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.
Making a trip out to California from new York mid July. Clean license, non smoker
[email protected]
-tony
I am a 49yr old case manager for disabled veterans moving from california to washington dc for job relocation had some sometime to get would love to drive across country did it once a few years ago and look forward to being of service to someone . My departure date is 8/30/12 so if you need a responsible and reliable driver i am your man
I am planning a trip from San Diego to New Jersey from 063012-070412. Then from NJ to Chicago 070512 to 070712. Then from 070712-071412 to Reno. 071612-071712 back to SD. If u need a car, truck or motorcycle driven pls inquire. I have no tickets. Prior military, LEO.
Hi, Irish 60 year old’s visiting the US in the Fall. We are hoping to travel from Chicago to Los Angeles. It would be a pleasure to drive your car or RV for you, dates are flexible Mid Sept to end Oct. Have driven in US before, and hold clean international driving licence. Could return favour with accommodation if your visiting Ireland. Contact [email protected]
We are a 23 yr married non smoking couple looking to go from Portland, OR to North Carolina and in between. Tim is an experienced RV driver & we both have driven loads with trailers & boats. We want to visit friends & look for job possibilities on the east coast as thats where Tim is from. But if you need something moved from Portland to somewhere in between – we can work that in our plans. We want to start our travel in Oct or Nov 2012.
Also is anyone relocating to our area for Intel or such??? We are looking to rent our furnished home out from 2-3 weeks to 3-4 months. Please check our website – http://www.extractaway.com to see who we are. We are long term Oregonians & in biz since 1988. Very reputable!! Thanks Kelly & Tim
Recent College Grad, moving to Los Angeles from South Florida, would be a pleasure to drive your car to Los Angeles, contact me at [email protected]. I plan on making the trip June 20th of 2012
Any one need a car driven from New York to Florida?? [email protected]
looking for someone who needs a car driven to Chicago Illinois …[email protected]
Hi! we’re students and we’re looking to drive a car from NY to anywhere you want. We would like to make a trip around the USA. Our window is from 20th August to the end of August. We’ve got clean driving licences and we’re no smokers.
contact: [email protected]
Hi I’m a recent graduate looking to drive a car from southern New England area to northwest (Oregon, Washington) towards the end of June or start of July. Very cautious and respectful and not a smoker. I can be contacted at [email protected] feel free to contact me via email.
I would be interested in seeing if someone would like a vehicle driven from Texas or New Orleans at the end of next week (appx. June 8th but dates are flexible). Please contact me at [email protected]
*** to upstate New York!!!!
Hello, I am a 61 year old teacher who would like to drive a van from Boca Raton, Florida to Los Angelos. My window is from July 15 to the 30th, and I would like a week to get there. Please contact me at [email protected].
How do I get started doing this? What site(s) do I search for? I have so many questions. Please, anyone with information and/or advice please contact me [email protected]
Also, I’m looking to start doing this soon.
College student, heading from Brooklyn, NY to Los Angeles, CA, mid to late June 2012. I have an clean record. I’m a great driver. Driven long distances. Happy to work with you. Email me if interested or have questions. [email protected]. Thank you!
Couple in mid 30’s wanting to drive vehicle from NE or CO (Omaha, Lincoln, Denver) to San Diego end of September/Early October. Please email [email protected] if you need a driver. Thank you.
I am moving from Western MASS (Shutesbury) to Sacramento, CA. I have a 2005 Auto Jeep Liberty Diesel. I need someone to drive to car to Sacramento. I will be moving by June 22nd and I hope to be in Sacramento by July 1st. e-mail [email protected]
I am interested in driving your vehicle from D.C. / Baltimore area to Seattle/Portland/Spokane/Northwest somewhere. I am 53 years old great driving record, and just made 2 round trips from Spokane to Minneapolis and Las Vegas. Prefer SUV / VAN (larger) vehicle. email BRAD at [email protected] if interested.
Husband wife team in 50’s, clean drivers, careful & considerate of other’s property seek automatic vehiclye to drive Jul 8th or 9th from Atlanta area to Myrtle Beach. We fly in and out of those cities to our home in suburban Chicago and will be visiting our chldren in Atlanta; would like to visit Myrtle Beach for a few days if we can find a way to find a vehycle without the exorbant cost!
Please contact me at [email protected] or 847-346-7756 Thank you!
These apps are really
great.We can do lot of things by using these apps. Very interesting. I hadn’t
thought of some of these things before. Thanks.
I need my car driven from Los Angeles to Connecticut next week! Looking for someone to split gas costs – even though I plan on flying. It will cost $200. See the US, I’ve done it, it’s great!
Hi, I am a 42 year old woman looking to drive one-way cross country from New York/ New Jersey to the West Coast. Preferably San Francisco or a nearby city. I have a spotless driving record, valid drivers license and excellent character references. I would like to take this trip in Mid July and arrive to my destination by July 23rd. Of course I would like to take the scenic route and any information and/or help with trying to make this happen would be greatly appreciated. Please email me at melly410@gmail:disqus.com.
Thank you for you help. Best, Melanie
Hi, I am a 23 year old student looking to drive a car from anywhere in the New York Metro Area to anywhere near the west coast by the end of this month. Clean driving record, please email me at [email protected].
Great blog! Hi,
I would like to drive a car from Florida to Colorado…. in early June 2012.
*Clean driving record(no tickets). *Clean person. *Responsible 51 yr old *Homeowner.
I’ve made this drive before…. don’t like flying.
Would also be available to drive back from Colorado to Florida at the beginning of July 2012.
Let me know if I can be of some help.
Beyond my control I have had to change my dates of travel.
I would like to drive a car from Florida to Colorado…. in Mid July 2012.
Would also be available to drive back from Colorado to Florida mid August 2012.
Mature male, 30 years on the road, clean driving record, can relocate vehicle from Medford, Oregon (Rogue Valley) to Los Angeles/Long Beach/Orange County on or about 5/28 and deliver next day. Have made the I-5 trip many times in 12 hours, and am exceedingly careful. No stops except for gas. Also returning to S. Oregon on 6-2 from L.A. area. No fee except a percentage of gas costs, depending on vehicle. Responsible, straight arrow.
[email protected]
We would like to drive a car from Treasure Valley area (Idaho) to Ft. Lauderdale, FL area. We need to be able to fly back. Anyone interested?