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.
Will drive your SUV WA to Tuscon AZ, end of September.
Hi,
I have 2006 Ford F-150 that needs to be driven from LOs Angeles to Houston preferably. Anytime late July or early Aug. pretty flexible with time frame. Please let me know. 310-218-3747
Hey steven my name is lorenzo and I have a great driving record.I will call to talk with you if you still need your vehicle safely cared for and delivered to your destination .
Hi I like to drive your car / SUV.
Starting location Arlington, Tx. Zip code 76017.
Final Destination – Washington DC International Airport (IAD).
The car should be an Automatic with Air Conditioning, and a newer and reliable late model car in excellent mechanical condition.
The car I will drive will be at least a compact car and above.
As far myself – I am an excellent drive with no tickets in the last 25 years, and currently a VA. state DL holder.
I can drive your car in the 3rd week of July 2016.
Only serious enquiries please.
Retired. Wish to drive SUV from Miami/Ft. Lauderdale to Chicago end of July
If you have an RV you need driven from NY/New England area across country to LA/San Diego in early August let me know. Taking my daughter to college and we want to drive cross country…
Not totally sure how this works, but my in-laws need someone to drive a mini van (in good condition and very roadworthy) from Minneapolis to Phoenix. Date is flexible, but hoping to make this happen some time in August.
Looking to drive from Philly, PA area to San Francisco from July 30-Aug 9. Would love to drive your car or a friend’s car who needs one out in SF from PA. Please let me know: [email protected]
Not sure how this works but after 35 years of transporting groups of happy people on bus tours, I have retired with time on my side. Please contact me if your looking for a driver with road skills for distance driving with an on stage personality.
321-945-1250 I’m in Delray Beach, FL.
61 yo and 50 yo responsible motoring enthusiasts arriving in Chicago late afternoon July 6 looking to dive one way to Memphis over 2-3 days.
If you need a vehicle safely and responsibly moved please contact asap.
Thanks, Pete
I will love to drive your car or SUV from Miami, Florida to LA, California end of July, 2016. Please contact me …[email protected]
Thank You.
Family and friends on the west coast, I’m on the east coast {Washington DC} Willing to drive your car , truck, or uhaul. cross country. CALL for more info 301 616 1335.
I’m need LA to Texas…don’t know if that would work? 310 218 3747
need car driven from NY to Phoenix end of September if interested please call 203 252 6958
Looking for vehicle to drive to East Coast. I live in San Diego. I would like to leave in September. I’d like to take my time could arrive 1st to mid October. If this wold work for you, let me know. I’m a 66 year old female with good driving record. I would deliver your vehicle in great condition. Thank you
Relocating for work from San Francisco/San Jose to New York City! Willing to drive your car cross country anytime end of July 2016. Willing to do a background check since everything is clean as a whistle. Feel free to contact me at [email protected].
Hi! I traveling from Denver to Portland around July 15-18th, 2016. In considering travel options, I would love to transport/drive someone’s car/truck/van to Portland or surrounding area. I have a clean driving record and am reliable (happy to provide references, chat on the phone, etc.).
I hope to make an arrangement that is helpful both ways! 🙂
we would be interested, would you email me at [email protected] – maybe we can work something out. Have a Dodge Ram 3500 truck to drive out there. thanks
I have to be in Northern Californa, anywhere from San Jose north on the first of July.have you a vehicle, of any kind that has the same need? If so, I’d love to meet and discuss its timeframe and destination needs.
I have a a clean driving record. I am a mature 63 year old male seeking a brief, platonic relationship with any type of vehicle with similar needs.
I need to get to my father in Tucson AZ from Seattle WA asap. Can anyone give me a lift? I’m a great help, mechanically inclined and can drive as well. Don’t have much for gas fare, father might upon arrival to AZ. Please help.
A PROFESSIONAL CDL DRIVER AND HIS WIFE AVAILABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE FROM SPOKANE OR SEATTLE WA TO CHICAGO, LEAVING ABOUT JUNE 26. BOTH HAVE EXCELLENT DRIVING RECORDS.
Going to Dallas, TX from Jacksonville, FL. I can drop of your vehicle to Dallas or Houston, TX because I be passing by Houston. I be leaving on 06/24, if you have vehicle that needed to dropped of please let me know. I can be reached at 904-660-5499
Going to Dallas, TX from Jacksonville, FL. I can drop of your vehicle to Dallas or Houston, TX because I be passing by Houston. I be leaving on 06/24, if you have vehicle that needed to dropped of please let me know.
I can drive a car from Grand Rapids to Pensacola July 19th or 20th.
Looking for someone to drive 2 or 3 vehicles one way from NC to AZ is late August early September. One vehicle is a Volvo and the other 2 are small SUV’s.
Hi Donna,
I might be available to drive one of the vehicles. Do you still have a need?
Thanks,
Vanessa
Couple looking to drive your car, SUV, Motorhome, RV from anywhere in the NW part of America near the end of July (we are totally flexible) to Anchorage or points beyond. Totally clean driving records age 62 and 71. Fully insured. We live in Naples, Florida so could consider anywhere from there to Alaska……..
Looking for a car to transport/drive from San Francisco to Chicago between July 18th and July 26th/27th.
Both my driving partner and I have clean driving records.
[email protected]
I am a family of 4 looking to drive from New Jersey to Florida (7/19- returing back to Jersey 7/26) Please let me know if i can help. Two drivers F 36 and M 41 with clean driving records. [email protected]
Looking to drive a car from Los Angeles/Las Vegas/or Phoenix to New York mid June. Please email me at [email protected]