Driveaway Cars – Like Driving Someone Else’s Automobile for Free

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.

Hit the road for free in someone else's automobile, with a driveaway car
Hit the road for free in someone else’s automobile, with a driveaway car

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.

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Driveaway Cars - Like Driving Someone Else\'s Automobile for Free

2,253 thoughts on “Driveaway Cars – Like Driving Someone Else’s Automobile for Free”

    • Hi John!
      If you’re still looking for someone for the first week of May, I could probably do it!
      I’ve been looking for a way to get from Washington state to Missouri or anywhere in the Midwest, really but that trek would at least get me in the vicinity. And I was actually hoping to leave by May 7th! I have an excellent driving record and would hope to be able to take a few boxes along. Let me know if you’re still looking! I’m 29 years old, a college graduate, very safe driver and could bring a gps device with me if you don’t already have one.

      contact me if you have any questions! [email protected]

      Reply
  1. My fiancee and I are looking to drive across the country (west coast to east coast). Let us know if you need your vehicle transported across the US. We would like to start the drive by June 1 and need to arrive in DC by the end of June. Great driving history, no accidents.

    Rebecca

    Reply
  2. Responsible sisters (non-smoking) willing to drive your vehicle from Iowa to AZ anytime before July 2013. We have accident free records.

    Reply
  3. looking to drive a car from Arizona to the midwest sometime in Aprl. retired, non smoker, clean driving record, prefer llinos

    Reply
  4. Husband & wife team would like to drive your vehicle (car or motor home) from Arizona to Minnesota in April 2013. Great driving record.

    Reply
  5. hello im looking to drive someones car from arizona to virgina ..i need to leave on apr 8 … i will pay for gas please email …in despreate need

    Reply
  6. Hi, i am a PIlot looking for a car to drive to florida on the 28, 29, 30 of march
    if any one need this service for free i am willing to do it
    other wise i will rent a car to drive from NY to florida
    pls email me

    Reply
  7. Need a mid size suv or larger to drive from Burbank/ LA area to Nashville Tn area between April 7th-April 12Th ,2013. Will pay for gas.

    Reply
  8. Need your car or truck to be driven to New York area westchester , Rockland co. area, with in the next week or two
    E-mail [email protected] . Leave your phone number ,I will get back to you . Will need help with gas and one way airline ticket back to Fort Myers

    Reply
  9. Have good driving record. Wisconsin drivers liscense W/CDL. Need a vehical to travel from north west US Seattle/ washington state to Chicago/Milwaukee area. August 2013

    Reply
  10. Looking to tow an airstream from NY to CA with a pick-up truck. Preferably diesel. If anyone is looking to get their truck driven and doesn’t mind me towing a trailer, please reply. No time frame, just need a window of time to plan ahead. Cheers.

    Reply
  11. I am a responsible 31 year old social worker with a graduate degree living in New York City.

    I am looking to help someone move their car and drive cross country to San Francisco the last week of July or first week of August. I’m rather flexible. I have a CA drivers license, clean driving record, and come with many professional and personal references.

    [email protected]

    Reply
    • I need someone to take my car from Boston to Santa Barbara (four hours south of SF) leaving the east coast on Aug. 9. Are you interested?

      Reply
    • I will help anyone to move a car from anywhere near Chicago, IL to anywhere near Los Angeles, CA during the month of July or August. I go with a friend, so there will be two drivers and will change every two hours so we dont get tired. I am very flexible with dates and places, just need time enough for a bit of sightseeing. Of course will pay for gas. Clean driving record, 23 year old architect. My mail is [email protected]

      Reply
  12. I am looking to drive a vehicle from Fairbanks AK to the Chicago or Detroit area. Will pay for gas. Email me if you can help

    Reply
  13. My Dad and I are driving from Green Bay, WI to Reno, NV from May 19-25, 2013. We are renting a car but if someone needs a car driven to Reno or Sacramento or even the Bay Area we could do it. Email me at [email protected].

    Reply
  14. I couldn’t drive this one but am looking for a vehicle for mid May from Boston to Seattle ( east coast to west coast ).
    Jay

    Reply
  15. Looking for a vehicle to drive from Rochester New York to Orlando Florida between March11th, 12th or the 13th, Very clean drving record, Non smoker will pay for gas.. Please email me at [email protected]

    Reply
  16. Me and my friend are willing to pay, to drive a car from the east coast (New York area/Toronto) and to the west coast. I’m aged 20 and a canadian citizen living in Denmark. We can drive it in the months November/December, and will of course deliver any infomations you would need out of us, screenings etc.

    Reply
  17. Looking for a driveaway/ car relocation from Florida to New York/New England ( specifically Miami FLa to Waterford CT) July 1oth…. need to be in CT July 20th… can meet all screening requirements

    Reply
  18. I am retired (a young retiree) and would like to drive your car cross country from LA to Boston area … no fee required, just gas assistance ; my wife (also retried) and I would like to see more of the country and have the time to take on this project ; we have spotless driving records and are fully insured.. we are looking to take this on in the mid July time frame. Please send me an email if interested.Thanks

    Reply

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