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.
Hi I need someone responsible with a clean driving record to drive my car from Denver to The Hilton Head/Savannah area. I am very flexible from October to the end of November. ThankS Patty Poticha
Hi there! Your travel dates and itinerary fit what I’m looking for very well. Please shoot me an email and we can exchange more details!
Best,
Delia
Have you filled the job request?
Will be traveling from Minnesota to California at the end of July and returning a couple weeks after that (around the 10th of Aug).
If this fits anyone’s needs, please reach out!
[email protected]
Driver available from east coast to anywhere up to Colorado from now until July 2.
Email [email protected]
San Diego to New York driver available July 20
Did you find your driver? I’m looking to drive from California to New York mid August with my boyfriend. We are very responsible and in our 30s.
@caty8s
@slings_n_arrows
Responsible professional in 40’s with clean driving record seeking a hatchback, SUV or minivan to transport a recliner (comes apart) to my mother’s house in Western PA this summer. Will drive your car from Northern NJ/NY/CT area to Pittsburgh, Columbus or Cleveland areas and can manage my own return transportation. I own a 5-speed myself, so manual transmission is not a problem.
Hi! I live in Las Vegas, looking to drive a car/van anywhere on the east coast this year or next. Flexible. Please email if interested [email protected]
Hi there!
Married couple 61 and 66,non-smokers, clean driving records looking to drive your vehicle from Vancouver or Seattle area on August 16th to Southern California (San Diego is our home). Would like to have 7 or 8 days travel time on route home. Let us know if we could be of help. Thanks, Carol and Pat
Hi! Our car is currently being shipped from Hawaii to Long Beach, CA (Matson). Looking for someone to drive it to Houston. Date is approx. 6/25/18. Would need to pick up at the port in CA. Thanks!
We will be arriving into Anchorage, AK on July 21st 2018 from cruise ship. We would willing to drive your vehicle to Seattle or surrounding area Washington State. Let us know we both have a Cdl and clean driving record.
I am looking for my car to be moved from anchorage, ak to pittsburgh surrounding states. Was curious if this would be something you would be interested in?
My girlfriend and I are moving home to Chicagoland Illinois this month (June – early July). We are looking for someone who needs their car driven from Modesto CA area. We are very responsible, trustworthy people.
Hi! Our car is currently being shipped from Hawaii to Long Beach (Matson). We only need it driven to Houston, but it gets you part of the way to Chicago. Let me know if you are interested.
Looking for someone to drive my car from SF to Nashville anytime in June up to mid July. Car just needs to be in Nashville by at least the 20th of July.
I live in Nashville! Be glad to do this
Hello,
We are looking for a driver to drive a vehicle from Dallas Texas to Panama City, Florida. Looking to avoid return trip expenses if possible. We will pay for time, gas and food. Flexible dates, prefer June or July. Perfect gig for anyone looking to go to Panama City Beach. Clean driving record with references please.
If you get a driver thats needs a return trip I have a car that needs to go to Oklahoma city from Panama city. They would be close to get back to dallas area
I live in the Mid-Cities, and I can probably do it. I would like to coordinate with the individual who needs their car moved to Oklahoma City.
I have a clean driving record and have over 30 years experience with UPS and Fedex.
Hello I drive for a rental truck company but we only work in Texas and I’m interested in visiting New York City. What anyone would be interested in me driving their vehicle from the Dallas area to New York at the end of June or beginning of July? I have a clean record.
Hi
Looking for someone to drive an empty van from Chicago to New York on July 1.
Moving? Fill it up with your stuff!
Amy
I would like to drive someone’s vehicle from the NYC area to San Francisco in early to mid- August. I have a clean driving record and will respect your wheels.
Hello,
I am available to drive your car from NYC to LA in mid July! If anyone needs a car delivered during this time/location let’s connect.
I need a driver from LA to Newark NJ in August 20th time frame…you headed there?
Hey Rick,
I’m looking to head back home from the Bay Area/LA to the east coast right in that timeframe! What kind of vehicle are you looking to have transported?
Hi Michael, I’m a college student looking to have my car – a 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid – driven from Northern California to Oberlin, OH during that timeframe if you might be interested.
Hi Rick! My boyfriend and I are looking drive to New York from California and we would like to be there by August 22nd. Have you found your driver?
We are responsible creative types in our 30s.
Here’s our instagrams
Slings_n_arrows
Caty8s
Looking for someone to drive my car from Houston Texas to Los Angeles, California in mid june
Family looking to travel one way from Detroit to Miami, minivan preferred. Would be looking to make the drive Nov 21-25th, 2018. Will be taking a cruise & flying back, this seems like an ideal way to beat the rental prices. Email your information.
Hi Samantha,
This is a great way to beat the rental car prices, you’re right! I’m the Co-founder of a company named ReloRides that matches people who need their vehicle relocated with responsible people traveling to that destination. Our new site will be launching soon, but in the mean time you can sign up at http://www.relorides.com. We plan to begin services in the coming weeks.
Thanks Samantha and safe travels!
Jaime
Looking for someone to drive my car from Las Vegas to Maryland the end of August 2018.
hmm…I’m looking for a car to drive from Maryland to Vegas from end June/early July — does that work for you on the other end?
Hey Mj, I’m looking to head back to the east coast from the Las Vegas area around Aug 15. What kind of vehicle are you looking to transport?
My email is [email protected]
Hi,
Anyone looking to move their car from LA, California to Dallas, TX. Please let me know. My Schedule is flexible but I’m looking for something in the month of June, 2018. Thanks!
Hi
I am available to drive your auto or RV from Palm Springs to South Florida as soon as possible. . Reply Please! Quick…its right there!
Hi. I am looking to drive my daughter to college leaving from Portsmouth, NH area to Boulder, Co in early to mid August. Please contaxt me if interested or if you know of other helpful places to look.
Hi Christina,
I see you’re looking for a car to drive to CO! I’m the Co-Founder of a company named ReloRides that matches people who need to relocate their cars with others who are going to that destination. We provide insurance, etc. We will be launching the company in a couple of weeks, but in the meantime feel free to check out our site…And of course feel free to contact me anytime.
Thanks Christina and safe travels,
Jaime
Hello Jaime,
I am looking for a car to drive from CO to Idaho this summer! If you have any customers who fit that specific need, please do let me know.
Many Thanks,
Diana
Hi my name is Laura Landau and I’m looking for a job driving people’s cars or people across the country.
I can be reached at 201-560-6768.
Hi, I need my car driven from Houston to Los Angeles in mid June
Hi! Please check out our site at http://www.relorides.com and sign up! We will be starting the service in the coming weeks and hope to find someone to drive your car from Houston to LA! Thanks so much, Jaime
Hello, I need to find someone who need a suv or luxury sedan from Cocoa Beach/ Melbourne Florida to Arizona somewhere beteen July 11th -mid July . Please respond asap if you have someone. My bf wants to help me drive to Florida but needs a way home. He had a commercial license for years and a very good driver. Thanks!
J’aime
213-290-2161
Hello we are a pair if travelers, male 26 and female 23, both with clean driving records. We are looking for a car to go from either Florida or Phoenix to the Seattle area or a northern part of California. We are pretty flexible.
We do not need accommodations for our returns.
Please let us know if you could benefit from this, even if you want the vehicle to be dropped off in an area around what has been mentioned, contact us!
Mature, safe professional driver w/Class A CDL in Denver area. Drive your vehicle (any type, size) safely to NE OH/Western PA mid June. My driving experience means I’m proactive in knowing how to be prepared for potential travel hazards….reducing risks.
1. Monitor weather forecasts for route
2.Review construction/traffic delays for cost effective routing
3.Safest locations to stop at
You can track my progress w/google maps. I treat this like a business…..be on time safely.
Thanks for your time! Pls contact me for further assistance.
I am looking a vehicle from the Colorado Springs/Denver area to Massachusetts (or RI/Conn/Southern NH) departing around May 22nd-24th 2018 (next week). I am 53 with an impeccable driving record and will care for your vehicle as if it were my own Volvo. I have a AAA gold membership. I will be driving with my 22 year old son back to the East coast after his college graduation. The trip should take 3-4 days. Please contact me if you are interested or if you know of other resources that might be useful. Thanks!
Hi. I am curious if you have heard from anyone? I’d like to do something similar – find a car to take from Portsmouth NH to Boulder Co to take my daughter to college. Can you suggest any other places to find folks? Thanks so much!