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.
OMG…Rookie!!!!
Sorry…rooking mistake..Ned to go Friday, July 27, 2012. Hence the stroke of luck
Need to get from Cleveland, OH to Indy, IN. 56 yrs.old, non-smoker, clean driving record. Hoping for a stroke of luck. call 440-221-2798
I am interested in driving a car from the San Francisco Bay area to Atlanta, GA in the next few weeks. Mature Professional driver with excellent record, do not drink or smoke. Please contact me if you need a car driven cross country.
moving to east coast looking for anyone who needs a car delivered in that direction my dates are flexable. I have a clean driveing record , non smoker ,53 years old . please call me @720-839-1895
Need to go from Los Angeles to Dallas in beginning of August. Please let me know if you need a car transported from L.A to Dallas. Email: [email protected]
Hi! I’ll be in Dallas at 4/5 September. I can drive your car to the West. I’ve got clear driving license and will pay for the gas. For more questions please contact with me by email
kiboko@o2pl
I am looking to drive an SUV-type vehicle from Los Angeles to Michigan to take my son to school. We will need to leave from Los Angeles on 8/24, and will arrive in Michigan on approximately 8/29.
Please contact me by email or by phone at 310-804-5528 if interested.
I am a semi retired college professor. And travel much and have clean license -how do i get a gig like this?
I’m looking for someone that lives in California, and needs their car driven to them from the East coast. I’m located near Harrisburgh, PA but am able to pick the car up. My reason for doing this is because I’m looking to relocated to California. I have family out there, and many more opportunities to better my future. Also I am not looking to do any site seeing on the drive out, so it will be a straight shot. Thanks
[email protected] to contact me or reply here.
need car driven to denver from new orleans asap. will pay for gas.
I am a senior citizen seeking to drive another’s vehicle from Atlanta, Ga. to California (Los Angeles, Ontario or Riverside). I would be willing to assist another drive this route; needed departure July 20, 2012.
Auto driveway is an auto ship business. I did not see an opportunity to drive another’s auto.
http://www.autodriveaway.com/employment check out this link
Looking to bring a car from Toronto or Ottawa to Minneapolis or maybe to SF. Date would be good around mit August. Let me know if you need to move your car somewhere to the west.
Demian
demianez@2efd1225fdde0e80256cc2e08fe8a859:disqus
On the website I only see how to get your car transported How do I become a driver?
Kitty: I am the author of this site. I wrote this article a couple of years ago about driveway services but have no association with the companies that provide the service. Since then, readers have been using the comments section as a sort of a forum. I have no idea if anyone has connected successfully but you can try leaving a comment.
Single responsible retired business exec would like to drive autos for a part time income to supplement the deficiencies of attempting to live on Social Security. Able to travel just about anywhere, with a flexible schedule.
Bruce Campbell
208-340-5467
Mother and daughter looking to drive someones vehicle in September from Alaska heading south (Montana, Utah, Oregon, California, Washington, etc…) Daughter lives and works in Alaska, Mother lives and works in California. Looking for a fun way to spend time together in September. Contact [email protected]
I am looking to drive from the NYC area to the Los Angeles area mid July. Larry 213-494-8220
Moving WEST! Anyone looking to have an auto delivered from Florida to California sometime between June 22nd and August 1st. Masters student at University of Central Florida, 52 years old, responsible, clean dmv, non-smoker. I have a couple personal items that I need to bring to California with me. If interested, please contact Tammy at [email protected]; phone 772-766-4601. Thank you!
Hi! I’m heading out to Brooklyn, NY (or surrounding cities) from San Francisco, CA (or surrounding cities). I’d love to drive there in your car. Mid-30s, nonsmoker/drinker, clean DMV record, teacher (so clean background check) – am looking at the end of July or beginning of August. Email me: [email protected]
I am traveling from NYC to Las Vegas and I would love take the drive. I am leaving NY June 27th. Contact me if you’re in need of my services as a driver of your vehicle. [email protected] 212.844.9457.
Feel free to contact me. I will be making a monthly trip from KANSAS CITY TO TAMPA(OR MIAMI). I can leave the second week of the month and return the following Monday. Please contact me at [email protected]
I am looking for someone to drive my Honda CRV to San Francisco/Bay Area in late July. Starting points can be:
a) New York (a flexible date prior to July 27th) OR
b) Chicago (would have to be July 28th or 29th)
Thanks!
[email protected]
I am looking for someone to drive my Honda CRV to San Francisco/Bay Area in late July. Starting points can be:
a) New York (a flexible date prior to July 27th) OR
b) Chicago (would have to be July 28th or 29th)
Thanks!
[email protected]
Please contact me at 510-622-54553. I can drive to New York. Sam
I am looking for a driver from Avon Park Florida, to Milford Delaware the first week of July, if anyone is heading in that direction, must be a reliable and responsible driver, we can help each other out on
this trip.
Wife and I are heading from Denver to Boston first week of July if anyone needs their car driven to the Boston area. Happy to help out.