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.
My Son and I are intending to travel route 66 next May and are planning things just now. We will be traveling from Chicago to LA. We are both safe reliable drivers, I realise its a long way off but we really need to book our flights from Scotland soon.
Can you tell me how you registered on the hole in the donut website
No registration is needed, Dee. Just scroll down to the very bottom if yo wish to leave a comment.
My son and I are doing the same thing! We live in the Pasadena area. Is he graduating from college?
what does the driver have to cover for expenses?
Hello!
My name is Amie, and I am looking to drive from CHICAGO to NEW JERSEY/NEW YORK/EAST COAST on November 21/22/23 — I am flexible.
I am in law school, clean driving record, willing to do background check, and heading home for thanksgiving.
Please e-mail or call if interested:
[email protected]
(973) 768-7229
I have a car that needs driving Chicago to New York in November. If you are still looking and would like to discuss you can call me at 203-889-8895 or e-mail [email protected]
Thanks,
Doug White
Hey moving to start a new life in GA. Great driving record/Insurance. Going from Washington, DC to Atlanta, GA or close by. Anyone have a cargo van/small moving truck? I will have one friend with me. Not driving/just riding for support. Leaving October 9 or ASAP or later and arriving by end of next week. What you think? Would need space in the cargo van/moving truck.
Hello! We are Latvians from Riga planning to visit my host family in Phoenix and then after November 1, 2014 to drive from Arizona, Phoenix to Miami, Florida. My husband is a very experiences driver, will gladly transport larger vehicles! Where could we post our plan and offer?
With kind regards,
Andra
Tel. + 371 29496740
Hello, I am looking to drive from NJ ( live in Atlantic City) to Orlando, Florida the week of Oct. 13, 2014. I hold a CDL license, and drive a 13 passenger bus for a living. My driving record is clean. If interested, call me at 609-742-5896
Does anyone need their vehicle driven from the Denver airport area to Sarasota Florida or the neighboring area ? I will be arriving in Denver on the 3rd of October 1:30pm and returning to the Sarasota Area on the 4th with a rental if no one needs their vehicle delivered to Florida .
Hello,
I would be able to drive your car from San Diego, California to New York (or anywhere in between). No-smoker, Clean (driving alone), Driving carfully 🙂 . I drive manual or automatic.
Leaving San Diego on October 20th.
(30 years old male)
Please contact via E-mail:
[email protected]
Hi,
My wife and myself would like to drive from Chicago to Calgary. We’re both experienced drivers (at least 20y) with clean records.
We would like to start the 29th of September.
Please let us know if you want us to drive your car.
Hello,
We want to go the 29 th September from Chicago to Calgary. We are a couple from the Netherlands, 26 and 28 years old.
Hi,
My wife and myself would like to drive from Las Vegas to Chicago. We’re both experienced drivers (at least 20y) with clean records.
We would like to start the 1st of October and arrive around the 9 or 10th of October.
Please let us know if you want us to drive your car.
Hi,
I am a 52 year old Author/Artist with a spotless driving record. I am looking to bring my family to California. I plan on leaving on October 1st. I have a pull camper, so I could drive a SUV or Pick up, or my son-in-law can pull the camper with a U-haul, and I could drive a motor home and tow my 2010 Ford Focus.
I can pick up in the Boston, MA area, or any State that is in or close by New England. We are planning to head anywhere out west that you need, or straight to Cally first.
If you need someone to drive your vehicle, and it fits our needs also, please email me a.s.a.p!!
[email protected].
Thank you.
KJ
I am about to have a landmark birthday (okay, it begins with a “6”) and can think of no better way to celebrate than by exploring the country. I would like to drive from either Massachusetts, Connecticut or the New York metropolitan area and arrive in Los Angeles the first week of November. I have a clean 40-year driving record and have owned both manual and automatic vehicles all my life. I will be accompanied by an equally responsible friend who will be flying from Los Angeles to Australia when our journey ends. Anyone needing to have a car/small truck/van transported after October 2, please let me know.
Hi Nina,
I need to get my car from New Jersey to California. My family lives (where the car is currently) about 2 hours south of the NYC and I am about an hour and half from Los Angeles. I could show you around the beaches of Carlsbad and Oceanside, or possibly meet you in LA. I have a manual transmission 2008 Honda Fit. Its a great little hatchback car. I would like to have it by about October 15th. I would also like to put some personal effects in the trunk. If you are at all interested, please email me! – Emily [email protected]
Hi
My husband and I are going to Phoenix from new Hampshire/Boston/Maine we can leave from any area.
If you need a car taken or motorhome let us know we have to go back and get out motorhome so don’t want to have two vehichles there ANYONE?
let me know asap we will be leaving as soon as poosible.
Janet
Hello. Interested in driving from Colorado to California (or California to Colorado) in December, 2014. Two adult responsible drivers.
Thank you.
I will drive any vehicle from Green Bay wi., area to Kansa area Topeka or surrounding area. I have cdl very clean driving record and no accidents. If you know anyone who needs vehicle moved let me know.
i am looking for someone to drive a car from northeast Denver to Sacramento or Bay area anytime between now and mid December.
Will drive vehicle from Connecticut to Florida, or NY to Florida within the month of October. Please reply.
I live in Niagara Falls Ontario, flying from Buffalo NY to Tampa on Oct 27th, looking for someone to drive my 2000 Grand Am , ASAP please let me know if any possiblility
Hi, I am 36 year old good driver with clean record searching for someone needs their car to be driven from Austin TX to LA or San Fran in mid November. Please contact me. flexible dates
Delivery from NC to NYC!!!! If anyone is need of a car/truck delivery on the weekend of Sept 12th-14th, please let me know. I can drive both automatic or straight shift; and only ask that the delivery be finalized before the weekend is over. I have a great driving record, and can pick up anywhere in the Traid (NC) going to NYC. Please feel free to contact me ASAP if this is a service you need; call/text Sheryl (336)392-4603.
I need someone to drive my old Jag from Greensboro, NC to NM asap. Anyone interested? I need my car!!! Please call or text me919-937-4107
Thank you!!!!
– Cindy
If anyone needs someone to drive a car from NY to SF or any part of the California coast i will be really interested… im planing to leave as soon as possible for working reasons… [email protected] and we can talk about that. Hugs
Looking for a driveaway from T or C, NM departing Oct 6. Destination Indianapolis or Midwest.
Responsible non-smoker, professional, clean driving record. No drugs.
Need my car driven from Grand Island Nebraska to Boston Area.
Would be willing to meet you within 100 miles of Boston.
Car is at a dealer now and needs to be brought home.
Looking to see the car within a couple of weeks. We would pay for half the gas
and possibly add in some cash for the right deal. Must have auto insurance and
good driving record, w/ ID’s.
Please contact me via email [email protected] or [email protected]
Thanks,
Shane
Looking to move to fort collins Colorado asap from ada, Oklahoma willing to drive someone’s vehicle anywhere near fort collins or Denver area
Hi will be leaving Butte Montana around Sept. 11th, driving to San Francisco, CA if you are in need of your car coming to California please let me know. Thank you, Ed
I may need a car driven from LA (Orange County/Tustin area) to Tampa Bay, Florida. You pay your expenses and I provide the car. It is an El Camino (car/truck) so there is unprotected room for some small gear in back… email or call 727-452-4814 Purchase is depending on transporting so please contact me asap…
I am a central Florida Resident( winter Park). I will be in Tustin, CA. on September 11. Returning to florida on the 12th.
I can pull your car with my Cargo Van. You provide a car dolly from U-Haul and $400.00 towards Gas
Send reply to: [email protected]
Or Text: 407-427-3389