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Short answer
The AI car driving Reel is a short vertical clip where the camera glides over a sleek car at sunset and pushes through the windshield to reveal you at the wheel. To make it, open the video studio on Seedance 2.5, add a clear photo of yourself as a reference, describe the car (without a brand), the road, the light and the camera move, set 9:16 and 8 seconds, and generate. The example here cost 80 credits for 8 seconds at 1080p.
Try this in the studio
How to make the car Reel
- 1
Add your photo
A sharp, front-facing photo of yourself as a reference, so the driver looks like you. Only use your own photo or one of someone who agreed.
- 2
Describe the car without a brand
Say "sleek black luxury sedan, no logos" instead of a make and model: brand names and badges can be refused, and a generic car keeps the clip yours.
- 3
Write the camera move
Start low on the wheel, rise along the hood, push in through the windshield. One continuous move is what makes it feel like a car advert.
- 4
Generate
Test the idea first: 24 credits for a 5-second test at 720p. The example above cost 80 credits for 8 seconds at 1080p. The price is shown before you generate, and failed generations give the credits back.
Car Reel prompts
Coastal sunset
Vertical cinematic car shot. A sleek unbadged black luxury sedan glides along an empty coastal highway at sunset. The camera starts low on the glossy front wheel and paint, rises smoothly along the hood and pushes in through the windshield to reveal a confident young man driving with one hand on the wheel, sunglasses on, golden light across his face. Premium car-commercial look, anamorphic flare, no logos.
Night city
Vertical cinematic shot. A sleek matte grey sports coupe with no logos drives through a rain-wet city street at night, neon reflections sliding over the paint. The camera tracks alongside, then swings to the windshield to reveal the driver in a black jacket, calm and focused. Moody, cinematic.
Desert road
Vertical drone-to-cockpit shot. A white luxury SUV with no logos speeds down a straight desert road at golden hour, dust behind it. The camera dives from above, levels with the bonnet and pushes into the cabin to reveal the driver smiling. Warm, premium commercial look.
Arrival
Vertical cinematic shot. A black luxury sedan with no logos pulls up in front of a glass hotel entrance at night. The camera holds low on the wheels, then rises as the driver's door opens and the driver steps out and adjusts their jacket. Elegant, cinematic.
Why it's everywhere
It is an aspirational shot that used to need a car, a road and a camera rig. Tutorials appeared on Instagram in late September 2026, and the format works for creators, car-content pages and small businesses alike.
Tips
Golden hour or night neon gives the paint something to reflect. Keep the camera move to one smooth path; asking for several moves in 8 seconds makes it jumpy.
Using a real person's photo
If you start from a photo of a real person, it must be you or someone who agreed to it. Never use photos of celebrities, strangers or anyone under 18, and label realistic AI video where the platform asks you to.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free?
New accounts get 25 starter credits for images and video. Free video covers Seedance 2 Fast and Seedance 2.0 Mini at 720p only, queued and rate limited. Other video models and 1080p and above need a plan. Seedance 2.5 at 1080p is on the paid plans, starting with Creator.
Can I choose a specific car brand?
Describe the type, colour and shape instead ("sleek black sedan, no logos"). Brand names and badges can be refused, and a generic car keeps the clip safe to post.
Will it look like me?
With a sharp, front-facing photo as a reference, the face stays close. Sunglasses and side light also help it read as you.
