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’m selling my home in Florida and need a driver to drive my motorhome from the Orlando area to Fort Smith, Ark. I am unable to drive, so I will be traveling with you, with my dog. My motorhome has full coverage insurance and Good Sam road side assistance. I will pay all expenses, gas, food, lodging, whatever. I just need someone to get me there.
If you need somebody to drive your car from California to Colorado in the next couple of weeks, I’d be happy to do it. I’m in my fifties and looking to drive to Colorado. Excellent driving record and would be very careful with your car. Call me at 719 – 6 + 9 – 7149
Planning a spring time trip to visit family and friends on the west coast,, LA, San Francisco, Seattle. I’m located on east coast,,, close to Washington D.C. Mature (60), references you can trust, no drinking, smoking, or drug. IF you have a need for a driver either east to west or west to east contact me by calling or text 301 616 1335. Your need could be my adventure! Will drive uhaul for cash.
We are a retired couple living in Reno, NV. We are in good heath and both have an excellent driving record. We would like to drive your car from the Reno Area to the Ft. Myers or Naples area in Florida. Please email us at [email protected] and let us know if you are interested
driving from mn to az around feb 14th one way.If someone needs a car driven to az let me know,chuck 320-760-1077
I am looking to drive from West Palm Beach area to Philadelphia/Del./orJersey. Before March 15 Clean license , safe driver work here driving 22’ Flat bed . I am 60 years old .
I need someone to drive my vehicle from Hobart Tasmania to Grafton NSW Australia
Need someone to drive a vehicle from Hobart Tasmania to Grafton NSW Australia
I can drive your vehicle from Florida to Oregon/WA/NoCA. I have a clean driving record, responsible and reliable. I can do this in late January and do not require a return flight, just gas & motel fees covered if going to OR. If another destination I’d need a bus/train/plane ticket to get to Bend, OR.
I need a car to drive to Ohio from N.H.
I’m looking for driving opportunities between Naples FL and St Louis MO or Gulf Shores AL and St Louis MO in the late April or early May timeframe. I have a Missouri CDL
Hi!
My name is Ben and I’m looking to drive from NYC/Bos/New England area to anywhere west or the other way around starting mid-May to end of July 2020. Clean driving record/great insurance. Feel free to contact me at [email protected].
Thank you!
I Have a CDL and a perfect driving record I would like to work as a driveaway and pickup driver please call me with the details of being hired at 610-306-2516
Plan to drive from Fort Lauderdale to central Minnesota first week of December 2019 and arrive by 12/9/19. Anyone have a car that needs transporting? Clean driving record. Let me know! Thank you!
Hi Lynsey hopefully you made it to Minnesota!
I am in Minnesota and need to drive my SUV and two dogs to Atlanta Georgia early January. I am looking for someone to help me drive. Might you be going that way?
looking to drive from NYC to anywhere west, ultimate destination is Portland, OR on or after November 11th 2019. Clean driving record–two people. Will take your car anywhere you want it to go.
Email: [email protected]
Anyone need their car driven to or from Michigan/Toronto from New York/New Jersey?
10/17/19
RANDOLPH MILLER
I’VE SPENT MANY YEARS DRIVING 50,000 MILES A YEAR. I’M RECENTLY RETIRED AND WISH TO VISIT A SICK FRIEND IN THE PHOENIX AREA.
I LIVE JUST NORTH OF MILWAUKEE, WI
NO TICKETS! VERY RELIABLE 262-490-4301 [email protected]
Looking to drive a covered truck or truck and trailer from Chicago to Denver week of Dec. 10-14, 2019. contact me at [email protected] I am a older volunteer fireman w a little extra time and i have a few items i want to transport myself. Will drive for no cost but want to haul a few things.
Looking to drive a car from Seattle to Los Angeles area in the first week of February 2020. Good driving record, no tickets, good insurance…..please contact me at [email protected]
Looking for a car to drive either from NYC to Indiana, or from Indiana to NYC sometime between October – November.
Would consider driving it up to/from Chicago if needed.
Safe driver. No tickets or violations.
email [email protected] (not a college student, just still use my old college email :))
Anyone need a car driving to Miami ,FL leaving Ohio October 18 ,2019
Loking to drive a car roundtrip from western NY to New jersey from Oct 24-27 2019
Looking for a car to drive from Orange County, Ca. to Denver Co. around October 23, 2019
Any chance you’ll be coming back from Denver to Orange County in the near future? Email me: [email protected].
I am looking to drive a car to Charlotte NC from anywhere between Syracuse and Binghamton or surrounding areas or from Charlotte to the mentioned NY areas sometime in the next three weeks. I am a newly retired county worker with a clean driving record. Will also travel with your pet if desired.
Looking for someone to drive our 2009 ford Escape to the Phoenix AZ area from Rogers MN around the end of November or early December 2019.
If you need someone to do this again in Nov/Dec 2020, hit me up for a quote.
Here is my direct Email– [email protected]
Ron
414-750-4110
Driver from NYC or Philly to Oregon or Washington early November. I am a safe driver and have been driving for 6 years. I can drive automatic and manual.
Contact me if interested! [email protected]
All the best, Deirdre