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
Playful Student-Targeted Interactive Pop-Ups
Uber One Hits Campuses with ‘The One Arcade'
Automotive Digital Twin Solutions
Siemens Debuts Its Simulation Platform — PAVE360 Automotive
Motorsport-Style Joint Apparel
Carnival x Toyota Gazoo Racing Injects Racing into Its Streetwear
AI-Powered Dating Simulators
The Game Game by Tinder Makes Meet-Cute Scenarios Less Intimidating
Gen-Z-Focused AR Campaigns
American Eagle Launched an AE Jeans Try-on Haul Lens
Mixed-Reality Theme Parks
DreamPark is Capturing the Attention of Digital Adventurers
AR-Powered Vending Machines
Snapchat and L’Oréal Made a Gamified Lens to Share Refillable Haircare
Cartoonish In-Car Connectivity Robots
The Conceptual 'TOOOONY' Car Robot Features 4G LTE
Humorous Fun-Forward Ads
Six Flags Rolls Out Its 'Funsultant' Campaign to Prove Fun Is Serious
AI-Powered Advertiser Campaigns
Instacart Utilizes its Automation Tools for Universal Campaigns
Playful Creative Design Billboards
Canva Unveils 3D Billboards to Spotlight its Capabilities
Smart Car Planning
Budget For Cars Helps You Find Vehicles That Fit Your Financial Plan
Authentic Connection Campaigns
Heineken's Hijack Socialization Encourages Out-of-Home Gatherings
Race-Spec Touring Cars
The BMW M3 Touring 24H Was Born from an April Fool's Joke
Haute Auto Pattern Campaigns
The Audi Car Couture Ad Turns Car Parts into Dressmaking Layouts
Autonomous Vehicle Platforms
Tensor Robocar Showcases Level 4 Autonomous Mobility At CES 2026
Playful Gen-Z Dating Campaigns
Tinder's 'Crush Feelings' Captures the Essence of Modern Dating
Music-Inspired Audiobook Campaigns
Spotify Launches its Bold 'Read Like You Listen' for the Summer
Cinematic Auto Marketing Campaigns
Mazda Debuts the '5 Sides of the All-New CX-5' Film
Surreal Car Care Campaigns
Turtle Wax's You Are How You Car Reimagines Drivers as Their "Car-Self"
Haute Tech Brand Hypercars
The Xiaomi Vision GT is Designed for the Gran Turismo Franchise
AI-Powered Marketplace Features
AutoTrader Launched DemandAI and Dashboard
Geo-Targeted Beauty Campaigns
It's a 10 Haircare Engages Uber Riders Going to Ulta & Sally Beauty
Gen-Z-Targeted Language Platform Campaigns
Duolingo Introduces its Character-Driven 'Duolingo Ads'
Car Transfer Apps
The Daytrip App Provides Customizable Car Transfers
In-Car Gaming Collaborations
AirConsole x Audi Partner for Car Gaming, and Includes Pictionary
In-Car Gaming Experiences
Atari and AirConsole are Partnering to Bring Games to Volkswagens
Bookable Autonomous Shuttles
Uber and May Mobility Partner to Launch Robotaxi Fleet
Experiential Marketing Campaigns
MIKE AND IKE, HOT TAMALES, and Marvel Team Up for Campus Tour
Child Mobility Concepts
Toyota Unveils a Self-Driving Ev for Children That Challenges Conventions
Marketer-Targeted Albums
The Spotify Tunetorials Campaign Blurs Education and Entertainment
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Unconventional Vehicle Control Ads
BMW Launched its 'Heart of Joy' Campaign Featuring an Octopus
Coffee-Inspired Auto Tours
Mazda Canada & Coffee Association of Canada Debut the Mazda Coffee Tour
Imaginative Fantasy-Inspired Campaigns
Canva Spotlights its Creative Tools Ahead of Halloween
Gamer Rescue Experiences
The Jeep Rescue Squad Helps Players Get Unstuck
Native Car Messaging Interfaces
WhatsApp Launches Its New Apple CarPlay App
Immersive Superhero Attractions
Warner Bros. Gamifies Superman Storytelling with Gameplay
Detailed Online Car Databases
Sony Launched an Online Car Database for Gran Turismo 7
In-Car Gaming Integrations
Porsche x AirConsole Bring In-Car Gaming to the New Macan
Traveling Fashion Showcases
The Guess Bus in Sydney is an Example of Experimental Marketing
Gamified Scent Marketing Experiences
Axe's Grab The Sweet Turned a Bus Stop into a Claw Machine
Distracted Driving Awareness Videos
Project Yellow Light's 'Love Story' Is a Wake-Up Call
Production-Ready Robotic Taxis
Volkswagen Presents its ID. Buzz AD Robotic Taxi Vehicle
Flexible Monthly Car Shares
Turo Offers a Low-Commitment Alternative to Traditional Car Ownership
Robotaxi Training Data Services
Uber AV Labs Powers Robotaxi Partners With Targeted Driving Data
Performance-Focused EV Brands
The Rivian Adventure Department Debuted at the 2026 FAT Ice Race
AR Driving Assistance Glasses
Sherpa’s AR Glasses are Made to Decode Road Signs for Drivers
Luxury Mobility Platforms
Karma Automotive Launches On-Demand Luxury Driving Experience
AI-Powered Adventure Apps
The 'Globe Chaser' App Features Geocaching-Inspired Tours
Video Game-Inspired Vehicles
Hyundai Introduces the New INTEROID EV Influenced by Gaming
Cinematic Video Game Spots
Droga5’s ‘Wake Up’ Campaign for Xbox Shows an Escape from the Everyday
Cinematic Dance-Driven Campaigns
DoorDash's 'Your Door to More' Campaign Highlights its Offerings
Youthful Convenience Store Campaigns
7-Eleven is Running the Roll-Up & Refuel™ Initiative
Beauty Shopper Transports
Sephora & Lyft Media's Delivered to Beauty Sent Shoppers to Stores
In-Car AI Assistants
ChatGPT Voice Expands to Apple CarPlay
Automotive AI Solutions
Impel and RockED Launch the Automotive AI Certification Program
Luxury Chauffeur Apps
Wheely’s NYC Launch Introduces Concierge-Level Chauffeur Services
Interactive Outdoor Games
City Chase Combines Outdoor Exploration with Fun, Strategic Gameplay
New Year-Focused Car Campaigns
Kia Boasts the Redesigned 2027 Telluride SUV in a Festive Campaign
Immersive Muscle Car Experiences
Dodge's Virtual Experience Debuts Its Next-Generation Muscle Cars
Premium Mobile Advertising Applications
Discord is Expanding its 'Video Quests' to Mobile
Humorous Hotel Campaigns
Marriott Bonvoy x Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Launch a Social Ad
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Transparent Sphere Vehicles
Toyota Transparent Sphere Vehicle Reimagines Mobilty as Playful Design
Celebrity-Endorsed Compact SUV Campaigns
Audi of America Debuts 'A Life of Yes' Campaign
Auto-Branded Digital Experience Systems
Ford Digital Experience is Available on Certain Vehicles
Natural Language Automotive Assistants
BMW and Amazon Partnered to Bring Alexa+ to Vehicles
AI-Powered Virtual Worlds
Google's Project Genie Turns Text Prompts Into Traversable Worlds
AI-Powered Racing Systems
Carrera HYBRID Ushers in a New Era of Slot Car Racing
Teen-Safety Rideshare Accounts
Lyft Teen Accounts With Built-In Safety Tools
Gamified Grocery Activations
The Asda Check-Out Challenge Leveraged a Nostalgic Game Show Format
Road Safety Spirit Campaigns
The Captain of the Night Campaign Tackles Drunk Driving
Science-Backed Adventure Collaborations
Toyota, AllGear Digital & Immersion Neuroscience Partner
Deeply Integrated Automotive UIs
Apple CarPlay Ultra is Arriving in New Aston Martin Models
Music-Based Car Campaigns
Toyota Indonesia Launched 'Toyota Lofi Drive Beats'
Music Icon-Supported AI Campaigns
Music Stars Spotlight Workday's AI-Powered Enterprise Solutions
AI-Powered Driving Apps
Driver Technologies Expands to the Android Automotive Operating System
Perks-Filled Activations
The Really Good Mood Machine by Uber Shares Feel-Good Surprises
Game Style Navigation
The Need for Speed Mini Map Turns a Racing HUD into Real Car Navigation
Road Safety-Focused QSR Campaigns
McDonald's Türkiye Launched a Campaign Called Drink & Drive
Autonomous Electric Microbuses
MOIA And Uber Began Testing Its ID. Buzz Microbuses In Los Angeles
GenAI Car Marketplace Ads
Carro's New Campaign Highlights Its AI-Enabled Car-Selling Process
Sequential Streaming Ad Series
Ford Launches 'Every Ground Is Our Proving Ground'
Gaming-Inspired Vehicle Concepts
Hyundai Draws Inspiration from Its Electric Subcompact SUV
Student-Focused Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle Rides
HopSkipDrive Expands Its Service in 10 Areas
Car Race-Focused Mobile Apps
IBM and Scuderia Ferrari HP Upgrade the Experience for Formula 1 Fans
Philanthropy-Focused Racing Events
Mercedes-Benz Canada Begins Partnership with Road to Racing
Branded App Takeovers
TikTok Introduces Logo Takeover Ads That Dominate the App’s Opening Screen
Co-Branded Family-Oriented Events
Disney and Formula 1 Launch Fuel the Magic Campaign
Experiential Racing Mapping Features
The Apple Maps Formula 1 Experience Digitizes the Raceway
Interactive Robotic Demonstrations
GoLabs and GOTRAX Partner to Spotlight a New Golf Cart
Expansive AI-Powered Travel Tools
KAYAK.ai Expands to Offer Car Rentals for Localized Road Trips
Realistic Bus Simulators
Bus Simulator Real Offers an Immersive Bus Driving Experience Globally
Groundbreaking Automated Driving Systems
Qualcomm & BMW Group Boast a Co-Developed Software Stack
Personalized AI Mechanics
SPARQ Diagnostics Lets Drivers Talk with Their Car to Find Issues
Searchable AI Quiz Apps
Trivia Glide Offers AI Quizzes on Endless Topics with Instant Feedback
Computer Vision Car Tools
Audi Reader Provides an Alternative to Consulting a Vehicle Manual
Interactive Game Advertisements
Samsung Ads GameBreaks Encourage Deeper Engagement
Rideshare St. Patrick's Day Campaign
Uber and Mother Launched an Irish Exit Safe Ride Campaign
Taxi Driver-Centric Branded Events
Carlsberg Ran the 'Fare Game' Initiative for Taxi Drivers
AI-Powered Autonomous Public Transportation
Karsan Automotive is Participating in CES 2026
AI-Powered Superapps
Grab Introduces AI Features That Simplify Decisions and Automate Daily Tasks
Interactive Decision Tools
Spin It Wheel Boosts Engagement With Fun Random Choices And Giveaways
AI-Powered Vehicle Appraisal Tools
Turn Automotive's TurnVision Detects Damage with High Precision
Tax-Focused Marketing Campaigns
Intuit Debuts the Second Iteration of 'Now This is Taxes'
Futuristic Taxi Drifting Games
Current Games Drops 'Taxi Chaos 2'
Global Product Launch Events
Uber Unveils a New Go-Get Exhibit Featuring Interactive Vignettes
AI Vehicle Operating Systems
Mercedes Develops AI-Driven Systems That Manage and Evolve Vehicles
Data-Driven Automotive Retailer Tools
Cars.com Debuts AI Video Tools, Hub Reporting & More
Predictive Mobile Advertising Features
T-Mobile Advertising Solutions Unveiled Contextual AI Ads
Second-Screen Vehicle Sweepstakes
Kia Squares Engaged Sports Fans During the Big Game
Gamified Travel Companions
Make Travel an Adventure With the CountryQuest Gamified Travel App
Knowledge Trivia Challenges
Trivia Tests Your Knowledge Across Multiple Categories and Learn More
AI-Powered Driver-Focused Recruitment Platforms
DriverReach Debuts the Specialized AI Recruiter
Interactive Streaming Ads
Spotify Turns Listening into Engagement with Carousel Ads
Vehicle Performance Data Integrations
Autocar Integrates Geotab's Telematics Devices into Fleet
Mobile App Studios
Developer On Wheels Builds Family And Travel Apps From A Campervan Office
Auto-Centric Short Films
BMW’s 'Relax. We Care.' Campaign Turns Chaos into a Cinematic Ride
Seasonal Reservation Street Installations
Uber UK Launches 'Reserve' by Mother
Cheeky Auto Campaigns
Hyndai Presents the Entertaining and Practical He Got Money Campaign
Interactive Knowledge Plays
TriviaBlaze Offers Engaging Quizzes To Test Knowledge in Categories
Interactive Geography Games
City Quiz Fun Tests Your Global Knowledge With Timed Challenges
Driving Interface Apps
'Car Dashboard' AppTransforms Your iPhone Into a Car Head Unit
Gamified Fitness Platforms
uRace Motivates Athletes With Gamified Challenges & Global Competition
Fleet Safety Monitoring Features
Ford Introduced the Ford Pro AI Assistant for Seamless Driving
Auto Dealer Program Standards
TrueCar Makes Updates to Increase Sales & Protect Dealer Margins
Racing Strategy Games
Escape Road Combines Racing Thrills With Mental Challenge On Mobile
Interactive Traveler-Focused Campaigns
Tessan Will Spotlight the 100 Travelers Campaign
Interactive Demo Platforms
Arcade Enables Fast Creation And Embedding Of Interactive Product Demos
Hyperreal Safety Installations
Sunburnt Car by TBWA\Eleven Visualizes In-Car UV Exposure
Community-Focused Auto Initiatives
Sun Auto Tire & Service Launches Drive with Purpose
Car Recognition Tools
CarSnap Identifies Cars in Photos and Get Detailed Info Instantly
Route Planning Tools
Plan, Visualize, and Share Driving Routes with Motorist Map
Brand Recognition Games
Product Guesser Tests Brand Recognition Through Interactive Play Tool
Auto-Focused Research Platforms
Ammaar's Toyota Vacaville Debuts 2026 Toyota Hybrid Command Center
Integrated Trip Trackers
'Journey' Enables Real-Time Vehicle Data And Trip Tracking With CarPlay
Timed Gameplay Trial Features
Google Play Introduced Game Trials for Sampling Game Titles
Off-Road Open-Air Vehicles
Mercedes-Benz G-Class Cabriolet Enters Road Testing Ahead of Production
Scalable App Testing
TestLabs Automates Real Device Testing To Ensure Developer Compliance