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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2,255 thoughts on “Driveaway Cars – Like Driving Someone Else’s Automobile for Free”

  1. April 21, 2016
    Need a driver for Brooklyn (New York City) to Chicago
    Leave anytime
    2004 Honda CR-V in excellent condition

    Reply
  2. Would like to drive from Dallas TX to Sioux City IA any time from April 24th to April 30th.
    I am 43 with good driving record and non smoker. Not looking to site see.

    Reply
  3. Mid-50 year old available to drive your vehicle from Tampa Bay to Toronto from April 24 – April 28. Careful driver with clean record.

    Reply
  4. I can drive any car or smaller Rv from Bend/Portland OR to the mid-Atlantic MD area from around May 1, arriving May 5-6. Age 56 very experienced driver and mechanic.

    Reply
  5. I posted earlier that I need someone to drive my jeep from Sorrento , Florida (32776) to Northville, Mi. (48167) …….We’ve now decided to tow the jeep home behind our diesel pusher, and instead, have someone drive our immaculate-condition 1998 Mitsubishi 3000 GT SL to and from the same locations ……this must be done before May 3rd 2016 pls contact asap!

    Reply
  6. My girlfriend and me will drive your car from Vancouver, Seattle, Calgary or Edmonton or similar to somewhere on the east like Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, New York, Washington DC or other destinations in same area for free! If anyone is interested please let us know. I’m 28 my girlfriend is 25 and we´re non-smokers.

    Reply
  7. Will drive your car, van, or SUV from Texas to Montana. I have a clean driving record, and I am a non-smoker. I will leave Texas May 21st or so, following my military daughter’s graduation from Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio.

    Reply
  8. Traveling from LA to Philadelphia May 30th but I can be flexible for a later date. I have a clean record. Email me for any questions

    Reply
  9. Going to calif. sf, santa cruz. eureka, mt Shasta, willing to drive your car, truck, or uhaul for gas money. Will not use your car for side trips or my stay in calif, quick delieverly . 50 year old mature man , non smoker, non drinker,no drugs. Located out side of Washington dc. If you need a driver ,I’m free for the next 3 weeks, if no response then I’ll fly. call est 7 am to 8pm 301 616 1335. Lots of references, and resources. Let me be the answer for your problems.

    Reply
  10. Need one way vehicle to drive from Dallas, Texas to Atlanta, Ga or Roswell proper. Departing April 19, 20, or 21.

    Reply
  11. Teacher on summer vacation available to drive car from Milwaukee/Chicago to Boston, MA/Maine mid-June/early July or from Boston,MA/Maine to Chicago/Milwaukee area in August, 2016.

    Reply
  12. I am a Christian, Caucasian male, 46 yrs. old & a retired veteran.
    I have a clean driving record & I enjoy good, clean living.
    I am seeking employment as a paid transporter.
    I am available 3/31/2016 to drive any legal, non-cdl req’d vehicle from Fort Wayne Indiana to GA. or FL.
    The only other exception would be if the vehicle was so small that I couldn’t drive it & be comfortable due to my height of 6’4+”

    Reply

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