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.
We can drive your car/truck from Idaho to California.
I am driving from philadelphia to Tampa, if anyone interested in giving company, please let me know. Planning to leave on or around Dec 2nd 2016
Thanks J&K ,For letting me drive your car. I’m here in calif. for a long week with friends and family. BUT, if you need a car driven east, contact me . 301 616 1335.. I’ll make flight arrangements of next weekend, but would rather drive. Time is of the essences!
I am in Tavares Florida available to drive your vehicle to northern Ohio.
Looking to drive your car from Seattle to Phoenix on Nov 19. Retired executive, 57 years old. Clean driving record, non drinker. Have personal insurance
Can someone drive my car from Seattle to Minneapolis? Mid November would be perfect.
My wife and I are looking for someone who needs their vehicle transported from Sacramento, CA or from Medford, OR area late January 2017, to Newport News, VA area, or Washington DC area. Our son is stationed their and we would like to visit him on his 21 st birthday at Joint Base Ft. Eustis/Langley. My wife has never seen the southern US by I-40 & I-81, and I recall that it is winter friendly and beautiful. Both my wife and I are in our 60’s, have current Oregon Driver’s License, healthy for our age, excellent driving records, drug free, alcohol free, tobacco free. We would like to use the vehicle for a couple of days after arriving to spend time with son and then catch a plan back to Sac/Medford area where we began the trip. Someone out there? I don’t know how this site works, but will bookmark it and check frequently. Thank you!
Hi!
If anyone needs his/her car driven from San Diego (or LA) to Seattle/Tacoma area, please contact me. Clean driving record and years of experience driving up and down the west coast 🙂
I am available to drive your vehicle from the Northeast (NH, ME, MA) to the Northwest (Portland area) around the 14th of November. I am flying back there and want to bring some of my belongings back with me here in Portland. I am a CDL-A professional driver, school bus driver, etc…good driving record and insured. Call me at 503-558-5775 or email at: [email protected]. Thanks! T
I need someone to drive my SUV from Portland OR to Dayton Ohio on 11/17/16.
Please call 503-866-3142
Thanks
Family of four would drive your car from Chicago to Florida … near Palm Coast, Florida, St. Augustine, Daytona, etc. We are a Christian family!
I forgot to say leaving November 2, 2016 – James V. Rio
Willing to drive your car from Chicago to Oklahoma/Texas !
Outstanding driving records.
[email protected]
315-871-8571
need someone to drive my car from sacramento to north county san diego. will provide gas but no return cost. plus i want to be in the car. call if interested (415) 359-4873 need to go first week of november 2016
I would Like to drive your car from Albuquerque New Mexico to Seattle WA .November 19th.
I have a great driving record and would love to be able to visit my grand babe.
Willing to drive your car from New England to Florida. Anytime in the next month. I’m an experienced driver, clean record, references, and extensive delivery experience. Please reply and include contact information, or O can give you mine.
Thanks,
Mike
From Portsmouth, NH to St. Petersburg, FL at end of November,
My wife and myself would like to drive your car from San Antonio, Texas to Phoenix, Arizona on
December 22nd (somewhat flexible). We are going to Phoenix to have Christmas with our family.
Do you need a vehicle driven from the Clearwater/Tampa/St. Petersburg area to the Dallas, TX area in the next few days. I’m a mature driver who has driven cars, 5/4 ton army trucks, and a Loadstar 1600 with a stickshift. I’ve also driven many cars and SUVs.
available to drive a car or small truck to l a seattle or phoenix area. mature non drinker non smoker. available immediately thru february
Wy wife and I are looking to drive Washington DC to Orlando on October 22 2016 +/- 3 days. Any good? Professional couple from UK, clean driving licenses.
WILL DRIVE YOUR CAR TO TUCSON ARIZONA FROM THE CHICAGO AREA DECEMBER 3, 2016. MATURE DRIVER[65 IN EXCELLENT HEALTH] WITH GOOD DRIVING RECORD.
How do you post here. I want my car driven from Seattle WA to Phoenix AZ area around October 24.
Hey, I can drive your car from Cleveland to NYC on 17 october 16′ – also I can drive car from NYC to Chicago on 20 oct 16′
My wife and I would like to drive an enclosed truck from Washington, DC, area to SW Florida (Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs…)area late October. I need to move some lumber and materials South. I am an experienced driver of cars, trucks including trailers. Great driving record, retired Industrial Arts Teacher.
Ready to go to California , I am located between Washington DC and Pittsburgh, and will deliver your car or truck for free. Small expense charge if I need to travel out of the area to get your car . Mature male ( 50+in age ) good references, safe driver, non smoking, non drinking, no drugs, (no heart meds, no blood pressure meds) I’m healthy and dependable. call or texts est 7am to 8pm 301 616 1335 Need to go before it’s snows. Thank you.
Husband and I are willing to drive a car from Denver to Los Angeles leaving Denver approximately October 25th or 26th. We are taking a car to Denver and are willing to drive your car back to Los Angeles. Please contact us if interested. We both have a good driving record.
Willing to drive your car from Long Island / NYC area to Nashville area in mid-Dec. 2016. Older drivers (husband & wife) w/ clean driving records.