We've all seen those obnoxious actors or dealer owners screaming at us on TV to buy a car or truck from their lot. Crazy car commercials are a dime a dozen. But some automotive dealerships are more innovative, choosing to direct their creativity into on-site promotions in the hopes of attracting more customers to their locations. And in some cases, their imaginative antics net them media publicity as well as increased sales.

Here are the top five crazy promotions of all time from American auto dealers.

1. Safari Sale

Franklin Sussex Auto Mall - Sussex, NJ

On a single September Saturday, this dealership "walks on the wild side." It transforms itself into a mini-wildlife preserve, complete with live kangaroos, snakes, monkeys, and camels. Salespeople are clad in khaki safari outfits and pith helmets, customers get free food and drink, and the dealership gives away a Disney World Animal Kingdom vacation.

2. Buy A Car From a Rockstar

Checkered Flag Volkswagen - Virginia Beach, VA

This promotion is simple yet brilliant: all of the auto salesmen and women dress up like a famous rock star. Customers can purchase a new vehicle from the "likes" of Michael Jackson, Ozzy Osbourne, Madonna, and Lady Gaga. The dealership generates buzz for the event by co-sponsoring singing or karaoke events at nearby restaurants and bars with a local radio station. And a Volkswagen Beetle is raffled off with the proceeds benefitting one of the region's charities.

3. Free AK-47

Nations Trucks - Sanford, FL

If you're gonna spend money on a new truck, then you'd better have something to protect it with. That's the reasoning behind this dealer's "buy a truck, get a machine gun" promotion. New truck purchasers receive a $400 voucher good at a local firearms shop where the customer can buy his or her own AK-47. After all, guns and trucks go together like hot dogs and apple pie, right?

4. Score on a Kickoff, Get a Rebate

Mastria Auto Group - Raynham, MA

This promotion caters to the football-loving risk-taking car buying population, and it comes in many forms. But here's the gist: if customers purchase a vehicle during a certain time period, all of them receive a major prize if something specific occurs in a designated football game (like the hometown team shutting out an opponent, for example). The dealer banks on the long odds, but buys an insurance policy in case the unexpected happens (you could call it "dealer auto insurance.") We singled out the Mastria Auto Group because it offered a $5,000 rebate if the New England Patriots scored a touchdown on a kickoff return in their 2010 home opener. Which they did - and the dealership paid out $160,000.

5. If it Rains, It's Free

Bozard Lincoln-Mercury - St. Augustine, FL

The promotion was similar to the abovementioned NFL-themed offer, but it bet on the weather rather than a football game. Customers who bought a vehicle from the dealer in March of 2011 would get to own them free and clear if the city recorded more than one inch of rain on the morning of April 8. But it was sunny on the designated morning, so the dealer didn't have to make good on its offer.

When musical artists enter SafeAuto's "Do the Jingle" Contest, they do so with different goals in mind. Some do it for the potential exposure. Others just want to go through the process of writing a jingle and submitting it for public review. And, of course, there are those who are wooed by the $5,000 prize for first place.

The Instant Classics, one of this year's entrants into the "Do the Jingle" Contest, has a unique explanation for why the group decided to produce a video for the competition. They say winning the contest would be "the first step in our quest towards complete and total world domination."

They're kidding, of course. (We think.) But the statement typifies the attitude of The Instant Classics: a group who works hard and has fun, but doesn't take itself too seriously.

This Phoenix-based band was formed back in 2005 and has been a mainstay in the area's music scene ever since. The Instant Classics are a common sight at local venues -- ranging from clubs and bars to major concerts and corporate events. In fact, TIC performed an amazing 180 gigs in 2010 alone!

The Instant Classics are comprised of five members. Vocalist Caleb comes from a long line of musicians and contributes heavily to the band's stage presence. Christine, the co-lead singer and the group's lone female, has transformed herself from one-time super-student and ballet dancer into a multitalented rocker, model, and business owner. Todd is a bassist and the unofficial spokesman for the band, and his stylish goatee and lengthy locks could get him mistaken for rock star Sammy Hagar. Guitarist Brian, from Davenport, Iowa has been playing since the age of 7 (and for money since 14) and is completely self-taught. And, of course, every band needs a drummer; so that honor goes to Nick, whose bio on the TIC website simply reads, "I hit things."

The Instant Classics can boast over 200 cover songs, which lets them be regularly featured as the backup group for Live Band Karaoke at a popular Phoenix bar. But TIC can produce their own material as well. The band's latest compilation "Disco Sex Rock" includes tunes such as "Sugar Daddy," Don't Break My Heart," and "The Lion Sleeps on E Street."

Whether they attain their "goal" of world domination is up for debate. But one thing's for certain: The Instant Classics will make a splash with their entry in this year's SafeAuto "Do The Jingle" Contest - and have a lot of fun doing it.

Ready to vote? Click here to cast your ballot for this year’s “Do the Jingle” winner!

Once in a while, you hear about a multi-million dollar insurance claim being filed when something expensive has been damaged or lost. Like when a seaside mansion is destroyed by a hurricane. Or when valuable jewelry has been stolen from a retailer. Or when rare paintings were damaged by a museum fire. But a $2 million auto insurance claim? That's unheard of … right?

Well, it's happening right now in Texas -- and it could just be the biggest claim of its kind in history.

This is what a 2006 Bugatti Veyron looks like.

A few years ago, Andy House purchased a 2006 Bugatti Veyron, one of the world's most expensive automobiles, for $1.05 million. House subsequently purchased an insurance policy from Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company (PHLY) for $2.2 million. (It is not unusual for rare collectable vehicles to be insured at "market value" above the owner's purchase price.) Then, in November 2009, House managed to drive the Veyron into a swamp outside Galveston, Texas, and proceeded to file a claim. House claims that he swerved to avoid a pelican and accidentally crashed the car.

Naturally, PHLY is skeptical about the circumstances surrounding the incident. The company is disputing the claim, arguing that House drove the Veyron into the swamp intentionally. As proof, it cites the lack of skid marks on the roadway and the fact that House left the ignition running while the car was submerged (which ruined the engine after it ingested water). PHLY also maintains that House exceeded the mileage restrictions on the exotic car's policy, which voided the coverage.

Astoundingly, the incident was captured on video by a passerby. Watch and decide for yourself who is correct. (Caution: salty language)

The disagreement has made its way into the court system. PHLY filed a motion for summary judgment, which is a request that the issue be ruled upon by a judge before formal trial proceedings get underway. Such a motion is usually filed when one side believes that the case has no merit or is clearly covered by existing laws. However, a U.S. District Court judge refused to grant the motion, saying that there were “quizzical factual circumstances” which needed to be decided by a jury.

So the case appears to be headed to trial. It is entirely possible that the two sides could reach a settlement prior to the start of (or even during) court proceedings. But if that doesn't happen, a handful of ordinary citizens will have to figure out whether or not an insurance company will make history by shelling out over $2 million -- for a car.

If you need car insurance, check out SafeAuto.com

Image: whatonemillionbuys.com