Don’t look now but the open road is calling. Faced with onerous security regulations, endless add-on fees, and uncomfortable planes that squeeze customers in like sardines, more and more travelers are opting for the highways rather than the skyways. Americans are rediscovering the joy of driving cross-country with the wind in their hair, the music cranked, and the freedom to check out quirky attractions that would forever have been overlooked from 30,000 feet in the air.
Traveling cross-country in someone eles's car - for free
This resurgent love affair is also revitalizing driveaway companies, services that match drivers with customers who want their cars delivered to distant destinations. Vehicles need to be moved for a variety of reasons, including corporate relocations, military transfers, and quite often in the case of snowbirds who want to have use of their own car at their winter home but don’t want to do the driving. Car owners pay driveaway companies to move their cars and the company contracts with drivers to make the one-way trips. Driver are responsible for all but the first tank of gas, meals and accommodations along the way, and must put down a deposit (generally $300-400), which is refundable upon delivery of the car to the owner.
There are some limitations to this type of travel. Your schedule must be flexible and you must be willing to drive between the destinations required by the customer. The route and schedule are agreed upon prior to departure and offer enough flexibility for drivers to do some sightseeing along the way, however customers will often load trunks and back seats with their personal belongings, so there is room for only one additional passenger and limited luggage. Drivers must also have a clean driving record, three forms of identification, and be willing to undergo a criminal background check. If none of this is problematic, driveaways are an extremely economical alternative to rental cars, especially for those who have no car or own a vehicle that is not dependable.
Although driveaway companies can be found all over the country, some locations need more drivers than others; routes between eastern Canadian cities and Florida or Arizona, for example, are in high demand due to annual snowbird migration in the spring and fall. For more information, contact one of the following driveaway firms, or check your local Yellow Pages under “Auto Transporters”:
Auto Driveway (43 offices across the U.S. and Canada)
Toronto Driveaway (Toronto based)
Cars To Florida (Toronto based)
Photo Credit: Nate Steiner
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Posted in Travel tips | 
Tags: budget, car delivery, car rental, corporate relocations, cross country, driveaway, drivers, free, military transfers, snowbirds, Travel
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We did this once, many, many years ago, when my husband (then-boyfriend) and I were penniless students in Florida. We drove up to Massachusetts for free, and had a ball. Highly recommended.
Nice post. I saw and talked about Auto Driveway before but you went in-depth. Will retweet.
Excellent post, thanks so much for the resource! In the past, I had heard about these travel options but didn’t have any more information.
How funny, I just had a friend mention this concept to me recently and I had never heard of it before. Now, 3 days later you come out with a post about it! Would be a good gig for a homeless vagabond like me! Thanks for the information!
My friend and her husband did this on a trip to Alaska. They ferried a camper van from U.S. east coast. I thought it was an ingenious way to see Alaska, as well as much of the rest of Canada.
I’ve tried to do this several times, but like you said you have to be willing to go from the companies required or necessary destinations. Unfortunately, my travel plans haven’t been that flexible in the past, but I’ll keep checking if I’m going between major cities.
I have done this many times from coast to coast or from north to south. Always had enough time to see a few sites on the way or stop and visit a friend for a day or two. Great way to see the country!
Elizabeth, when you did this did you use a company like Barbara mentioned – or did you find the ‘job’ some other way?
Sherry, I am pretty sure that it was Auto Driveway. I would look in the phone book (before cell phones) and call the auto driveway companies and see what was available. I always got a car in a large city. Didn’t always deliver them to a large city.
I had totally forgot about this option. Thanks for the reminder and the details.
Hmmm…this really has me thinking. Great in the US where getting cross country is difficult and expensive without a car.
[...] Weibel at Hole In The Donut shares a great tip about driveaway companies, services that match drivers with customers who want their cars delivered to distant destinations, [...]
I live in Milwaukee Wi and am interested in driving cars any where almost anytime. I have a clean driving record. Three forms of I.D. Ans insurance. I just finished driving a friend mothers car from Milwaukee to
Seattle. I left Sunday at noon and arrived Tues evening. It was fun great driving and it’s something I enjoy and feel I’m very good at. Please contact me at 414-788-6715
John Picone
jpicone399@aol.com
I have been shopping airline ticket deals for our move to Costa Rica ever since returning from our December visit.
Hello Readers,
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driving lessons in Dunstable
http://www.dunstable-driving-lessons.co.uk/
A Driving instructor based in Dunstable supplies driving lessons from £15!
Had a driveaway car when I immigrated from Canada to the US. Out of Detroit, where, because of big 2nd hand price differences, western dealers buy their cars, and have them transported this way. Had a designated route, with cross state permits required, and a time limit. I did not quite follow the instructions ( young and dumb ), got to San Francisco a week late ( thought it nice to have an almost new car when I got there ), kept it one more week and to my surprise, was never asked a single question. Never bothered with the necessary cross state permits either. Not that I suggest this to anyone. Just my experience.
Ed Vandenberg
Helo everyone I hope you are well. I would like to drive a car from Buellton, California.93427 to anywhere in Nebraska or close by. If you have anything going in that direction please let me know Arden D. Timm 805-284-6109 e-mail lordlike2009@hotmail.com I have drove cars before for driveway companies I have my own auto insurance & can provide a clean d.m.v. printout on my california drivers license. Thank you you are a blessing. In HIS lovingkindness Arden
Hi Arden. Thanks for stopping by Hole In The Donut and leaving a reply. I don’t actually have anything to do with the companies that arrange for people to drive cross-country; I only wrote the article about them. You’ll have to contact them directly. I believe there are links in my article that will take you to their web sites. Barbara
If you need to get a auto transport ed across country or from point a to point b it is much more economical to hire a car transport. It is usually cheaper than a driveaway service and you don’t have the miles put on you car.
Country driving is really good. You can feel the wind blowing through your hair. It’s a great getaway!
My bf was able to do this for around 3-5 times. He said it was enjoyable and he was able to drive different types of cars and saw different places.
Wanted to try this one out, but the Auto Driveway website could not be opened.
James: I just tried all three companies that the article links to and they all work – give it another try. Might have been a connection problem on your end.
I tried all the links too, and they are all working. I like to try it!
Seeking small van or truck to drive to Seattle, Washingon. Anytime, 916-947-0685
Tried this one around a year ago. The driver was so accommodating and he was able to arrive on time on the destination.
I’m confused.. The driver pays for gas, food and lodging AND puts down a rather small deposit of around $300, returned upon delivery, right? And one respondent indicated that DriveAway’s are more expensive than a transport service, which I imagine is very expensive. So where is the business and who provides the service and makes the profit that rationalizes the industry? Ignoring things like liability, lost or stolen cars and insurance deductibles and such — how does the driver get home? From the driver’s perspective this sounds far better than hitchhiking but not much better than finding a ride-share, doesn’t it? Is it just done for the love of travel and when a return gig either is pre-arranged or not required? Any insight on the economics would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any insight, I truly would like to learn more.
It’s definitely a great option, especially with the advent of the internet that makes it so easy to find these kinds of deals.
I will drive your car across country and get home on my own. I work for the Airlines and fly for free and love to take road trips. I have a clean driveing record and a clean police record. Please contact me if you know anyone that would like a car or truck moved. Raypowell70@yahoo.com
Ray, if you work for the airlines, surely you are aware that you will lose your “fly for free” pass privilege if you are caught using them for business purposes. That is a violation of your flying privileges.
I did this back in college in the late 80s and it was awsome. Got one car for 10 days from NY to LA. Then we got another car 2 weeks later, also for 10 days from SF back to NY. It was an awesome and cheap way to see the country.
This was really,really helpful to me. Do you folks have a donate button? I hate when trols get everything they need and don’t bother to say thanks to the owner Seriously ., i have no issues expressing my thanks for informative posts!! Thanks again. Jim Roberts, Low Auto Insurance Store,1 W Federal St, Youngstown, Ohio 44503, 330-967-0909
I would like to know how to get a position for driving cars cross country? jaustinkingtut@comcast.net
cell phone 313-330-1839 John Austin
John – contact the companies in my article. I have linked to them in the body of the post, so you can contact them through their particular websites.
I’m new to blogging & your blog is really sharp. I started the process of making my own blog. Do you mind if I use your color scheme for it? I don’t want to copy you I just like the colors you picked. Sincerely, Sun Auto Sales, 1835 Glenwood Ave, Youngstown, Ohio 44511 330-746-6022
I do not generally respond to blogposts but I’ sure will in this case. Wow a big thumbs up for this 1!
Sweet, that’s exactly what I was shooting for! You just saved me alot of digging around