On this page
- Why an LED screen works for a drive-in
- How many cars fit, and which screen to book
- Lay out the lot
- Send the sound over FM
- License the movie
- Permits and the property owner
- Dead batteries and other car trouble
- Concessions
- Run of show for an 8 PM summer drive-in
- What a drive-in movie night costs
- Plan your drive-in
A drive-in movie night needs a lot big enough for your cars, a screen raised above the cars in front, a low-power FM transmitter that puts the movie on car radios, and a public performance license. An LED screen trailer can start before dark, even under lot lights. Keep fire lanes and accessible spaces open, and have a jump-starter ready for the car that won’t start.
Why an LED screen works for a drive-in
An LED screen makes its own light. It stays sharp under lot lighting and can start at 8 PM while kids are still awake. Light poles and streetlights fade a projected picture, and a projector can’t really start until about 40 minutes after sunset, after 9:15 PM in June and July. Our LED versus projector guide lists Dallas sunset times by month.
The LED trailer also raises its screen on a hydraulic mast, so the bottom edge can clear the roofs of the cars in front.
How many cars fit, and which screen to book
Plan on about 350 square feet per car, including drive aisles, and about three guests per car. Keep the last row within roughly 16 screen heights.
| Screen | Rough capacity | Farthest row | Price for four hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Block Party, 12′ × 7′ | About 20 cars | About 112 feet | $2,750 |
| Main Event, 16′ × 9′ | About 35 cars | About 144 feet | $3,750 |
| Stadium, 23′ × 13′ | About 75 cars | About 208 feet | From $5,250 |
A 35-car drive-in serves roughly 100 guests, far fewer than the same screen serves on a lawn. For more cars, add a second screen or a second showing. Our screen size guide explains the math.
Lay out the lot
- Put the screen on the east or north side. Drivers won’t be staring into the setting sun.
- Park in gentle arcs facing the screen. Leave 25 to 30 feet before the front row so those drivers don’t crane up through the windshield.
- Use every other space. The empty stall lets doors open and leaves room for lawn chairs.
- Small cars up front. SUVs, vans, pickups, and anyone backing in for tailgate seating go in the back rows or along the edges.
- Plan one way in and one way out. Mark the lanes with cones and put volunteers with light wands at the turns.
- Keep fire lanes open. Dallas and many North Texas cities base their fire codes on the International Fire Code, which bars blocking a fire lane in any way, parked cars included.
- Plan accessible spaces. Keep the lot’s accessible spaces usable, and reserve viewing spots near the front or side with a smooth, level route to restrooms and concessions.
Send the sound over FM
Most drive-ins send the movie audio to car radios on an FM frequency, which needs no broadcast license if you stay inside the FCC’s Part 15 rules.
- Power is capped. An unlicensed FM transmitter must stay under 250 microvolts per meter, measured 3 meters away, within the 88 to 108 MHz band. The FCC says that gives an effective range of about 200 feet.
- Use a certified transmitter as sold. Part 15 transmitters must be FCC certified. Don’t add an amplifier or a bigger antenna, which can push it past the limit.
- Don’t cause interference. If the FCC tells you your device is causing harmful interference, you have to stop using it.
- Anything stronger needs a license, which isn’t practical for a one-night event.
A 200-foot range covers most church and school lots. Place the transmitter so the farthest car is inside it, then walk to the back row with a radio and check the signal before gates open.
Pick an empty frequency
Choose yours at the lot, since open frequencies can be scarce in a big metro area. A week or so ahead, sit in a car there around showtime and scan for a frequency with nothing but static, preferably with quiet neighbors on either side. Pick a backup, and post the frequency on the entrance sign, the pre-show loop, and the invitation.
Have a backup for sound
Some guests will sit outside their cars, and a few car radios won’t cooperate. Keep a handful of battery-powered FM radios at check-in, and a powered speaker at the screen that the technician can switch on if FM fails. Our movie night kit ($195) includes FM audio setup for drive-in style events, and the pro sound system ($395) can serve as the speaker backup.
License the movie
Watching from your own car doesn’t make a screening private. The host needs a public performance license for the title, date, and location, even for a free event. Tell the licensing agent it’s an outdoor drive-in showing. The movie night kit includes coordinating the license, with the fee billed at cost. Our movie license guide walks through the steps.
Permits and the property owner
A private church, school, or business lot usually doesn’t need a city special event permit, but you do need written permission from the owner or school district. Public lots and parks usually need a permit, often 30 to 90 days ahead (see our DFW event permits guide). To sell food, check with the city’s health department. Dallas, for example, requires a temporary food permit for a food booth at a temporary event.
Dead batteries and other car trouble
- Accessory mode works for most cars. A healthy battery can usually run the radio through a two-hour movie. A weak one may not.
- Start engines at intermission. A few minutes at a short break beats idling through the movie and blowing exhaust at people sitting outside their cars.
- Keep jump-starters ready. Have two portable jump-starters, jumper cables, and a volunteer who knows how to use them. Help stalled cars once the rows around them clear.
- Ask for lights off. On many newer cars, turning off headlights and daytime running lights takes a specific step. Ask guests to check the owner’s manual before they come.
Concessions
Volunteers can walk the rows with popcorn, candy, and water before the movie and at intermission, so nobody gives up a parking spot. A popcorn machine adds $150 and makes about 100 servings. To offset the screen, see how to get movie night sponsors.
Run of show for an 8 PM summer drive-in
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 5:30 PM | Crew arrives, levels the trailer, raises the screen, tests picture and FM audio |
| 7:00 PM | Gates open. Volunteers park cars row by row while the pre-show loop shows the frequency, house rules, and sponsor thank-yous. |
| 7:50 PM | Welcome over FM covering lights off, restrooms, and the intermission plan |
| 8:00 PM | Movie starts |
| About 9:00 PM | Optional 10-minute intermission for concessions, restrooms, and engine time |
| About 10:10 PM | Credits. Volunteers release rows one at a time and help with jump-starts. Crew lowers the screen. |
What a drive-in movie night costs
| Event | What’s included | Total before tax |
|---|---|---|
| 20-car church lot | Block Party screen, movie night kit ($195) | $2,945 plus the license fee |
| 35-car school lot | Main Event screen, movie night kit, popcorn machine ($150) | $4,095 plus the license fee |
| 75-car community drive-in | Stadium screen, movie night kit, pro sound backup ($395) | From $5,840 plus the license fee |
Prices include four hours, delivery within 30 miles of downtown Dallas, setup, generator power, and a technician. Extra hours are $250, and travel past 30 miles is $3 a mile. A movie license usually costs a few hundred dollars per title. If unsafe weather cancels the night, you can reschedule free within 12 months.
Plan your drive-in
When you have a lot and a date, build your estimate and we’ll confirm availability in writing the same business day. The drive-in movie rentals page lists what a parking lot screening includes.
