Driveaway Cars – Like Driving Someone Else’s Automobile for Free

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.

Hit the road for free in someone else's automobile, with a driveaway car
Hit the road for free in someone else’s automobile, with a driveaway car

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.

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Driveaway Cars - Like Driving Someone Else\'s Automobile for Free

2,253 thoughts on “Driveaway Cars – Like Driving Someone Else’s Automobile for Free”

  1. If you pay for bus fair to frisco and gas for driving back to green bay i will drive your car back to green bay for free i live in rhinelander wi.

    Reply
    • Tye johnson im not sure if you have had anyone respond to your post yet.. You can text me if you still are looking for someone. 724 506 6311. My name is randy. My e mail is not working right at the moment so text if possible.

      Reply
    • I will be traveling from Pittsburgh to Miami, starting around the 1st-3rd of Aug, 2015 and need to fly out on the night of the 7th from Miami International Airport. I would be willing to pick the car up in Columbus, or Newark – OH (if that’s easier, family and friends live there). I would need to know quickly, as I am making other arrangements as we speak. Of course we would need to arrange something for the airport on the 7th (Evening Departure). I am a 40 year old male, and would be accompanied only by my wife and luggage. Let me know and we could speak, and I could give you some local references if needed.

      Reply
    • I was mistaken, the dates are leaving from Pittsburgh/Columbus Sept, 1st-3rd, 2015 and need to be in Miami International Airport by Sept 7th. Sorry I was confused.

      Reply
    • When are you interested in making the trip. We will have a Ford Escape we need driven back around the first week of August. We are a little flexible on dates.

      Reply
      • need my car driven from san fran. to pgh,pa i live in pgh,and my car is in storage in san fran. please give me some ideas of what to do

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        • to JOHN: I AM AN OLDER (50’s-fit) SINGLE, WORKING MAN from Nthn. NJ, PLANNING TO HELP A FRIEND MOVE TO THE WEST COAST (S.D. AREA) and HELP DRIVE, of course. BEG. of AUG. is the TARGET DATE. THE PROB. IS, I DON’T HAVE A WAY of getting BACK HOME & JUST SPENT MY VACATION $$ FOR THE YEAR, SOOOOOO………CAN’T FLY or TAKE TRAIN. HOPING TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE SOMEONE’S CAR BACK TO THE E.C. (I’M FROM N.J.- SO, in the area would be OK) AROUND MID-to-LATE AUG. of this year. IF YOU THINK THIS COULD WORK FOR YOU, LET’S TALK. I’M RESPONSIBLE, & A VY. GOOD DRIVER, ESP. ON ‘LONG HAULS’. -Al

          Reply
        • Hello John! I am looking to go across country from san fran to new jersey so I think I would be able to help you out! Email me to discuss details.

          Reply
    • This may be a repeat reply, I am not sure the first went through. We will have a ford escape available to drive around the first week of August or end of July. Would that fit your schedule?
      Lisa

      Reply
    • Hi Donna,

      I’ll be traveling to St. Louis, MO from Sacramento, CA in mid-June. I will be flying back to Sacramento on 6/12 in the evening. I am available to begin the trip as early as 6/6.

      Reply
    • I live in rhinelande wi if you pay for bus to san fran and gas on the way back i will drive your car back for free.

      Reply
  2. looking to drive a car, van. rv or moving truck from PA<NY OR NJ to San Diego CA or surrounding area in June of 2015, good driving record, have AAA roadside assistance with 200 mile tow available in emergency. If you need a driver let me know.

    Reply
  3. Need a driver from Oregon to Pennsylvania, Maryland,
    Washington DC, or Northern Virginia?

    I’m willing to drive a car, van or small truck. Leaving Bend
    Oregon around Sat 6/13. Arriving in Philadelphia area, or
    or Maryland, DC or Northern Virginia around Sat 6/20.

    I’m 54 years old, non-smoker, with an absolutely perfect
    driving record. Never a single accident. Never a point on
    my license. I teach defensive driving techniques to friends
    and family.

    Interested?
    –Fred
    [email protected]

    Reply
  4. Looking for larger vehicle to drive from Albany, NY to Denver leaving on or about July 1 and arriving Denver or vicinity by July 10. Intend to transport fragile items ahead of my September move so the more free space the better.

    Clean driving record, non-smoking, 57-year-old female traveling with 27-year-old daughter to explore National Parks and other interesting sites on our way to Denver.

    Reply
  5. We want to travel from the SF Bay Area to Denver at the beginning of July 2015.
    We are driving our son who recently graduated from college to his first job!
    We are three responsible adults with clean driving records. Please contact me if
    you need your vehicle transported.

    Reply
  6. I can bring a car/suv from Miami or S. Florida to Toronto in May or June. clean driving record and insured!

    Reply
  7. My boyfriend and I are moving to Denver Colorado. If anybody needs their vehicle transported from the Philadelphia PA area to Denver Colorado please let me know, we would be more than happy to help! Both have clean driving records. I can be reached at [email protected] or (484)300-7103. Need to know by June 7th 2015 before we purchase train tickets. Thank you and hope to hear from you soon

    ~Sally

    Reply
    • Hello Patti,
      if you are still interested in having someone drive your car please do let me know as i am very available. Thank you for your time.

      Reply
  8. I am looking for a car/truck to drive from NYC to Seattle September 5,6,7. Washington State Drivers license, perfect driving record, no accidents last 40 years, retired University instructor. Please contact me at [email protected]

    Reply
  9. If you need your car driven from Chicago area (anywhere in the mid-west, il, ia, wi,) to pretty much anywhere in the U.S. I’m available to do so. Have driven many cars across the country. I’m a 42 y o male, perfect driving record w/ full coverage insurance. Just le me know.

    Reply
  10. I am looking for a car to take from NEW ORLEANS, to LOS ANGELES. Leaving June 1st and arriving in LA June 8 or 9th. I’ll be driving with my mother, and we have driven cross country many times before. Very responsible driver with a clean driving record and non smokers. Email me at [email protected] or call 504-250-2154

    Thanks!

    Reply
  11. I would like to drive someone’s vehicle from LA to Austin TX around the 29th of June. I am a responsible, mature 52 year old with a good driving record. Please contact me at this number, 512 467-7711. THX Bernard Corral

    Reply
  12. We are looking for a responsible couple with perfect driving record to drive our Ford Flex from Palos Verdes, CA to Boston Logan Airport. Deposit required.

    Leaving June 13-arrive Boston Jun 20. Need to have keys ready for us at 4pm on June 20 at Logan.

    Please let me know if you are interested.
    Monica W

    Reply
    • Hello Monica..
      I could possibly make this trek for you. Please email me with details. Thanks, and hope to make this work for you.
      Thanks, Rick.

      Reply
  13. My wife and I (mid-late 40s) are looking to drive a car from New Orleans to San Francisco/Oakland, leaving June 2 or 3, arriving June 9. Call me at 415-309-8758 if you are interested.

    Reply
  14. We are looking to drive a car from Yellowstone to Minneapolis on or near July 7, 2015. Clean driving records and no accidents.

    Reply
  15. Looking to drive a car from Chicago, IL (or a nearby state, willing to drive a few hours to pick it up) to Los Angeles, CA or nearby in August or September. Responsible driver, please contact me!

    Reply
  16. My wife and I will be vacationing in MI, metro-Detroit area in June 2016. Both retired, non-smokers, non-drinkers with excellent driving records and former Michiganders. 71 and 68 yrs old. We are available to drive a vehicle, automatic or standard shift from Mi to Las Vegas. Dates are flexible June-July 2016.

    We have, and will continue to travel to MI at least once each year.

    Thank you

    Reply
  17. My wife and I are looking to drive from Seattle, Washington to anywhere in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia. We will be making the trek from June 27, 2015 through July 7, 2015. We both have an immaculate driving record, are over 55 and have plenty of insurance. We are both employed, in jobs that require a background check. Neither of us has a criminal record. If you have a vehicle that needs to be delivered to the Southeast, during that time, please consider contacting us.

    Reply
  18. Leaving from Kentucky to Denver, CO 22May. I can drive your car. I have a valid DL, insurance, clean driving record, no criminal record. Military; mature, honest and dependable with +17 years driving experience.

    Reply
  19. Hello! I’m a 22-year old college graduate moving from NJ to LA, California. I don’t know what my moving dates are exactly, but I believe they’ll be around the end of June. If anyone has a car they need transported cross country, I am a responsible driver (never been in an accident) and would be very willing to drive it.

    Reply

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