A FATHER-of-three says driving around with pink flowers on his car is putting him in the black.

Christopher Kerr, who works at a Kingston Bagpuize-based printing firm, signed up to a new service which pays motorists to display advertisements on their cars.

The 42-year-old, whose five-seater Nissan Leaf now sports colourful graphics promoting an online florist, says the fees cover the cost of running his car.

He said: “My car is cheap to run anyway but this sort of advertising means I can drive for free, because it totally finances running costs and everything else.”

Although there are no petrol or car tax expenses for his electric car, Mr Kerr said his £200 fee covers the cost of insurance, MOT, new tyres and daily charging.

He added: “This is something I can do for myself, which doesn’t affect me or hurt anyone else and it means I can drive for free.

“Why isn’t everyone doing it?”

It took less than an hour for vinyl stickers advertising Bloom & Wild to be added to the side and back of Mr Kerr’s car.

In some cases, they are also stuck on car bonnets.

Mr Kerr pointed out: “It took me half an hour to sign up on the website and it even shows you a pic of what your vehicle might look like.

“The guys come out to you to stick on the advertising, so it’s no hassle.”

But he admitted: “The bright colours of the design get a few looks and friends have tooted at me for driving around in a pink, flowery car.

“A few have asked ‘Are you sure you want that on your vehicle?’ but it’s a means to an end, so worth it.”

Car Quids founder and Oxford University graduate Viraj Ratnalikar says motorists can earn from £50 to £250 during a two- or three-month advertising campaign.

After registering on the firm’s website carquids.com, drivers are matched with a brand which wants to advertise on their car, based on where and when they drive.

Mr Ratnalikar came up with the idea after noticing how many passing taxi cabs carried advertisements and vowed to try the same thing with privately owned cars.

Car Quids, which operates mainly in London and has 10,000 registered drivers, launched in Oxfordshire two months ago.

Mr Ratnalikar said: “This campaign Chris is signed up is a couple of months but it could roll on for longer.

“So far, all of our campaigns have been extended and if that happens here, the promo stays on and Chris’s payments could go up.