Mobile Billboard Advertising Cost: What Changes the Price
Ask three companies what a mobile billboard costs and you will get three very different answers. That is not because someone is lying. It is because the price depends on things most quotes never spell out. This page explains what actually moves the number, so you can compare quotes properly.
Why quotes vary so much
A mobile billboard quote is really a bundle. It includes the truck, the driver, the fuel, the screen, the power to run it and the hours you booked. Change any one of those and the price changes.
Two quotes can look far apart and both be fair. Usually one includes something the other left out.
The five things that move the price
1. How many hours you book
This is the biggest one. Most runs are sold in blocks of hours. A four hour evening run costs far less than a full day. Per hour, longer bookings almost always cost less.
2. Which route you want
A route down Las Vegas Boulevard at peak hour is worth more than a quiet industrial road, because far more people see it. Routes that need permits or that sit in heavy traffic cost more to run.
3. What week it is
Convention weeks, fight weekends and holidays are the busiest times in Las Vegas. Trucks book out. Prices go up. If your dates can flex by a week, ask what that saves.
4. Screen size
A bigger screen costs more to build, more to move and more to power. A billboard-class truck with a 30 foot display is a different product from a compact trailer, and the price reflects that.
5. How many trucks
One truck covers one route. If you want the whole city at once, or you want to surround an event, you are booking a fleet. That multiplies.
What should be included
Before you compare two numbers, check that they cover the same things. A quote should include all of these.
- The truck or trailer itself
- A driver for the whole run
- Fuel and the onboard generator that powers the screen
- Loading your artwork onto the screen
- The agreed route and hours
- Proof of the run, so you know it happened
If a quote is much cheaper than the others, one of these is usually missing.
What you do not pay for
One real saving with mobile: there is no printing. A static billboard needs vinyl printed and hung, and that is a real cost before your ad is even up. A digital screen takes a file. If your artwork changes, you send a new file.
There is also no external power to arrange. Our units carry their own generator, so there is no hookup to organise at the site.
Questions to ask any mobile billboard company
These five questions sort a serious operator from a broker in about two minutes.
- What is the nit rating of the screen? Under 5,000 nits will wash out in Las Vegas sun. Ours run 8,000.
- Is the whole screen mine? On some products you share a rotation with other advertisers.
- Do you own the trucks or broker them? Owners can fix problems on the day. Brokers have to make a phone call.
- What proof do I get? Ask what report or photos you receive after the run.
- What happens if a truck breaks down? A real fleet has a spare. Ask.
Getting a real number
Any honest quote needs three things from you: your dates, your route or the area you want covered, and how many hours a day. With those, pricing takes minutes.
We build our own trucks and run our own fleet in Las Vegas, so nothing gets marked up through a middleman. Call 1-888-LED-5010 for a same-day quote.
Common questions
How much does mobile billboard advertising cost?
It depends mainly on hours booked, route, week of year, screen size and how many trucks. A short evening run costs far less than a full day during a convention week. Call 1-888-LED-5010 with your dates for a same-day quote.
Is mobile billboard advertising cheaper than a static billboard?
For short campaigns it often is, because there is no vinyl to print and no long booking window. For a year-long placement in one fixed spot, a static billboard is usually cheaper.
Do I pay extra for artwork?
There is no printing cost with a digital screen. You send a file and it goes on the screen. Changing your artwork mid-campaign does not mean reprinting anything.
Does the price include a driver and fuel?
It should. A complete quote covers the truck, the driver, fuel, the onboard generator, loading your artwork, and the agreed route and hours. If a quote is unusually cheap, check which of those is missing.
How far ahead should I book?
For a normal week, a few days is often enough. For convention weeks, fight weekends and holidays, book as early as you can because the fleet fills up.