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.
WHOMEVER is posting your MOVING services ad on this site, STOP NOW. This site is for people who want to help other people by transporting vehicles. We do NOT need your sales pitch. We know how to rent a UHaul. Most of us are doing this because we are on a tight budget. So back off!
Thank you Susan. This happens occasionally – commercial sites spam my site. I always remove all those comments but unfortunately those of you who are subscribed have to suffer receiving the emails that are generated by those comments. In this case, I have blacklisted each of the email addresses so they cannot post again, but of course they can create new emails to post more. If I continue to receive them, I will blacklikst the entire IP address. Sorry for the inconvenience.
We have a pickup-load of small furniture we would like to get from Milford, CT to Oregon. We are wanting to fly to CT and drive our stuff back. Not able to find a place that will rent pickups/vans one-way at a reasonable price. If you have a truck – van – large SUV you would like to get to the west coast, please email [email protected]
My husband has a CDL and we both have clean CLEAN driving records. Non-smokers. 53 and 59 years old. Thanks!
MAY 2012 – NEED CAR TO DRIVE – I am looking for a car to drive from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Brattleboro, Vermont (just north of Amherst, Massachusetts) and for a car to drive afterwards back to NM. I will be attending my kids’ graduations. I need to be out there by May 19th and am looking to return after the 26th. I am 55 and have a great driving record. I am an attentive and reliable driver and go the speed limit. I use no drugs or alcohol, nor do I smoke. My email is [email protected].
driver in phoenix looking for car to drive to pittsburgh pa area . good driver never had a ticket and one accident when i was 18 , i am 55 years old . please contact dave [email protected] i am expecting to go sometime in march april so i can deliver your vehicle . i drive anything but semis.
Hi Everyone
My fiance and i are traveling to Vegas in Febuary to be married,from there we are going to visit my son in San Diego California and then on to Florida to visit my other son,we were going to rent a car as we would like to see the USA by road but we noticed that people want to get the car from a to b on this site,i know its a bit of a shot in the dark but if anyone spots this that would like that done we would be happy to.
We are both older people (49-53) and have clean licences,and although we are English we live in Portugal which drives on the same side of the road as the US, (as on other trips to the Florida we have noticed that some people have problems driving on the right from the UK,we would be willing to pay half the fuel cost as we know some people charge to do this service,anyway if you are interested (even if you live half way across the US on the way to FLD then email us at
[email protected]
Thank you Tom
I am a 23 year old father and husband, my wife and I need to relocate to Phoenix, Az. asap to help with my wife’s aging grandmother. We just want to be able to take our clothes and high chair and baby toys and clothes for baby as well. We need to have a way to get there, can be ready to go right away. Soon would be great! email me at [email protected]
We are relocating from Burbank, CA to Dallas, TX and looking for cheap travel. I am 37 year old, expert driver. I will be moving with wife and two children. Looking for a van to hold our stuff. End of January or beginning of February will be ideal for us.
shawkykia@ yahoo.com
Looking to drive from FL to CA end of January, beginning of February. Responsible couple with excellent references. Willing to consider shorter segments in between as well.
Hi – We’re looking for someone to drive our Subaru from Tampa Florida to San Francisco area around the 9th of February. Would that work?
I am looking to drive to North Carolina about the 3rd of January. Would like to take vehicle one way. If someone needs to transport vehicle to North Carolina. Win Win!
Have you already left? where is your starting destination, if no.
Looking to drive your car from Los Angeles or Palm Springs to florida anytime at the end of april or May. I have done this before and have a great driving record. I drive a new Cadillac myself and
have had AAA insurance for 27 years. Taking a cruise that leaves from Fla and ends up in LA. I hate to fly get air sick.
[email protected]
I am willing to drive your car to and from tampa florida from Jan 13 thru the 25, 2012
[email protected]
Dear Mark,
My name is Brad and I am wondering if you had any luck finding a car to drive to Florida? I am in MPLS and looking for a car as well but will probably rent one as we have to leave in 4-5 days.
Thanks Brad
My husband and I are looking to drive a car to or from Florida, we are in Kansas City MO, but will pick up or drop off anywhere close to us. He is a Fireman excellent driving record and we have done this several times before, so great references. Please email us if interested or for further details. Thank you! [email protected]
I will drive your automobile From Denver, Colorado or Salt Lake City, Utah to Anchorage or Fairbanks, Alaska anytime in 2012 between April to October at no cost to you. Non-stop. I will pay for gas (after first tank). I am fully insured. No traffic tickets or accident. I am a non-smoker. I am a retired professional. I have a summer cabin in Anchorage and my own car there. I don’t like to fly. My wife will accompany me.
Mike
[email protected]
Looking to drive a car from NYC are to Phoenix Arizona area or vice versa.
Available any time around December 28th and afterwards.
Have great references and am hoping to cut back the price of a round-trip plane ticket by driving out there.
Hope to speak with you soon!
LRochRoth@gmail:disqus .com
I’m looking to drive a car for someone from Baltimore /Washington Dc Area to ft Lauderdale or Naples .
I’m leaving the 26th of Dec to meet my family.I’m in my 50’s and have a perfect driving record.
I have years of experience driving , will get your car there safely .I don’t smoke or drink .
I will value your car as if it were my own.I have excellent references and have never had a problem driving down .
Looking for someone to drive my car from DC to Fort Lauderdale around Jan 8th.
Hi
I just posted an add to drive someones car from Annapolis to ft laudrdale or Naples .
Dc is just around the corner.I’m going down to meet my family Dec 26th .
Would that be to early for you ?I’m in my 50’s ,have 3 kids and will be driving my self .
No smoking or drinking and have perfect driving record.I have nice cars so i would value yours as well .No fooling around .Just want to get there safe .I’m also a car guy so if anything happens i can make sure it will be taken care of properly.
Please contact.
[email protected].
That is too soon. I’m going down for work two weeks later than that and will need my car until then. Sorry. Thanks for replying.
did you get a driver to take your car to florida
if not email me back [email protected]
@f2c8eda221b0e5fa04a66d3e1453c9c0:disqus i am 58 years old excellent driving record will treat your car as my own
looking to drive someone car to florida i want lie im trying to get there my self this would be a great deal for the both of us
Hi, I’m looking for someone to drive my van from Clearwater, FL-Fallbrook, CA(near San Diego)…asap. Thanks!
Hi there, I’ll be in Florida on the 19th of Jan and if it’s still available, I’d be happy to drive your van across to CA if it’s still available? My email is [email protected]
A lifelong Green Bay Packers fan residing in Phoenix will be in Green Bay, WI for the Christmas Day game. I wish to driveaway a vehicle from anywhere in Wisconsin, MN or IL to Phoenix, AZ (or surrounding including Tucson if needed) on December 26th. The flight to WI is reasonable however, return flights that week are very expensive. I am a responsible driver and willing to provide several personal and business references. Happy Holidays and thank you. Jacque, [email protected]
my wife, daughter and i and looking to driveaway a car from the new york city area to san antonio, tx @ dec, 17, 2011 and are looking to return @ jan. 3, 2012 in another driveaway. we have been doing these types of trips since 1983 for several autodrive away companies, even switching cars in cities along the route to complete the trip. my wife and i are commercial drivers. please contact me a [email protected]
hey me and my friend irie are road tripping from LA to Texas (houston) to visit friends and family for christmas . we are very flexible with dates but would like to leave around the 8th december and get into to Houston around the 11th
THANKS kate and Irie
[email protected]
we are very clean and responsible girls that will treat your care with respect 🙂
I would like to Drive from Atlanta to Orlando or Daytona Beach this week on Nov. 30th or Dec. 1st
Chris pleasee mail me at [email protected] Thanks Chris very mature 53 year old driver
Hello,
I am relocating from LA to upstate New York and want to drive with my daughter, within the next few weeks. Interested in your need to move your Ford Edge there….please email me at [email protected]!
East Coast to the West Coast, mature driver with over 30 years driving experience available to drive your vehicle. Please email me at [email protected] All the BEST
We are a family with responsible, clean driving record and insurance looking to drive vehicle from Dallas area to Phoenix on Monday after thanksgiving. Would need to be at least 5 seater (COV or SUV). Contact at [email protected].