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.
54 yr. male will drive your pick-up from Phila.-Chaddsford PA. area to Melbourne-Orlando Fla.any-time in Nov.or Dec need some room in bed of truck for boxes of my tools
Sorry, this would be in january of 2013
Looking to deliver vehicle from Fort meyers, fl to tucson, az (or phoenix). Middle-aged male, clean driving record
really need to go from chicago to tampa bay area of florida during the first week of december. i can be flexible on dates. i will drive your car ,suv ,van , etc. very clean driving record. i am 51 yrs old, in excellent health and have driven everything from motorcycles to large trucks. auto or manual. background checks o.k. please let me know asap. thanks.
Hi, My husband and I are located in Ohio, we are willing to drive anywhere, for a fee. My husband is retired from the US NAVY, he is 46, I am 43, we both have clean driving records, and have no problem doing a background check. Email us…Thank you
Laura – your email address does not show up to the general public – you need to put it in a comment for anyone to contact you.
Willing to Drive from Charlotte , NC to Fort lauderdale , Fla , mid November ,if any one needs me to transport
their vehichle , plz email at: [email protected].
None drinker , None smoker 57 yrs old , cln rcrd , honest & sincer
Hi,
I am next to Fort Lewis Washington State, I have been back and forth across country driving 2 times this past year in all kinds of weather. I will be heading to Ohio soon so if anyone needs me to to transport their vehichle from washington state to Ohio then let me know asap. I get alot of emails for this and would appreciate someone who needs my services to be sincere. The vehichle needs to be in good enough condition to drive across the states. I will need youre details and some compensation for doing this. My email is [email protected] or [email protected] Take care~
Amazing stuff. Thank you for posting that. I’ll definitely check back to see what’s new and tell my people about your site
My husband and I (plus two wonderful pups with no muss and no fuss!) would love to drive your car from NJ/NY area (or DC area) to FL in the beginning of December!
Very responsible couple, will make sure your car returns to you spic and span! Please contact me: [email protected]
I will drive your truck or van from Phoenix to Florida (west palm beach area) first or second week of November.
fifty years old, with ins, clean license. I just need to take a few boxes with me. Thanks Mike P.S. I will help with gas.
I live in the Northwest region near Seattle and Portland. I have a clean record and I’m willing to drive your vehicle within the United States. Very reasonable rates and I can work with your schedule. Thanks!
I am available to drive your car from Sacramento / Central California area to the Philly / Harrisburg area. Two – three weeks later need to do the same in reverse. Squeaky clean driving record. Thank you!
Snowbird looking to drive from SE massachusetts to Myrtle Beach SC at the end of Oct or first week of Nov 2012. Anyone need a car or van delivered ? Just one person I usually spend one night south of DC. And just need room for 2 bags.
hi looking to drive to boston,ma coming from buffalo,ny oct—thru springtime, very clean and responsible also have my dog accompany the ride
Looking to drive a car/van from Atlanta to New York around Thanksgiving Time
Nov. 18 -23 and return with a car/van from New York to Atlanta.
Let me know
looking to drive a car from san diego to mississippi around christmas time
Hi:
Willing to Drive from the Southwest (Phoenix) even Mountain states or Los Angeles/san Diego to the East Coast–New England (Boston or greater area) or the Southern Virginia area. I would Drive FROM or to those locations ANY TIME!
ReTired college english professor (56). Excellent driver. Exceptionally clean. Great Health. Nonsmoker. Nondrinker.
Want to visit child in college in Boston or Child in the greater richmond area.
[email protected]
Need honest reliable sane person willing to share there driving with a vehical from Washington state to Wisconsin….
It would be me and my husband and son whom is 13…needing to get back home! Soninlaw Soldier made us homeless in
Washington state and looking for the cheapiest way home and happen to find this site!!
If you haven’t found someone to take you to wisconsin yet, I would love to! I’m trying to get from the northwest to the midwest come May. Just thought I’d see if you’re still up here in Washington. I have a great driving record!
Need someone to drive my packed car from NY (flexible location in NY state) to Austin TX. Please email me at [email protected].
Thanks.
I just saw your ad on hole in a donut website. Did you get someone to drive for you yet?
Hey Elli
Did you find someone to drive your car to Austin yet? Let me know…I would love to do it for you. I’m in Boston right now.
Take care
Danielle
Intrigued by this idea and willing to drive from the Midwest to L.A. in March 2013. You can contact me at [email protected]
Hey Zev,
Saw your comment and I have a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid that I need driven from Minneapolis to Los Angeles/San Diego this spring. Are you still looking?
Thanks!
R
Looking for a car to drive from Ft. Lauderdale/Palm Beach Fl area to New Orleans from October 17th to October 25th. We are a family from Denmark on vacation in Florida.
Regards
Lars
HELLO,
Looking for a driver from Montana to a Chicago, in a week from now, here is my phone number 406-270-2102.
Thanks,
Yvonne wysote
If you are looking for a driver to drive your vehicle form Fort Lauderdale, FL to Charlotte, NC or Charlotte, NC to Fort Lauderdale, FL please contact me.
Regards,
David
Looking to drive from Phoenix or surrounding area to Ny/Nj/Pa anytime after the first week in October. I am a responsible and professional 37 year old female with a clean driving record. Can drive standard or auto transmission vehicle. Please contact me at [email protected]
I need to drive a car from Atlanta Georgia to Ft. Lauderdale Florida the first week in Oct/2012. One way only. I am a very good driver and am over 60 years in good health with no animals, and insured. Paulette Bayer
[email protected]
Looking to drive a car from chicago to Houston in mid October. Responsible middle aged couple looking to help out and take a road trip.