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. If you need your vehicle driven from Colorado to Minnesota or Illinois or from Minnesota or Illinois to Colorado, I would be happy to do so. I am a responsible person with references and have a clean driving record. I am available mid May to mid June.
    uacurio@telluridecolorado .net

    Reply
  2. Nice tutor.Your way of presentation is really too good.I am
    totally impressed by your post.I am looking for your more updates.Keep them
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    Reply
  3. I am wondering if you need your vehicle driven from western Washington state to the north east in late September or October. Perfect driver history, adult married couple with references. Can do round trip as well. Maybe one car one direction and a second car driven back from the east. Please let me know. [email protected]

    Reply
  4. Hello,
    we are two drivers with clean records, we are looking to drive a car from anywhere in the east (preferbly around baltimore MD) to anywhere in CA ASAP, contact us in –
     
    [email protected] or in 4435630571
     
     

    Reply
  5. I am moving from Salt Lake City, UT to Gainesville, FL. And I would be happy to drive your car/truck/SUV for you. Clean driving record. Moving end of June. 

    Reply
  6. Hello,

    I am looking to drive a car from San Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL in June or late May. I have a clean driving record. I’m moving home with my parents in Chicago for the summer and want to take the scenic route home. Please let me know! [email protected]

    Reply
  7. Anyone need a car driven from Central Florida to New York City? My husband and I are relocating- both working professionals and have taken the drive before.

    Reply
  8. Looking to drive a car from the Albuquerque New Mexico area to the San Francisco Bay area around May 7th. Please contact me if you need to transport your vehicle. Adult driver with clear driving record. You can contact me at [email protected]

    Reply
  9. Heading back to CA from FL in September and October. If you need something driven, car, truck, boat please contact me and we can discuss [email protected]
    Adult driver, no games no BS just considering this option instead of flying. I’ve made the drive from CA to FL already and would not mind a second.

    Reply
  10. Hi there – I am looking for someone to drive my small Chevy s10 truck from los Angeles, to New Jersey at the end of August or early September.  Most likely, I will have a small Uhal trailer attached.  Please email me at: [email protected] if you are interested.  Thank you!!

    Reply
  11. Hello all- I am looking to deliver a car from anywhere in the New York City area to the West Coast, sometime in either June or July. I am relocating to the Northwest to attend law school, and would like to transport myself (and a few of my belongings) in your car! I have conducted two driveaways in the past, and have driven cross-country multiple times. I can provide references and will pay for all expenses (including gas). I can be reached at [email protected] – thank you!

    Reply
    • Hello Edie, I’ve replied to the email you sent but have not heard anything back. Please confirm if you are still interested in my Ford Focus that needs driven to Simi Valley, CA.

      Reply
    • I will be going West during the 3rd week (12th through 18th), 2012 if this is still available. Reply to: [email protected], or by phone @ 801-580-3464. Please leave voicemail if I’m not immediately available. Thanks!

      Reply
  12. Hello, I’m looking to help someone out in Canada by driving their vehicle from Regina SK, to Toonto ON around the 6th of May. I have a full clean licence and have driven across Canada on several occasions. Thanks! email ( [email protected]

    Reply
  13. I will be driving (one way or another!) from Baltimore, MD to St. Louis, MO in mid-July, and stopping along the way in Columbus, OH, Chicago, IL, and Fort Dodge, IA. If you need your vehicle moved from anywhere in the Baltimore-DC metro area to anywhere in the general vicinity of any of the above destinations, I’d love to talk it over with you. I am also able to start from NYC instead if your vehicle is there. My driving record is clean.

    [email protected]

    Reply
  14. Hello I am interested in driving from Connecticut to California with my college graduate!  We would like to see the country together!  We are available late June and all of July.  We both have excellent driving records and are very accustom to long drives!  I can pick up a car in Massachusetts or the tri-state area.  Thanks!  email: [email protected]

    Reply
  15. I’m a professional truck driver for over 20 yrs with a spotless driving record.. I am available from Chicago area to Salt Lake City end of June 2012 …..also available Chicago to Springfield, Mo. May 3-7 2012 email to [email protected]

    Reply
  16. Two adult drivers with perfect driving records are hoping to help someone bring their car from Washington DC to Southern California mid June.  Respectful, honest and caring. Please contact at [email protected] ASAP!  Thank you

    Reply
  17. I need a van or suv to drive from Champaign, Il. to Las Vegas, NV. If there is anyone who needs to transport their vehicle one way, I would be interested in hearing from you.

    Reply
  18. Are people actually using this as a forum for exchanging cars/trips?  I would love to drive a car from the SF bay Area to Austin / San Antonio TX, anytime mid-may to mid june.  I have made this drive before, as well as many other cross-courty treks.  Please email me at [email protected] if you need a car moved from CA to TX or anywhere in between. 

    Reply

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