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.
Great website! I am looking for a reliable driver to bring our car this month from California to Detroit.. Feel free to contact me, Peter
Hi may I have more details on this trip
Thank You
Becky
If anyone needs a vehicle transported to florida from southern california I am a CDL over the road driver, getting ready to head home to south florida, I don’t like flying as crazy as it may seem I would rather drive. I am a very safe driver never had an accident in my life, you pay for gas I will pay my own expenses, and I will deliver your vehicle safe and sound within 5 or 6 days tops. My name is john I’m 46 been driving SAFELY for 30 years 786-253-0289
I need two cars driven from Northern VA to San Diego in October. Anyone interested? Email me at [email protected]. Leslie
looking to drve a car from Pheonix to San Francisco the fourth week of November[Thanksgiving week]. I am retired and it would be my wife and I.
40yo responsible man relocating to southeast. Leaving los angeles area sometime in Sept. Can drive your car to Virginia, Tenn., NC, SC, Alabama msybe even FL.
Need your vehicle transported to Florida, Daytona area? I am a responsible 52 year old female with a chocolate lab. Traveling late September returning to Ilion NY dec 6
Have looked into the “Driveaway” car “opportunities”…and they simply don’t exist. I’ve even contacted rental car companies and they use commercial car haulers, not independent drivers. The ONLY possibility I could fathom is if you might personally know an owner of a car rental business…otherwise this is UNREALITY.
Ed: You are completely wrong. I just visited the Auto Driveaway site that I linked to in my article to confirm that they still offer this service and there is a page on the site specifically for drivers that detains the requirements: http://www.autodriveaway.com/driver
I just clicked link and saw it. Thank you. I just wish there were more services on West Coast, and I know you are not in charge of any of it. Like you blog.
Thanks Ed.
Looking to drive a car one way from the Dallas Tx area to Asheville, NC area during late September early October, 2012. Anyone need a car moved?
I’m looking for someone to drive a 2004 Didge Durango from Lafayette la to Charlotte NC. Email me for additional info: [email protected]
Moving to Tampa from Queens, NY and i need a car / SUV, non-rental
I am looking to drive someone’s car or truck from Bozeman, MT to Asheville/Charlotte, NC area in mid October 2012. Anything available?
I am 54 years old and have a clean driving record with no accidents in the past 38 years and no speeding tickets. I am moving my 14 year old daughter to my home in NC…
Live in Alexandria, VA looking to get back to Fort Lauderdale, FL. Would be willing to drive someone’s mini van or SUV from VA to FL and will even meet you half way and pay for half the gas to deliver your car. Clean driving record, really good driver. Your car will be in safe hands. If interested please e-mail me at [email protected]. Thank you. 🙂
Need my car (Saturn 2002) driven from Chicago area to San Francisco Bay Area or Los Angeles, CA. Dates flexible. Non-smokers only! Contact me at [email protected]
Have you got a driver yet
Hello! I’m an artist and college professor moving from Providence to San Francisco and am happy to drive your car to the west coast. I have a good driving record and have driven cross-country many times. Can pick up in NYC, Boston, etc. I can leave anytime Aug 22-27. Email me at [email protected].
Arriving in San Francisco the second week of September 2012. Looking to drive a vehicle back to the east coast. Drive cars for a living. Clean driving record. Respectful. Email [email protected] with questions. Thanks
Anyone need a car / truck driven from Phoenix to New England? Please email me [email protected]. Non smoker, clean drive record. 51 yrs old. Thanks Denis
Boston to Seattle almost free! Anyone (student, work) driving from Boston area to Seattle WA soon? Need a Subaru Forester driven to Seattle by 8/15 8 pm at Seattle Tachoma airport. $200 gas money and space for your stuff! Write me at [email protected] within the next few days! This is new ad 8/6/12.
anyone looking to have their cart driven from Massachusetts (Boston North Shore) to Florida (Winter Park) early to mid September?
Contact [email protected] if so….
Thanks!
looking to drive from LA to miami. who needs their car moved!!!
Looking for someone to drive my packed up car from Denver CO area to Boston!! My name is Hannah and my number is (970)-319-7746
Hello. Looking to drive in December from Montreal, Quebec to Orange County, California (Laguna Niguel) to visit our daughter and family. My wife and I have clean drive’s record and will pass all requirements. Please contact Rene @ [email protected] – Thank you.
I am a truck driver by trade. I have been driving professionaly for 20 years, with a clean abstract. If anyone needs a vehicle driven to BC from Ont in the month of Aug 2012, please email me [email protected]. Thanks
My daughter, 22, and I are driving from Columbus OH to San Diego CA in a few weeks. Leaving Ohio Aug 6/7, arriving CA Aug 11/12. Happy to transport car. Please call 614-443-6626 and ask for Eric. Both non-smokers, clean driving record. Both able to drive stick shift.
Planning a trip to California in October to visit my son in the military. If anyone needs a vehicle delivered out there please contact me at [email protected]
I am looking for a car to drive from Wisconsin(or surrounding area) to Homer, Alaska anytime between now and early September.