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. Hi! My boyfriend and I are taking a roadtrip from ATL to LA starting the beginning of June.

    We can either:
    1) drive someone’s car from atl to la if it is needed

    2) have someone drive our car from atl to la at the end of the month

    Let me know if either of these interest you.

    Reply
  2. My wife can drive your car from Sacramento area to N Y some time during the 2nd week of July. Outstanding driving record.

    Reply
  3. I’m looking for a reliable person (and a reliable friend, if you like) to drive my car from Palo Alto, CA to Glen Ellyn, Il in the third week of April 2018. I’d like you to pick the car up on April 18, 19, or 20. My car is a 2004 Ford Focus sedan that has only about 80,000 miles on it. I have had it serviced regularly by a very reliable mechanic, including a couple of weeks ago, so it’s in great shape. I’m happy to pay for gas and tolls. That should be less than $300 using the AAA calculator for San Francisco to Chicago today, 3/20/18, and assuming my car gets only 25 mpg (the combined town and country mpg). I’ll also pay for up to four nights worth of average motel bills for that route (so up to $300). If you’d like to add a couple of days worth of time onto the trip and pay for your extra nights of motel bills and gas, that’s fine.

    Reply
  4. I’m looking to transport a vehicle that can sit a family (adults) of 4 from Newark,NJ / Manhattan,NY area to Miami Fl, One Way, for free. I have an excellent driving record and we are a responsible clean family. The departure date is Thursday afternoon March 22nd 2018. If interested call me at (973)980-2242

    Reply
  5. Anyone need their vehicle driven from Sioux City, Iowa to New York State or eastern Pennsylvania, any day the week of March 31, through April 5,2018. Clean license, insured, can drive 4 or 5 speed. Let me know if interested.

    Reply
  6. I can drive from S. Florida to Portland,Oregon or Washington State a.s.a.p.
    Responsible none smoking/none drinking 60 yr. old. W/clean driving record

    Reply
  7. Looking for a car to drive last week of March 2018 from Miami ,Ft Lauderdale area to New York City New Jersey area.Leaving our car in Florida for the summer.

    Reply
    • Hi! Are you still in need of a driver? I am a CDL C licensed driver. My dmv record is spotless. I am also a veteran driver of almost 34 years..

      Reply
  8. I need a Prius moving from Oakland Ca to Charlottesville va asap or as late as a week from now. Must be good driver and take care of the vehicle.
    434-984-0011

    Reply
  9. I will be delivering a car to San Diego from Columbia, MO. I am looking to see if someone needs a car delivered from there back to Missouri. I will be in San Diego on March 15.

    Reply
  10. I am helping my cousin drive a new handicapped vehicle from Ohio to Key West so I need a vehicle to drive from Key West or S Florida back to Ohio. I live in the West central part but if I get close I can get a ride home.

    Reply
    • I may be buying a sprinter van that is currently located Ashland, Massachusetts, I will need it delivered to anaheim ca. any interest. open time frame, April ok with me.

      Reply
      • Hi Chris, I\’m looking to plan a rte 66 trip in April. I\’m 52 yrs old, married almost 33 years, homeowner,manager at same place 33 years, cdl B. So let me know if this is still available.
        Thanks,
        Doug

        Reply
      • Hi! Are you still looking for a driver? I am a CDL C licensed driver. My dmv driving record is spotless. I am a veteran driver of 34 years.

        Reply
  11. Hello, I am moving from CALIFORNIA to CHICAGO on March 1st, I need a truck to drive there. I will be hauling a small trailer with my belongings. I will do the drive at no fee just as a favor for a favor. I am 24 years old, clean background & will be travelling with my wife. I’ve driven to Chicago many times & I am an experienced driver. No tickets. Please send me an email
    Thank you
    -Gregory
    [email protected]

    Reply
  12. Hello, I am moving from CALIFORNIA to CHICAGO on March 1st, I need a truck to drive there. I will be hauling a small trailer with my belongings. I am will do drive no fee just as a favor for a favor. I am 24 years old, clean background & will be travelling with my wife. I\’ve driven to Chicago many times & I am an experienced driver. Please send me an email
    Thank you
    -Gregory
    [email protected]

    Reply
  13. Looking for a driver to take my Toyota Camry from the Bay Area (California) to north of Seattle next weekend. It will be a convoy; I will be driving a second car at same time. Would like to do trip in one 16 hour day (Saturday Feb 24).

    Reply
  14. Hi, I am a 58 yr old new grandfather looking to drive a car for somebody one-way to milwaukee to see grandson in. The next week or 2. Former truck driver with 38 yrs of accident free driving experience.

    Reply
  15. Looking To Drive a Truck from Washington Or Oregon in April or May. I would be towing a Boat though. To Alaska , Anchorage or Kenai area

    Reply
  16. Planning a trip to California to visit friends and family , could fly [cheapoair $200] but would like to drive one way, west coast has decent train system so I could deliver your car any where from LA to Seattle. I\’m located out side of Washington D.C. But could travel to your car. I have good references, safe driving record and mature personality, will not use your car for side trips or sight seeing. Would like to go after the 1 of March , but need to be back home by April, call or text 301 616 1335 Could also drive west coast to east,, and will drive a Uhaul for expence money. Thank-you

    Reply
  17. Couple that need to drive to Arizona sun city west ill father

    from Milwaukee thought we could drive your car for you

    good driving records

    Reply
  18. If you need a car driven from Sarasota (area) Florida to anywhere in New England let me know. Looking to head home end of month. 50 year old man – great driving history.

    Reply
  19. Hello, I am a 34 year old medical professional who is moving from San Diego to NYC. I would like to go sometime mid to end of March. Somewhat flexible. If you have a car that needs transport East I would be happy to drive it, all you need to do is cover gas!!! I would just like to get there cheaply with some of my things so its a win win for both of us.

    I have a perfect driving record and have AAA and insurance. Please contact me if interested.

    David

    Reply
  20. Going from Phoenix to Raleigh, NC around 2/27/18, will take your car or light truck. Excellent driving record! Have print-out from DMV.

    Reply

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