 Drivers Against Avatars
Gamified Sustainability Platforms
The Carbon Games is an App that Makes Sustainability Competitive
Car Dealer-Targeted Software-As-A-Service Platforms
Curbee Helps Car Dealers and Manufacturers
AI Roadtrip Playlists
Trip Tunes Uses AI To Create Memorable Road Trip Playlists
Inclusive Driving Campaigns
Localiza Will Help People with Down Syndrome Learn How to Drive
Festive Film Vehicles
Turo Helps Drivers Spread Seasonal Cheer with Limited-Edition Elfmobiles
Peformance-Enhancing Taxi Apps
Ajman Transport Authority Debuts a 'Cabby' Application for Taxis
Short Film-Inspired Ads
Apple’s New ‘The Underdogs’ Ad Features Various Apple Products
Virtual AR Adventures
Spin Genie Launches 'AR Treasure Quest'
Interactive Choice Wheels
Pick The Wheel Gamifies Decision Making While Making it Engaging
Advanced Automobile Driver Assists
Ford's BlueCruise Feature Rolls Out as a Subscription Service
AI-Assisted Car Shopping Apps
The CoPilot App Eliminates Barriers in Digital Car Shopping
AI-Empowered Vehicle Designs
Toyota Research Institute Plays Around with Generative AI
Elf-Inspired Cars
Turo Debuts Elfmobiles in NYC to Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Elf Movie
Gamified Children's Productivity Apps
Kangaroutine Helps Kids Who Struggle with Routines
In-Car Gaming Systems
Volkswagen Will Feature AirConsole's Video Games in its Vehicles
Sculpted Digital Conceptual Vehicles
Nissan Presents a Look at the Hyper Adventure Digital Concept
Immersive AI Skill-Building
Propeller Uses AI to Offer Real-World Scenarios to Practice Skills
Seamless Automotive Shopping Apps
Awin Group of Dealerships Launches Mobile App to Enhance CX
Safety-Promoting Logistics Services
Drivewyze Debuts a Complimentary Service Dubbed Drivewyze Free
Car Safety-Promoting PSAs
The Ad Council and NHTSA Have Launched a New Never Happens Campaign
AI-Powered Product Development
UserTesting Debuts the Feedback Engine and New AI-Powered Features
Dynamic Australian Automobile Platforms
Toyota's 'Toyota Go' Program Enhances Customer Engagement
Ad-Focused Reaction Tools
Wunderman Thompson Launches 'Reveal' for Gauging Audience Responses
In-Vehicle Karaoke Features
Stingray Group Inc. Improves In-Vehicle Entertainment
Light-Powered Racing Toys
Light’n Race Uses and Teaches Fundamental Physics Principles
City Exploration Apps
Concrete is a Social Exploration App Inviting Users to Discover Their City
Video-Generating GPS Apps
Strava Launches Flyover, an Aerial 3D Video Recap of GPS Activities
Automaker-Backed Gaming Events
Honda Unites with Twitch to Offer Activations at Twitch Rivals
Pampering Rideshade Cars
Bliss x Alto Teamed Up to Create a Custom Passenger Princess Car
Flexible User-Centric Rideshares
Careem Introduces Flexi Rides to Bolster its Market Presence
Opulent Car-Exploration Experiences
Lexus India Introduces the ‘Lexus Meraki on Wheels' Experience
Bid-Based Ride Hailing Services
The InDrive Ride Hail Platform is Now Available in the Us
Taxi Round-Trip Services
Uber Unveils the Intercity Round Trips Feature for Indian Travelers
Empowering Trader-Focused Campaigns
Vantage Markets Debuts New Phase of Reborn a Trader
UAE-Based EV Apps
EVLAB Launches the New Electric Vehicle App for UAE Customers
Accessible Ride App Safety-Tools
Uber is Altering its App for The Safety Tools in One Place