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. Friends and family in California, I’m on the east coast. I visit every spring and fall. If any one needs a car delivered to the west coast I’ll drive it for you. 50+ years old, non smoker, in good health, with respectable references, and 3 past drives. Would consider delivering to Las Vegas, Reno, or Denver. call or text for more information 301 616 1335. People on the west coast that need a car driven east ,call also, I could fly out ,visit, and drive your car back. Would like to go before school lets out. thank you

    Reply
  2. My father and I are looking to drive a car from New York to Hallettsville Texas how can we go about doing this my father has a perfect driving record license credit card and no criminal history can you please send this information regarding this trip as we need to make it in the next month or so thank you so much Kim

    Reply
  3. Safe driver, 56 will drive your car from San Francisco to virtually anywhere in Ohio, especially the Columbus or Central area beginning May 3, 2017. I need to attend a family function so the car will get there fast as I am under a time constraint. If you have such a situation or are planning to drive from the Bay Area to OH and want a co-pilot please contact me ASAP at wpbooks2ATlycosDOTcom.

    Reply
  4. Leaving Boston area in mid May. Will be traveling to West Coast to Seattle or surrounding areas.
    Would be doing a little sight seeing along the way. If you need your car transported, we would be glad to make contact with you to see what we can arrange. Just added contact phone number.

    Thanks for your consideration.

    Rick
    (360) 223-2084

    Reply
  5. Leaving Boston area in mid May. Will be traveling to West Coast to Seattle or surrounding areas.
    Would be doing a little sight seeing along the way. If you need your car transported, we would be glad to make contact with you to see what we can arrange.

    Thanks for your consideration.

    Rick

    Reply
  6. Friends and family in California, I’m on the east coast. I visit every spring and fall. If any one needs a car delivered to the west coast I’ll drive it for you. 50+ years old, non smoker, in good health, with respectable references, and 3 past drives. Would consider delivering to Las Vegas, Reno, or Denver. call or text for more information 301 616 1335. People on the west coast that need a car driven east ,call also, I could fly out ,visit, and drive your car back. Would like to go before school lets out. thank you

    Reply
  7. I will drive your vehicle in two days from Oklahoma City to Boston area (would need about two days in OKC to prepare for trip). Prefer SUV/minivan but any reasonably sized vehicle in good drivable condition would be fine.

    Reply
  8. I am retiring from my Corporate Job in Dallas this week. Please send me an email and let me know if you need a vehicle driven from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to anywhere this summer near a major airport.

    Reply
  9. Looking to drive from Salt Lake City, UT to Detroit, MI. April 18, 2016 depart. Arrive April 20, 2016 in the A.M. I am a CDL driver with clean record. 801-828-7908.

    Reply
  10. Traveling from Scottsdale AZ area to Denver CO in early July. Do you need a vehicle transported? Experienced driver.

    Reply
  11. Hello, driving from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale
    I am leaving from Los Angeles around the end of June and arriving in Fort Lauderdale around July 10th for a road trip. Contact me if you would like me to drive your car over there.
    818-748-7644

    Reply
  12. Hello, I am leaving from Los Angles around the end of June and arriving in Fort Lauderdale around July 10th for a road trip. Contact me if you would like me to drive your car over there.
    818-748-7644

    Reply
  13. I will drive your car, van, or pick up truck from north east Illinois to San Francisco Bay Area. Im 63, in good health, non smoker, no pets,
    No accidents, & have driven this route 8 times before. I should leave illinois no later than June 5th. Txt me at
    309 206 5639.

    Reply
  14. Will deliver car to west coast. Located outside Washington D C ,mature , non smoker will drive your car any where in northern calif or Oregon. Good references, call or text 301 616 1335 for more details.

    Reply
  15. Mature non-smoking couple looking to drive a car from southern Louisiana to southern Florida in early May. If anyone needs a car transported please contact me.

    Reply
  16. Looking to drive a vehicle from Milwaukee Wisconsin to Sarasota Florida area on May 24th and/or from Sarasota Florida area to Milwaukee Wisconsin area June 3rd. Responsible adults with perfect driving records. Non smokers. Will stop in Nashville to stay with father on the way down and back.

    Reply
  17. PALM SPRINGS AREA to NASHVILLE, BRENTWOOD or FRANKLIN, TN

    NON SMOKER – Retired Insurance Broker will safely deliver your car in May or June.
    I have lived in the Palm Springs area since 2008. (Previously in Newport Beach for 20 years)
    Rather than fly, I’d like to drive for a visit with my sister, Carol, and her husband, Ricky Sullivan. (They own the Hearth and Grill on Thompson) Perhaps you know them?

    Please feel free to use text for initial contact (714) 319 – 8801
    Then, I’ll gladly call you or return your text.
    Thank you,
    Ric

    Reply
  18. Hello, I am a 46 year old woman who works as a 911 operator in Milwaukee Wisconsin. My family (husband, 10 & 12 year old) are going to Flordia on the 21st of October, 2017. I have an excellent driving record and as for a criminal background check, well, I work for the police department! We could fly, but there is nothing quite as breathtaking as driving through the mountains at sunrise. I have no objection to towing a small trailer if necessary. I would also be willing to pick up the vehicle elsewhere in Wisconsin or Illinois as long as it is a reasonable distance. Please contact me if you need to have your car relocated around that time.
    Sincerely,
    Margaret

    Reply
  19. FREE DRIVING & SAFE DELIVER!
    I am mature safe experienced driver looking to drive your vehicle from North Miami to Houston/College Station/ Austin/Odessa-Midland, Texas areas by August 8th or 9th / 2017. Will return to the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area by August 26th or 27th .
    Also will care and take your pets during the travel. I am retired Federal Law Enforcement Agent.

    Contact: [email protected]

    Reply

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