How does the auction work?
Every panel is open for bids until the round closes. High bid at close wins that panel at the bid price, on a six-month minimum. Bidding takes a $150 refundable deposit — you get it back the moment you're outbid, or it's credited to your first month if you win. If you'd rather not play, take the buy-it-now: it ends the auction on that panel immediately and the price is locked.
Why auction it instead of just posting a price?
Because I have no idea what a panel on a van is worth, and neither does anyone else. There's no comparable. The auction finds the number honestly, and the buy-it-now is there for anyone who values certainty over saving a few hundred dollars.
What happens if you don't hit 20,000 miles?
You get a prorated refund on the shortfall, calculated per mile, no argument. It's in the agreement. I post the odometer on the first of every month so you can see it coming months before the term ends.
Can I see where the van actually was?
Yes. Every sponsor gets the raw GPX for their term, plus a private link to a live version of the map above. If you want a public tracker page for your own audience, I'll build it and put your URL on it.
What if my competitor is already on the van?
They won't be. Category exclusivity is standard and free — if you win a panel as a coffee brand, no other coffee brand goes anywhere on the vehicle for your whole term. Name the category when you bid so I can lock it, and any competing bid gets refused.
Is a vinyl wrap going to wreck the paint?
Cast vinyl on factory paint comes off clean with heat. The van is a 2020 with 91,000 miles and original panels, and I have every interest in keeping it that way — I live in it.
How does the deposit work if I get outbid?
It's refunded in full, automatically, the moment someone outbids you — you don't have to ask. The deposit exists so that a bid means something; it is not a fee. If you win, it comes off your first month.
Why auction it instead of just naming a price?
Because I genuinely don't know what a panel on this van is worth, and neither does anyone else. Nobody has sold one before. The auction finds the number honestly, and the buy-it-now price is there for anyone who'd rather not play.
What happens at the end of the six months?
You get right of first refusal at your winning rate before the panel goes back up. Most of the cost is print and install, so a renewal is much better value for you than a first term is.
Six months feels long. Can I do less?
One-month and single-trip buys exist for the hood only, because it is quick to swap. The side and rear panels are six-month minimum — printing and installation cost too much to amortize over less than that.
Do you drive anywhere on request?
Within reason, yes. Whole-van takeover sponsors get four routed detours a year — a trade show, a store opening, a shoot location. Panel sponsors can buy a detour for $400 plus fuel.
Who is driving this thing?
Me. I'm a software engineer in North Jersey who works remotely, skis and climbs badly, and would rather the van pay for its own gas. You'll have my phone number, not a support queue.
