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.
May 22 – June 13 +/-
San Francisco to Los Angeles/San Diego/Las Vegas (flexible along West Coast)
Hello, my partner and I are researchers at Harvard Medical school in Boston and would love to explore the West Coast while helping out by relocating your car. We would be happy to drive anywhere between the cities stated above or are flexible along the West Coast. The dates are not strict either, but ideally 2-3.5 weeks in between May 22th – 13th of June. We have a clean driving record, insurance, and are comfortable in all vehicles, including manual vehicles and vans, as I’ve driven many in my life for work purposes. We will cover all gas and accommodations. I’d be happy to provide a background check and whatever else deemed necessary. Feel free to email me at: [email protected]
May 27 – June 15
San Francisco to Los Angeles/San Diego/Las Vegas (flexible along West Coast)
Hello there, my partner and I are researchers at Harvard Medical school in Boston and would love to explore the West Coast while helping out by relocating your car. We would be happy to drive anywhere between the cities stated above or are flexible along the West Coast. The dates are not strict either, but ideally 2-3.5 weeks in between May 25th – 15th of June. We have a clean driving record, insurance and are comfortable in all vehicles, including manual vehicles and vans, as I’ve driven many in my life for work purposes. We will cover all gas and accommodations. I’d be happy to provide a background check and whatever else deemed necessary. Feel free to email me at: [email protected]
June 25 – July 5 +/-
San Francisco (or Los Angeles) to East Coast
Hello, my Partner and I are relocating from San Francisco to study my Masters at NYU. We need to move a few of my paintings and fragile sculptures from San Francisco to New York in late June/early July and we would be happy to relocate a truck or suv for you (Los Angeles works too). Once everything is dropped off in New York, I’d be happy to drive it anywhere along the east coast: Boston, Philadelphia, DC, Baltimore, Pittsburg, etc.
I’ve driven a uhaul from SF to Chicago in 2019, and a truck from Los Angeles to New York in 2020. I have a clean driving record and I am comfortable in all vehicles. We will will cover all gas and accommodations. I’d be happy to provide a background check and whatever else deemed necessary 🙂
Feel free to email me at: [email protected]
If you are looking for someone to move your vehicle from Point A to Point B, we are the one.
A retired couple will do it for you for actual cost reimbursement only. We do this as a way to see the USA, not as a FOR PROFIT business,
Just tell us when you need this done and from what city to what city and we will supply a cost figure.
References are available upon request.
If interested in our service, just email me.
NonSense
[email protected]
Looking to drive someones truck/vehicle that can tow my trailer from AZ to WI. In May 2022. Need to get trailer to WI. Very safe driver with full USAA insurance and CDL license, lots of tailer pulling experience. Let me know if this could work for you to get your car to the midwest. [email protected]
Friends and family on west coast , I’m on the east coast . if you need a car driven to the west, call or texts ,301 616 1335 . 60 yr old male , references you can trust . just gas money , ill pay my own food and lodging. offer good to may 15 , thank you
SHORT NOTICE, I know — I am moving some belongings to the TAMPA area from suburban Washington, dc; Targeting between 2/17 and 2/26 of 2022; Only option is to use a one-way rental van or SUV; But WHY NOT drive YOUR similar-size vehicle, instead??? I only need about 100 to 120 cubic feet; trustworthy driver is flexible within aforementioned timeframe; email me via [email protected]
I am a professional driver. Looking to drive from NYC or Florida to Seattle or San Francisco, or from Seattle to NYC or Florida.
I will be available in the month of May or June.
I have worked with Seattle Metro, FedEx and am currently self-employed as a Taxi driver.
If you have questions or need any additional Info., please feel free to contact me.
[email protected]
Hello, I am interested in driving your vehicle from Seattle to New York or Florida and as well from Florida or New York to San Francisco or Seattle,
I am looking to be available in the month of May or June.
I have driven for the Seattle metro bus, FedEx, and currently working self employ as a Taxi driver.
Hello, I’m looking to drive from Seattle to Los Angeles at the beginning of February to visit family, with a few stops along the way, before flying back home. Please contact me if you need your vehicle moved, I’d be happy to drive it for you. Excellent record, safe driver, 45 yo female. [email protected]
Hi,
Very responsible drivers with tons of references looking to transport a vehicle from S. Florida to Ohio as soon as possible; no later than Dec. 18. Contact me at [email protected]. Thanks!
Jeff
Looking for a responsible non-smoker with a clean driving record and references to drive a 2008 Grand Marquis (in excellent shape, checked out by mechanic, only 69K miles) from Raleigh, NC to Rochester, NY by the end of December. Please email [email protected] if interested.
Or, even from Raleigh to someplace halfwayish between those two places and we would meet you and drive it the rest of the way home ourselves. 🙂
I\\\’d like to drive your car from California [Santa Barbara or LA areas preferably] to somewhere near Asheville, NC. to visit my daughter there. When: Next month or so. Me: Retired, 74 yr young, excellent driving record, insured, and careful driver. Costs negotiable.
I am a mature adult with my female companion looking to drive your car from Orlando to Nashville any day after September 27, 2021. . I am visiting my father here and my older brother in Nashville (retired colonel)
I am a 63 year old man with a perfect driving record looking to drive a compact car from Sacramento California to Minneapolis Minnesota, I have done this before years ago and it went very smooth I am responsible and will be gentle with your automobile
Hello….
I currently live in West, Texas and looking to drive for someone one time/part time/or full time.
You can contact me at [email protected] or on twitter @topknox
Thank you.
Hi! I’m looking to relocate someone’s car from the West Coast to the East coast this October! I’m a responsible driver with a clean record moving back from Portland to Boston and am hoping to make some stops along the way to sightsee. I would have my dad or a friend with me. I am happy to pay for gas! I would be SO grateful to be able to do this trip and get my stuff home! Thank you so, so much. You can reach out at [email protected]
Looking for a good driver with good driving record, non-smoker, to drive Kia Forte 4-door sedan from Florida to Austin, Texas September 2021. Email me if interested at [email protected]
I am flying down to Orlando in September to retrieve my Mother’s crematory remains (contained in a small vessel) to be brought back to the Philadelphia area for burial.
The family wishes for her remains to be driven and not flown or shipped.
I will drive your dependable vehicle for the cost of gas only.
I am a fully insured, dependable retired Firefighter with 31 years of emergency vehicle driving experience, with a spotless driving record and currently drive vehicles for Penndot.
If I can be of assistance in transporting your vehicle please email me Francis Kennedy at: [email protected]
Looking to have a car driven from Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA sometime this month (August 2021). Flexible dates. If anyone is willing to do it for the cost of gas please let me know, thanks.
Please email [email protected]
Thank you
Hi!
My wife and I have a break from work coming up in September, and are hoping to drive to Alaska from our home in San Francisco. Would love to relocate someone\’s car. You wouldn\’t need to pay us or even cover our gas; we\’d just need some flexible timing over the course of September and early October. We both have perfect driving records and full insurance. We\’ve done road trips from San Francisco to Seattle, San Francisco to Delaware and the bottom of New Zealand all the way to the top!
If you need your car relocated from California to Alaska, email me anytime! [email protected].
If you are looking for someone to move your vehicle from Point A to Point B, we are the one.
A retired couple will do it for you for actual cost reimbursement only. We do this as a way to see the USA, not as a FOR PROFIT business,
Just tell us when you need this done and from what city to what city and we will supply a cost figure.
References are available upon request.
If interested in our service, just email me.
Barb
[email protected]
I am a recent graduate from NYU and am moving to California for graduate school at Berkeley this August. I’m hoping to leave around August 6th and get over to California by August 13th/14th. My best friend is planning to come with me. We are hoping to make stops in Colorado, Arizona, and Utah to explore some national parks.
My friend & I are both very responsible (we are applying to medical school currently) and have clean driving records.
Email me if you need your car relocated from the East Coast to the West Coast in early-mid August: [email protected]
Mature, responsible, professional couple with perfect driving record and own insurance will drive your vehicle from West Coast to East Coast in September. FOR FREE. [email protected]
i AM IN A DILEMA AND NEED TO GET FROM COLORADO TO NEW YORK BY ANYWHERE FROM JULY 7 TO JULY 17. IF YOU LIVE IN THE DENVER AREA AND NEED YOUR CAR RELOCATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THAT WOULD BE A MIRACLE FOR ME. i WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE BY ANYWHERE FROM JULY 1 TO 10, i AM A RETIRED EDUCATOR WHO WAS ON A TRIP TO SEE MY BROTHER AND SISTER IN COLORADO WHEN MY CAR BROKE DOWN IN EASTERN COLORADO.