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.
Looking for someone responsible to drive a car from WI 53095 to Orange County CA 92646 on July 29. Thanks Tim
I am looking to drive a SUV or Mini-Van from South Florida to Louisiana at the end of July or begining of August 2014. Mature equipment operator. Please email me if you have a vehicle or know someone that has one that needs to relocate.
Heading from Colorado to Southern California in mid August. I’ll be moving my son to Colorado Springs August 7th and heading back after a week or so. I’ve driven this route many times and am familiar with ride. I used to sell cars and can drive any size vehicle, manual or automatic. Just a shot in the dark, but worth a try. Limiting the pick up to Front Range (Denver to Pueblo) and will deliver anywhere in Southern California ( I have a person in CA that can pick me up, but I live in Newport Beach)
hi!
Looking to drive someone’s car from around New York to California we are flexible at August 13 to 28. We are a married couple 28 years old that want to enjoy the roads.
we both have clean driving record and will pay for gas.
please contact me : [email protected]
Hi! Looking to drive someone’s car from WA/OR to the NYC area in mid-August. I am moving to NY for grad school (need to be there for Aug 20th), and want to take some things with me so flying is more difficult. Plus, driving is more fun :). I will pay for gas! I am 26, with a clean driving record.
Email me, [email protected].
looking to drive someone’s car in SEPTEMBER 2014 from NY to LA.
28 yrs old, responsible NJ licensed individual.
please contact me at [email protected]
My family (wife and 2 kids) is flying to Phoenix on August 4th and would like to drive a reliable car back to New York (Rochester area, ideally) over the course of two to three weeks. We have clean driving records and would pay for gas.
Contact us at [email protected]
Neil
Hello, I am available to drive your car from the Seattle area to Denver area mid August. I can also just do the drop off to Boise or Salt Lake City area too
I will be responsible for fuel and accommodations.
Clean driving and background check
Thank you.
Need a car to be driven from Oregon to Pennsylvania anytime after August 1, 2014 (preferably within the month of August). Please email me if interested!
Thanks!
[email protected]
Friend and I are traveling from Chicago to Los Angeles leaving August 22 and arriving September 6. We are both 50 years old with clean driving records. Would like to drive your car for free. Please email if interested.
Hi Tammy,
Have you found a ride yet? Would you be interested in driving my car from Minneapolis, MN to Los Angeles, CA? I have a 2004 Mini Cooper S and could work with your dates. It is a manual transmission. Let me know –
thanks!
I am looking to drive from Mpls to Los Angeles in the next month. If you still need a car transported, let me know!
Hi
Im looking to drive a vehicle from west coast (LA, San Diego) to anywhere on east (New York-Miami). Im 27yo, have a clean proffesional driving license. For last 5 years I was working as a coach and lorry driver.
Able to move your car on august/september
[email protected]
Hi,
My name is Kenya and I need someone to drive my car from Hemet, CA to Mount Pleasant, SC (Charleston). I need you to leave on July 30th . I know the trip takes about 4 or 5 days. Let me know if you are interested. Small catch…so call email me and I will explain. Thanks!
Hi Derrick, I am looking for a driver for a Ford Focus that I just purchased from my sister in San Diego. to be delivered to me in Vero Beach, Florida, sometime in August. Can you help me out? Thank you. Patsy
Looking to drive west coast to east coast end of Aug 2014 from Southern CA to NYC (need to be in NY Sept. 2). I’m an excellent driver and have been told “you drive like a guy” for whatever that’s worth. Email me to [email protected].
Thanks!
Chana
Hi!
I am looking to drive someone’s car from the west coast to the east coast in September 2014. Clean driving record and clean background check.
Christina
[email protected]
I need someone to drive my U-haul from Miami to Cupertino, California.
anyone available needs to drive on July 5th… thanks. we can talk some more via email : [email protected]
Hi! I am looking for someone who needs their van/truck/SUV driven from the SF Bay Area to the DC/Baltimore area in early August. Thanks!!
Alison
[email protected]
I am looking for an SUV or van to drive from the Denver, CO area to New York City from late July to early August 2014. I am a 23 year old, non-smoking graduate student with a clean driving record. I will need some space for cargo. Please email me at [email protected] if interested. Thank you!
I am looking to drive a vehicle from Prince Edward Island or New Brunswick to Connecticut/Lower New York State/NYC in July-August. I am a retired Connecticut Motor Vehicle Agent. (Yes the guy that did all those road tests.) I have a clean driving record with no violations or accidents. I drive either automatic or manual transmissions. Please email [email protected]
I am looking to drive someone’s car from Los Angeles/San Diego in early mid August to Seattle, WA around 8th to the 13th, flexible that week. Please let me know if you need this service. We are 28/29 email me at [email protected]
Also for some of you I have discovered http://www.zimride.com
I am hoping to drive from the Chicago/Milwaukee/Madison area to the New York City area. My plan is to move to live in NYC, and I have a clean driving record. Let me know if this would work for you!
Hi,
I need someone to drive my 2006 Nissan Xterra from Richmond, TX to San Francisco bay area as soon as next week. I am willing to pay hotel, food and gas for the duration of the trip. please email [email protected] if you are interested.
I would love to give you a hand on transporting your car from Texas to California my husband and I with (2) grand children will be avaible on Aug 7 or 8
Hi Donna Oliver
I know you said from TX to CA and I was wondering if you were planning on doing the same on the way back. My car needs to be transported from Southern CA to Austin TX August 11th.
Let me know if you are interested [email protected]
We will be available early August myself, husband and two Grand children
Looking to drive car from san francisco to los angeles june 30 or july 1. You can reach me at 951.256.6797
Class C driver, clean, responsible, no moving violations, do not drink or smoke no drug, graduate student at top tier university
Looking to drive from New Mexico (Albuquerque) to Boston area/New England to visit family this summer. We have some flexibility the last 2-3 weeks in July 2014. Both my husband and I have clean driving records and are super responsible professionals. Please email [email protected]
Looking to drive a vehicle from Toronto (or anywhere in the GTA) to San Francisco, leaving July 4. Very interested in driving any vans or larger cars. Clean driving record!
Please email: [email protected]
Moving son for college from DFW area to Orlando, FL the end of July 2014. We need to be there Aug 1st. Need to take some boxes, his clothes and his bicycle. We have small cars and are looking for a SUV or Pick-up that needs to be driven to the Orlando area for you. We will cover all fuel for the drive. I am a responsible, insured, 46 y/o professional in healthcare. I have forms of ID, clean driving and criminal record. Let me know details of what vehicle you need transported to the Orlando area and may be we can help each other out. I will fly back. Thanks! Deb
DID YOU FIND ANY ONE TO HELP YOU
Responsible 24 y.o. female grad student looking for a vehicle to drive from Atlanta, GA to San Francisco, CA some time in July. Let’s talk! [email protected]
I am looking for a vehicle to drive from Denver to Los Angeles or nearby around 24 July. I have clean driving record and I want to help out. Let me know!
Looking for someone to drive my car from palm Springs to Austin TX Weds June 25th will Pay for Gass
[email protected]
I have a Class A license, based out of Boise, Idaho. Professional driver. I will drive your car to any state needed within the US. I also have a DoD secret clearance. Clean driving record. Just ask that you cover fuel and hotel if needed.