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.
Will drive your vehicle from Southern Cal to Mpls. (949) 307-1134
Looking for someone to drive my car from NYC to New Orleans this fall. Dates are somewhat flexible but the car should be in New Orleans by October 10. The car is a 1999 Toyota Celica convertible automatic with low mileage and in excellent condition.
Wow. I think I’m going to start a site that hooks up drivers with people who want to move their car!
When I moved to LA from New York, I spent $1000 to ship my car across the US. I should have had someone drive it. I would have done it myself but I was on a tight schedule because I was starting a job immediately. Also, my car was +10 years old at the time. I didn’t know if it would make it across the US and I would have felt really bad if someone only made it half way and ended up stuck in a cornfield in Kansas with a rusty Mazda.
Have u started that website yet?? I need to get from Biloxi, MS to St.Pete/Tampa on Saturday, November 23, 2013. I’m a seasoned long distance driver with excellent driving record. Let me know if u have anything. And if u want some help with that web site – I think it’s a great idea
We’re looking for someone to drive a car from New Haven, CT to Austin, TX at the end of August or during September.
Thanks
I will drive any car, truck from Washington DC to Houston TX any time in August OR September of 2013. I have SUPER DRIVING Record & history. I am an professional engineer as well. Will take care of your vehicle and be extremely professional and timely in my delivery of your car.
I’m needing my truck driven from Boston area to Oklahoma. Any interest?
[email protected]
Hello,
I am looking to drive a vehicle from the Houston TX area to the San Diego CA area in November 2013. I’m attending a wedding and also need to bring back some belongings of my late mother. Very clean driving record, and a professional driver for 30+ years with own business. Can drive anything but semi trucks. Manual or stick is fine.
Steve
50 + responsible driver with excellent, safe, driving record wanting to drive your car from Austin or San Antonio area of Texas to South Florida at the end of August.
Looking for responsible driver(s) to drive a Lexus RX300 from Santa Barbara, CA to Boston area as soon as possible. Need car delivered to daughter by end of August. Anyone interested? Please email me @ [email protected].
Thanks!
Hello, My Son is Starting college in California. I would like to drive him there. I am in South Florida and would like to Drive your Car or truck to L.A..We have to be there by Aug. 28th. My Diving record is Very Good and I am a Reliable Person. if you have any questions feel free to call. 954-829-7223
need driver from north carolina to san diego
Dear Barbara,
It been a plrasure to read about your exciting travel expreriences.
I too love to travel, but have a great fear of flying.
I have had deams several times about the great road-way connecting the oceans and seas, making it easy to drive around the world instead of flying.
Your passion for travel, photography, and writing are also mine too.
The feelings you have had while working at a job is perfectly discribed as you put it ” a hole in the donut, full on the outside and empty on the inside”.
If fact that is how I felt about this world until my beloved parents gave me the answers and solution to the disturbing questions I had about this deteriorating world!
I would like to share my findings with you. You would be amazed!!!
I would also like to hear your opinion on the matter.
Until next time, hears to your happy traveling!
I am a resident and US Citizen living in Manhattan Beach CA and need to go to Northern San Francisco and back , beginning August.
Responsible 50 plus Clean Driving Record. Safe and reliable person. Will drive your vehicle from Florida to Colorado leaving between August 5th to August 10th, 2013(no later). e-mail me asap
I will be traveling from Phoenix, AZ to Wichita, KS. Willing to transport any car if needed. I plan on traveling the first part of August. I have been a commercial driver with CDL full endorsements, no accidents no tickets, FBI fingerprint card and background checked. Not looking for any compensation, just offering a trade. I get a ride and you get a driver
I need a ’06 BMW X3 driven from the Bay area in California, to Boulder, CO. Anyone interested?
I need to have a 2007 Chevy Colorado P/U truck moved from the New Orleans area to Colorado Springs, CO. I cannot afford to pay a professional driver to move the car but if you need a vehicle to haul stuff to this area, please contact me and let’s work out arrangements that will be mutually helpful. There are four major military bases here – USAF Academy, Ft. Carson, Peterson AFB, and Shriever AFB.
Hello,
I’ll be relocating from San Francisco, CA to Austin, Texas at the end of September or beginning of October this year (2013). I’ll need a 2006 Scion xA, manual transmission transported. If you’re interested, please reply with a personal email address, and I will contact you.
Thanks!
Joe
Hi
i have tons of family in San Antonio/Austin and would love to do a drivethru
if we can work out the dates
Walter in San Jose CA
Joe, Iam wanting to move from Bloomington, California to Lampasas Texas at the same time. I am old, but an excellent driver. I have a class A license. I need to move some of my stuff also. Let me know if you wish to let me assist you. [email protected]
Skip
Hello Everyone. Last year, my friends and I drove across the country from New Jersey to Los Angles. It was a wonderful experience. This year, I’d love to do the same thing with my girlfriend. Our plan is to drive there in a six day stint from July 28th to August 2. We will then meet with friends in Los Angeles and rent a van to drive back to NJ to accommodate all of us. We are looking for the most economically friendly way to drive there. I’m 25 and my girlfriend is 24. We both have clean driving records plus I have experience doing this trip already. If anyone has any information on anyone who would like to have their car driven across the country for them, please email me with information. Thank you. Anthony. [email protected]
Hi,
I am a graduate student. I love to travel cross country. If I can help you move your car cross country I would love to 🙂 Any money I earn will go toward my college expenses! Thanks 🙂
Hi there,
I am looking for somebody to drive my Ford Focus from the OC, CA to Palm Beach Gardens FL. I would like my car to be picked up on Aug. 23rd. Please let me know if you are interested!
Erin
[email protected]
Hi,
Looking to drive a family car from New York to Los Angeles in late July to mid-August with family (4). Excellent driving records, insurance, reliable, and responsible.
Thanks
Michael
hi there
looking to drive back a car ,mini van ,Rv from LA to Calgary .
clean record and prof drive
Hello, I currently reside in Fort Myers, FL. I am moving to the west coast, Portland-Seattle area, the first week of October, give or take a few days. I am interested in driving someone’s vehicle rather than fly, bus or train. I have a clean driving record, am retired and have lots of experience driving coast to coast, having been to 49 states and Canada. I can come to your location within Florida to pick up your vehicle. I can drive a car or truck, be it manual or automatic transmission. Thank you for your consideration, J
Hello! Responsible 37yr old Canadian with clean drivers license looking to take a car from Ft. laudedale area (Miami, West Palm, Jupiter, etc) to Toronto/Ottawa/Montreal or surrounding areas. I am very flexible in terms of dates (I work as a freelance consultant, so I don’t need much notice) but I would like to go in the month of July. I am able to drive both manual and automatic, 2-4 door, suv, mini van are all fine. Please get in touch! [email protected]
I am looking to drive from the Los Angeles area to Indiana in mid-July. I am a mature individual with a clean driving record. I have driven multiple automobiles for over 40 years. If you need a trustworthy person to deliver you car or truck to the mid-west in July please contact me at your convenience. Personal references provided upon request.
Thank you,
Rick
Hi, I’m looking for someone who is going to move to Madison, Wisconsin, in mid to late August and who has a car but does not want to drive it there. My boyfriend is moving out there for grad school and my original plan was to drive there and back, but seeing as that is about a 2 day drive each way, I’m looking for a change in plan as I really do not want to drive back by myself (his mom has offered to fly to Wisconsin to drive back with me, but seeing as how she works, I don’t want her to take that time off from work). I’m wanting to drive out there but fly back and I’m hoping someone who is looking to move out there is willing to let us drive their car there. Please let me know. You can contact me at [email protected]. Thank you.
Do you have a job offers in Metro Detroit