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. My elderly father is sick in Tucson. I’m in Chicago and on a tight budget so thinking outside the box to get to him. Flying from Chicago to Tucson is more expensive than if I fly intoPhoenix, but the rental car costs off set any savings. I thought I’d try seeing if anyone needs a car driven from Phoenix to Tucson near the 2nd week of February 2018? PS. I’m a 50 yr old woman and a very safe driver.

    Reply
    • I am able to drive the car, if you still need a driver. I am visiting DC and traveling back to San Francisco, but able to stop in Denver to drop off the car. I have some time off work and thought it may be fun to drive – rather than fly. I am in my early 30s and have a clean driving record. Would it be possible for me to leave earlier than the 6th – possibly leave on the 31st?

      Reply
    • I am in new York could meet in Alexandria, need to deliver some things to my son in Colorado not sure if there is room for some stuff 58 yrs clean license

      Reply
  2. Responsible husband and wife teaching couple with clean driving record interested in driving any type of vehicle from western US to eastern US at the end of May 2018. We can drive manual. We are moving from Idaho to Pennsylvania.

    Reply
  3. My driving record is 100% flawless many references, East Coast – West Coast – North to South will drive anywhere based in New York State, am going from coast to coast every month, will pick your vehicle up anywhere. 48 years old with 30 years driving experience no accidents. Looking to drive car, SUV, pickup, truck (including U-Haul, etc.) Any Area USA anytime. You cover tolls, fuel

    Martin A. York
    Mobile 3154664228

    Reply
  4. We are a retired couple making a trip to Phoenix area mid February. We have transportation once we get there. Thought we would fly but maybe someone needs a vehicle delivered around that time from Portland OR area. Let us know if that’s you.

    Reply
  5. Retired gentleman with excellent driving record available to drive your car, van, truck, or motor home from New England/NYC area/NJ area to Florida around mid January 2018. Will be traveling alone. Currently have driving service taking customers to all NYC area airports and other locations around US. Have done several trips to Florida and have excellent references.

    Reply
  6. I will be driving from Phoenix area to Las Vegas on the 25th or 26th of January 2018, if you would like your vehicle relocated to Vegas from Phoenix, we could do it.
    Great Driving Record.

    Reply
  7. Need someone to drive my Mazda 6 sports sedan from Los Angeles / Beverly Hills CA 90069 to Seattle, WA (Actually, Mukilteo, WA, 98275).
    Day/Date flexible.

    Reply
    • Hi, This may work out for both of us. I was going to fly down (from Vancouver Island) to visit friends, then rent a car to drive up the coast and back home, taking my time. I was looking at leaving ~ mid-January. If I could leave my car at your place, I can fly out of Seattle. I am 57, female, a careful driver, non-drinker, non-smoker, drugs of choice are strong coffee and chocolate.

      Reply
  8. Looking to drive from Dallas, TX to San Francisco, CA. Excellent driving record! No tickets-No accidents! Just did a drive from Napa, CA to Dallas, TX. Very clean and careful. Can have your vehicle there is 3 days. Available at any time from the 21st of December 2017-the 8th of January 2018. Also available one weekend a month to do the drive. Please let me know.
    Thanks

    Reply
  9. My wife and I Live in Coral Springs Florida. We have a home in Wayne, NJ as well.
    We are available to drive your car from New Jersey to anywhere in South Florida or West Coast of Florida between December 20-25.
    Our phone number is 973-861-8863.
    Clean driving records. Ages 57. Your car, truck, SUV or motor home.

    Reply
  10. Hi there,
    I am looking for a suv, van or motorhome that needs to go from Orlando to Toronto. April 7, 2018.
    I have a very clean driving record and will take care of your vehicle.
    Contact me at jasongwalsh at hotmail dot com

    Reply
  11. Willing to drive anywhere as i have experience for 29 yrs with a class B License and current medical card — drobe stretch limo for 7 of those years and like to drive anywhere have been across usa like 14 times and willing to bring your car or truck anywhere as long as expense is reasonably within range of me making something

    267-281-2169
    Personal cell

    Daniel Durkin

    Reply
  12. Looking for to drive any type of vehicle with a hitch from Southern California to preferably Chicago ( or any states close to the Illinois borders…..WI, IN, IA, MO, KY) Moving back to my moms and need to rent a small u haul trailer to hitch to it. Im having my VW Beetle shipped because I can’t tow anything behind it. 22 years old, excellent driving record. Can leave any time, preferably soon than later.

    Reply
  13. I’m looking to drive your car from Los Angeles to Cleveland from April 3 – 7, 2018. Great driving record, AAA member. Please contact me if interested.

    Reply
    • I need someone to drive my car from Detroit mi to Norfolk Va sometime either December 19-23 or so. I live in Grand Haven and your ad caught my eye. Thank you

      Reply
  14. My wife and I are looking to drive from Cleveland to Phoenix in the middle of January.
    Let me know if I can help you out by driving your car.
    Thanks,
    Jack

    Reply
  15. Available to drive your car, bus or tractor trailer unit from Los Angeles to anywhere in Florida between December 22nd and January 3rd. Late 50’s Man & Wife travelling together.

    Reply

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