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.
I am retired and have been volunteering in Northern California without a car. I will be returning to New England in early March to regroup with family and friends before heading off to Europe to continue my volunteer adventure. I would welcome the opportunity to drive your car instead of fly. Happy to negotiate the cost with you. I am healthy and happy and have a great driving record.
Drive my car to Phoenix Arizona, from Springfield, Missouri
…would be interested.
Please provide details to : [email protected]
Dennis
Richard, still interested….
Dennis
Pls respond with details to: [email protected]
My wife & I are interested in driving your vehicle from San Diego, Ca. to N.E. Iowa(or that general area) on or about March 09, 2019. We are both retired seniors with excellent driving records & neither of us smoke, drink, use nor have used drugs, with no criminal records, nor do we have any pets. We are returning Snowbirds to Iowa & we each could drive a vehicle if you may have two(2) vehicles to be driven. If you are looking for a couple that are clean cut, responsible, dependable, & care for other people’s vehicles like our own, then please respond. Thank you in advance! Rod
I live in New Jersey and was recently laid off as a UPS driver. I have a perfect driving record and no criminal history. I provide references and I am a non-smoker and do not eat while driving.
I can drive you car from the NY/NJ/PA/CT (Tri-State) area anywhere you need including internationally into Canada, Mexico, Central and South America. All travel expenses will be documented via receipt and return flight paid by car owner in advance. Entire trip recorded using dual-camera dashcam (front of vehicle and interior) and the SD CARD provided to car owner as documented proof. Live GPS enabled monitoring provided to customer using Android or iOS app.
Please contact me at your convenience to discuss your transportation needs.
David Levine
973-444-5500
I can drive your truck from Texas to Florida or anywhere in the IS to Florida. I’m moving there and will do it for a small fee. I have a professional Commerical class A license and very responsible. Email me [email protected]
Responsible retiree available to drive your car from the Washington, DC area to the West Coast during Jan/Feb. Thank you.
Hi,
I’m interested in having my car transported from the Northern Virginia area to Fort Collins/Denver, CO in May. Is this possible?
I can drive your vehicle from Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX to Phoenix, AZ during the 3th thru the 4th of week of January 2019.
Oscar
I need a driver to drive an SUV from San Diego to Nashville as soon as possible but it is not urgent. I am flexible on the dates.
Kim:
Let me know if you still need some one.
I may be available.
Best:
Timothy
Do you still need the car driven from San Diego to Nashville?
Can be available.
Dennis
I am in San Diego looking for a vehicle to drive to Orlando FL so I can be there around Jan 15. This is what I post on Craigslist Rideshare San Diego:
Driver for your Uhaul/Penske or your vehicle cross country (Your Destination)
If you need a driver for your rental truck or your vehicle please read then contact me.
I am a driver for people that need there vehicle driven to their destination. I charge $10 an hour driving time. The driving time is determined by Google maps driving time and for example the driving time between San Diego and Sarasota was 35 hours and the driving cost was $350 and that is a flat rate. If the actual driving time is 40 hours the cost is still $350. You pay all expenses which include fuel, meals, motel, return plane ticket to San Diego and transportation to departure airport. I recently drove a Penske 26′ truck from San Diego to Sarasota, FL. I departed at 2 am and drove to El Paso, Tx arriving approx 5 pm, I left at 2 am the next day and drove to Sulfur, LA arriving around 5 pm and again I left the next morning at 2 am arriving in Sarasota, FL around 9:30 pm. This is almost 2500 miles. I flew back to San Diego on the 4th day. The total expenses for the 4 day trip was $1808 for the meals, motel, plane ticket and fuel. The last night for the motel the person who I drove for paid for that night and the rental truck charge was on their card. I charge the expenses on my credit card and I ask for two receipts, one for your records and one for mine. I ask you put the plane ticket on your card. So this is an estimate of what I can do for you if you need a moving truck driven cross country. The cost would be a lot less as the fuel use is a lot less. 500 mile minimum.
So the main reason I am post this is I rather drive than fly and to make some extra money.
I am also posting to look for a vehicle preferably a cargo van. The reason for the van and reason for going to Orlando is that a woman contacted me to drive from Orlando back to San Diego with her two senior dogs and cat and herself. The reason for it being a cargo van if the animals have a accident it is easier to clean up and no lingering smells. I would basically arriving on Jan 15th and head back to San Diego on the 16th, the dates are not set in stone. If I do not find a vehicle I will be flying to Orlando. There would be no expenses from you as fuel and my expenses are being paid by the woman who contacted me. My email [email protected], my cell is 619-993-6577.
Thanks for the tips, helpful information. I am headed by car this May, I can’t wait. I just hope the weather will be merciful to me.
Hi, need to move an suv from Oklahoma City to Baltimore urgently
…been a while I know, new to the site.
Do you still need the car driven from OKC to Baltimore?
Can be available.
Dennis
Hi, I just bought a skoolie in Phoenix that I am going to convert to a tiny home, and I would like to find someone who could to drive it from Phoenix to as close to Portland, OR as possible. This can be done any time mid February to mid March. Please let me know if someone can or knows of someone else who can make an arrangement with me that would work for both of us. Thank you:) Please email me at [email protected]
My sister and I (ladies in our 50’s) are available to drive your car from Savannah GA to the Port Charlotte FL Area on April 11th, 2019.
I can drive someone’s van or small truck from Chino area of Southern CAlifornia to Seattle around January 23-25. I have my grandmother’s desk and have a spotless driving record
I will be with my responsible 24 year old son.
[email protected]
Thank you
I am available to drive vehicles most anywhere in the states. I can fly to your location, pickup the vehicle, and deliver it expediently to anywhere you’d like. Safe, non drinker, non smoker, non drug user. Let me know if I can be of service!
Thanks
Will Gahagan
Will I am looking to drive a class b van dallas area phoenix
Will I have a class b van in Dallas area delivered to Phoenix
Hi,
I’m interested in having my car transported from VA to CO in May. Is this possible?
On the east coast looking for a car to drive to west coast. Visiting sister in Washington state ( Seattle) and friends in California (San Francisco).I’m a mature man ,60 years old, don’t smoke , don’t drink, and no drugs. Will not use your car for side trips ,nor for my stay in Calif. Call or text for more info and references. Will drive Uhaul for expense money. Could all so drive west to east. Time is of essence. Thank you. 301 616 1335
Hi I am available to drive your car down to Florida from Nassau County Long Island NY
after Dec 20 2018 .If you interested email and we can discuss all your concerns
Highly Reliable and experienced
looking for someone to pull (not drive) a vehicle from Fremont CA to Rochester NY ( or near Rochester NY) in November 2018.
I will drive your car from California/S Nevada/ Arizona, to Colorado.
I can pick up aprox Nov 15 and drop off around Thanksgiving.
Spotless driving record.
Plenty of references.
I will drive your car from California/S Nevada/ Arizona, to Colorado.
I can pick up aprox Nov 15 and drop off around Thanksgiving.
I can drive a vehicle from San Diego area to El Paso on Nov 17, 18.
We will drive your car to Florida anytime of the year. Clean driving record, no accidents or tickets. Will drive your car anywhere at anytime! Happy to drive your car from New York to Florida. Retired law enforcement officer. Please contact me on my website cubsdrivecartoflorida.com.
We will drive your car to Florida anytime of the year. Clean driving record, no accidents or tickets. Will drive your car anywhere at anytime! Happy to drive your car from New York to Florida. I don’t smoke, drink, or do drugs! Retired law enforcement officer. Please contact me on my website cubsdrivecartoflorida.com.
Availsble to drive a minivan from the southern suburban Chicago area to Round Rock (Austin area) Texas in early to mid November. Retired police officer with clean driving record looking to help my son move some boxes to his new residence in Texas.
I have a one way flight to Wash. Dulles on Nov. 8th. I can drive someone’s vehicle from that area, back to St Louis , or home to Colorado. I plan to leave Va. by the 18th. I am 66, with a clean driving record.