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.
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 like getting a free rental car, 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
Feel free to leave a comment below, however this site is solely a travel blog and as such is not in any way involved in the business of arranging for the transfer of vehicles. Use of this blog for such purposes hereby releases and forever discharges and holds harmless Hole in the Donut Cultural Travel, Barbara Weibel, and all successors and assigns from any and all liability, claims and demands of whatever kind or nature, either in law or in equity, which arise or may hereafter arise from such use.
A friend and I are driving from southwestern Ohio to the LA area in May and are looking someone who needs his or her car driven there. We are leaving around May 13 and would be in the LA area by May 22. Thank you!
Hello,
Would anyone be willing to drive a full size, Ford F250 XL, Extended cab, 5-speed manual, transmission from Wilmington, NC (Fleet Lease Marketing Dealership, 910-815-1055) to Palmdale, CA? Pick-up date should be around Feb 15th. References, copy of photo ID, and proof of insurance required.
Cheers,
Dave
I am moving from Pennsylvania to South Dakota the end of Feb,2013 looking for someone to help me drive. Hope this is the right site to ask. Thanks Carolyn
We (myself and my wife) will be available in April, 2013 to take any car/van from Florida to Toronto (Canada) – I am an excellent long distance Driver with a clean record.
HI, A friend and I are going to be driving from either San Francisco or San Diego – to BOSTON. This is toward the end of April 2013.
If anyone needs their car moved from California to Massachusetts around April/May, let me know. We are both excellent drivers, no accidents, tickets etc.
My daughter and I are planing a Route 66 trip from Chicago to flagstaff (can go all the way to LA) and looking for a car to drive one way. Date are flexible around late July/early August 2013.
Would like to drive your car from east coast to California in march 2013
Hello, my son just moved from Virginia to New Orleans, I will driving a Uhaul to New Orleans and I am looking for someone who may need their vehicle driven from New Orleans to Virginia during the first week of Feb 2012. I’m trying to save on the cost of car rental or plane fare back to VA.
I live in Manhattan ks.If anyone needs a car driven anywhere in the Midwest I would love to do it.I have a great driving record.Love to drive!!!!! Been driving for 42 years.i am married .My 17 year old son possibly would keep me company. If anyone is interested e mail me at
[email protected]
will drive your vehicle from New York to California (Northern)I have a clean driving record and am mature and reliable. I am moving out to Monterey at the end of February. thank you, Lisa
Hello all, I am a mature Englishman looking for a trip across, up or down the US. If anyone can help with a website, trip broker/arranger, I would be grateful. Can supply references of good behaviour and security, I am ex-airline employee and a Magistrate in the UK. Any help would be gratefully received. Andy M
Driver looking for vehicle to drive from Southern CA to Virginia Area. Will be taking a few boxes and two dogs (well behaved). Class A license with many trips cross country.
Mature , non smoker or drinker w/clean record wishes to drive to NY from Fla (pref. east coast) end of Feb or beginning March 2013.
I AM PRESENTLY LOOKING FOR FULL TIME OR PART TIME JOB AS A DELIVERY DRIVER ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. I AM IN EXCELLENT HEALTH AND HAVE AN EXCEELENT DRIVING RECORD. I CAN BE REACHED AT 3106635565. I AM NOW LIVING IN LOS ANGELES CALIF. CALL ME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.
I have a son and daughter in law who just graduated (dil-Doctorate) at U of A. Need to get to Boston for a job starting on Jan. 10th. They need to leave around te first of January 2013…..so…..They need a reliable vehicle to drive back east with their belongings from Phoenix/Tucson(preferably) to Boston area. Please email me at NK8691 @ aol.com
I can drive a car from NY to st louis on Dec 21 or Dec 22 and back from stl to ny on dec 31 or Jan 1st. 45 fully loaded insurance. Trying to get my son back and forth to West Point.
I am a non-smoker, experenced driver, with a long excellent driving record.
I will pick your car up anywhere in the USA and deliver it promptly.
I am scheduling now for 2013. Contact me for a quote
hi
looking to drive a car from southern indiana to northen colorado anytime between dec 1st thur 9th , iam moving back to indy and i have several cars in colorado that i need to get back to indy, clean driving record , non smoker . feel free to call me with ideas or dates iam flexiable, my name jeff 47 yrs old . # 1 812 454 3835. thank you
Proffessional 57 year old – very clean non smoker will drive your vehicle from Arizona – Phoenix To utah – salt lake city during the first or second week of December 2012.
Would like to drive vehicle to Los Angeles before Christmas; possible dates are Dec. 19th through Dec.22nd.
Beginning location is SW Missouri; Springfield/Branson/Fayetteville AR/Mountain Home AR. Driver is retired schoolteacher wanting to spend Christmas with daughter in S.California. Please contact via email.
Also able to drive any vehicle as I’m fully licensed. Have made this journey many times and know the road well.
Hello, we would like to find someone willing to drive our 2011 VW Tiguan SUV (automatic transmission) from Boston, MA to San Francisco, CA.
Departure from Boston – around December 8th, 2012
Expected arrival in San Francisco – around December 15th, 2012
Driver must have a valid drivers license, be over 25 years old, have totally clean driving record.
Reply to [email protected]
Hello,
My name is Scott and I am a former Marine looking to get my vehicle from San Diego to anywhere in the New England area. Open to almost anything and I’m in a real tough spot. I would like to do this as soon as possible. feel free to E-mail me if we can help each other.
-Scott
[email protected]
57 yo/o male with class a cdl available to drive your car from Yuma, AZ to western Colorado 11/16/12 to 12/20/12
[email protected]
Available to drive vehicle to Orlando or Tampa, FL from anywhere in the Toronto-Detroit corridor. Must leave on November 20th. If interested, please contact me at [email protected]. Thanks!
Mature male with class A lience and clean driving record.Looking to drive fullsize pickup or box truck straight shot I-5 Seattle area to Sacramento or close SF area. Nov.2012