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.
A newly retired teacher and his 56 yr old teacher sister will drive your car from Northern or Southern California to anywhere in Illinois or St. Louis around June 12th, 2016.
I can drive your vehicle, Car, Truck, RV, from Detroit to Connecticut area Memorial Day weekend 2016. 56 year old male, insured, Chauffeur’s license, clean driving record, experienced.
Need my car driven from Southern California to North Carolina early June
We can drive it after June 12th. I am a 62 yr old retiring teacher and my younger sister will accompany me. We have our own insurance.
We’d be interested in driving your car to North Carolina. We live in San Juan Capistrano and are planning to be in NC July 8th. Let us know if you are interested… Also, we are a family of 5 traveling so the size of the car is important in order to fit us all. We’d like to leave July 1.
We are a very tidy family and will make sure your car is delivered in great shape.
Thank you,
Karly
My Fiance (a nurse )and I (firefighter) will be traveling from Seattle on May 28 and heading back to South Florida. We can drive your Vehicle or RV (both have clean/safe driving records) if you need to relocate it all the way or somewhere in between. We plan to be back in Florida by June 14…Let us know if we can help. You can email us at [email protected] to make arrangements.
? am in Miami Florida i have very clean driving record i can drive any car to Virginia between 11-13 May anytime if you interested call 757-561-9991
need to go from tucson az to reno nv anytime in May can drive anything, i have an excellent driving record. senior non-smoker. Reply to [email protected]
I need someone to drive my car from Baltimore MD to Longmont Colorado. Timing is flexible, ideally car would arrive in CO by July 3rd.
Alexandra, I may be able to drive your car to Colorado. I live 150 miles west of Baltimore Md. in garratte county md., would like to time the trip so I could ride home with my brother who lives in Denver and plans to visit east coast in june. If you still need a driver contact me, at 301 616 1335. I have references. and resources and have driven for people in the past. call est. 7 am to 9 pm
I am looking for someone to drive my Honda Odysee from Seattle to Philadelphia around May 23rd. I am willing to pay gas. Must have clean driving record. Looking for round trip too around August 15th. Please contact me with questions.
Hello Sydney,
We will be in Seattle on the 28th of may, and headed back to the east coast after our Alaska Cruise. We were thinking of doing a road trip instead of flying. When would you need your vehicle in Philadelphia at the latest.
Feel free to call if this could work for you,
Jay
9542583677
I can drive your car from Dallas to New York/New Jersey during 5/30/16-6/2/16.
Clean driving record, 63 yrs male, Healthy, Responsible and Good Citizen.
Please contact me on [email protected]
I need a driver to drive my car from South Florida to San Antonio, Texas.
Willing to drive your car to Los Angeles area from NY/NJ metropolitan area after June 20th. I am teacher who is planning on visiting my son in LA.
Anyone need a driver I can drive from Georgia to Phoenix or Las vegas…..sometime in May.( full size car/pickup or minivan prefered.
Older retired competent couple will drive your car from the Seattle area to San Diego within 2 weeks. Can do so either in August or September.
Visting California, can drive your car , truck, uhaul to east coast, this week only, for the price of gas. mature adult, call 301 616 1335.
I need a car driven from Columbus, OH to Denver, CO in late May. Clean, comfortable car, flexible schedule.
I will drive your U-Haul or Penske (under 16′) to Southern California from Washington D.C./Northeast Virginia area, leaving anytime between the 22nd and 26th of June. The only thing I need is a little space for my son’s upright Bass (instrument), his Speakers, and Amplifier.
If you are traveling/moving to Southern California from the East, and can fit these items, I will pay you to take them with you to deliver in So Cal.
If interested, please call me at (562)261-5674 – leave message if no answer. Or drop me an email at: [email protected]
Need someone to drive a car from Indio, Ca to Livermore/ Pleasanton Ca. this weekend.
Thanks
Iam a driver having own car. I can pick u and drop u by my own car in puducherry
I will drive your car from Sarasota area to Chicago. Perfect driving record need to leave by Saturday afternoon on April 30th
Looking to drive a car of any size from Phoenix Arizona (or surrounding area) to Detroit Michigan (or surrounding area) between May 20th and May 27th. Or looking for someone to carpool.
Drive from Arkansas to Miami 2nd week of may . Need to tow a small jet boat back. 50 yr old ,clean driver w/ CDL
Looking to drive any car/suv from philly/baltimore/DC area to Southern California for FREE…
if interested, please feel free to reach out to [email protected]
Thanks,
Sam
We are an energetic, married, retired couple driving from Washington DC to San Diego. We leave April 30. We will take great car of your car.
Need someone to drive from Minneapolis to Seattle at the end of May or beginning of June, Landcruiser 95.
If you are interested, please contact me at [email protected]
I am moving from Detroit to Los Angeles… Mid/End June 2016 if anyone is looking for a professional driver to send a car out west. I have a CDL.
willing to leave from Detroit, Chicago, Toledo, Indianapolis, Grand Rapids…
(MID WEST…ETC)