Blue and red lights flashed behind.

His headlight was out.

An ad featuring a stern but approachable local lawyer smiled back.

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How about I give you a warning this time, the officer told Adams.

Ive never [gotten] pulled over without getting a ticket, Adams said with a laugh.

Im assuming the cop thought I was either involved [with] or working for the lawyer.

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Adams, a 42-year-old Florida resident, works for himself.

And that car wrap ad is one of his many moneymakers.

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The job market is tough for immigrants and musicians and especially so for immigrant-musicians.

Adams dotted the country, first in the Pacific Northwest and then in south and southwest Florida.

Im also a realtor here in Fort Myers.

Ive been doing that for about five years, he said.

I couldnt support myself just doing one thing, you know?

Did you know?

Same story for his DJing gigs.

After shows, hed be far from home.

That extra traveling would eat into his earnings.

He joined Lyft for the same reason.

Over the years, Adams has become a master at blending all of his gigs together.

He incorporates them into his day-to-day schedule: Wake up.

Fill out some realty paperwork.

Show a property or two.

Pick up a passenger.

Trace his way back home.

When the timing is right during a fare, Adams pitches his realtor and/or DJing services.

Usually it works out.

Ive picked up exactly who I wanted to, he said.

I knew they were going in my direction.

I didnt have to go out of the way.

Even though he effectively monetized his commute and downtime, he was still hemorrhaging gas money.

But he found a way to cover that, too.

A Legit Car Wrap Was a No-Brainer

Adams drives a lot.

He bought his Toyota brand new in 2015 and has racked up more than 160,000 miles.

Thats 32,000-plus miles per year.

But the more he looked into them, the sketchier they seemed.

When I reached out to them… it was really fishy, he said.

You had to pay for the sign.

It wasnt really specific on how you were going to get paid.

And when he researched online, bad reviews were all over the place, he said.

Too many unanswered questions, really.

Basically, they get free advertising and a few bucks from the decal purchase without ever paying the driver.

Under its old business model, rides were free for passengers.

The ads on the vehicles subsidized the cost.

Another good sign was that the company was responsive and explained everything up front.

Nickelytics has zero out-of-pocket cost to the driver.

Then he was invited to their shop for the installation.

In less than 30 minutes or so, the car was done, Adams said.

They told me not to wash it for a week, and I was on my way.

Adams understands how much of a pain gas costs can be for rideshare drivers.

Uber and Lyft are already operating on razor-thin margins for the drivers.

Theyre using somebody elses time and car, he said.

Anything you’re able to do to make a little bit more money… Its a no brainer.

Not all wraps are for lawyers offices.

What he cant guarantee, unfortunately, is that one will get you out of a ticket.

Adam Hardy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.

He covers the gig economy, entrepreneurship and unique ways to make money.

Read his latest articles here, or say hi on Twitter@hardyjournalism.

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