Bought a Car in Another State? We’ll Drive It Home for You
Found the right car three states away? A professional driver picks it up from the dealer or private seller and delivers it to your driveway.
1,000+ vehicles delivered · 4.9 average rating from 1,000+ reviews · Written quote within 2 hours · All 48 continental states
Your three options for getting it home
| Option | What it costs you | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Fly out and drive it home | Flight, 1–3 nights of hotels and meals, fuel, tolls, and 2–5 days off work | You take the risk of an unfamiliar car on a long drive |
| Ship it on a carrier | Carrier price; usually 5–10 days or more | The car rides with other vehicles; pickup windows |
| Have Car Driveaway drive it | 50¢–90¢ per mile all-inclusive; for example 1,000 miles is about $600–$800 | One driver, door to door, usually 1–3 days, GPS-tracked |
Online car buying has made out-of-state purchases common, and the logistics after the sale are where people get stuck. A driver is the only option where the car comes straight to you with no time off work.
How it works, step by step
- Request a quote with the pickup address (dealer or seller), your home address and when the car will be ready. You get a written, all-inclusive price within 2 hours.
- Finish the purchase. Pay, sign, and get the temporary tag or plates, the purchase paperwork and the keys ready for pickup.
- Add the car to your insurance before pickup and put the insurance card in the glove box.
- We pick it up. Your driver inspects and photographs the car with the dealer or seller, then heads straight to you.
- Track it. Follow the car by GPS the whole way; most trips take 1 to 3 days.
- Delivery and registration. Walk the car with your driver at your door, then register it in your home state.
Paperwork checklist
Travels with the car
- Temporary tag, transit permit or plates
- Bill of sale or purchase agreement
- Proof of insurance on your policy
- Keys and any key fobs
Keep with you
- Title, or the dealer’s title paperwork
- Loan or lien paperwork, if financed
- Your home-state DMV checklist for registration
Ask the seller
- Pickup hours and contact name
- Whether they need written authorization for our driver
- Fuel level and any known issues
Bought it already?
Tell us where it is. Written quote within 2 hours.
Buying from a dealer
Dealers hand cars to professional drivers every day. Tell your salesperson that Car Driveaway is collecting the car, give them the driver’s name and pickup window once we confirm it, and ask them to have the temporary tag and paperwork ready. If the dealer offers to arrange shipping, compare their price and timing with a driver: shipping usually takes 5 to 10 days or more, a driver usually 1 to 3.
Buying from a private seller
Private sales work too. Pay the seller, get the signed title and a bill of sale, arrange plates or a transit permit, and add the car to your insurance. If you are buying sight unseen, a pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop near the seller is worth it, and it confirms the car is fit for a long drive. Agree on a pickup time when the seller will be home.
What it costs
Most trips cost 50¢ to 90¢ per mile, all-inclusive: driver, fuel, tolls, the driver’s travel and GPS tracking. Short trips land near the top of that range and long trips near the bottom.
| Distance from the seller | All-inclusive price | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| 300 miles | $230–$270 | 1 day |
| 500 miles | $380–$450 | 1 day |
| 1,000 miles | $600–$800 | 2 days |
| 1,500 miles | $825–$1,075 | 2 days |
| 2,000 miles | $1,050–$1,375 | 3 days |
| 2,800 miles | $1,400–$1,825 | 3 days |
Try the cost calculator with the seller’s city and yours.
Get a quote to bring your car home
Pickup address, delivery address and when the car is ready. Written, all-inclusive quote within 2 hours.
Questions about out-of-state purchases
How do I get a car home that I bought in another state?
You have three options: fly out and drive it home yourself, ship it on a carrier, or hire a professional driver to drive it to your door. With Car Driveaway, a licensed, insured driver picks the car up from the dealer or seller and delivers it, usually in 1 to 3 days.
Can someone else pick up a car I bought from a dealer?
Yes. Dealers release cars to a driver you authorize all the time. Tell the dealer the driver’s name and our pickup window, send written authorization if they ask for it, and make sure the paperwork that has to travel with the car (temporary tag or plates, bill of sale or purchase agreement, and proof of insurance) is in the car.
Can a car be driven home on a temporary tag?
Usually, yes. Most states let a newly bought car be driven on a temporary tag or transit permit from the dealer or the DMV until it is registered at home. Rules and time limits vary by state, so confirm what the selling dealer or your DMV issues before the trip.
Do I need insurance before the car is driven home?
Yes. Add the car to your auto policy before pickup. During the trip your car stays on your own policy, as it would with any driver you let use it, and our drivers are licensed and insured professionals.
Where do I register the car?
In your home state, after it arrives. You will usually need the title or the dealer’s title paperwork, the bill of sale, proof of insurance and, in many states, an inspection or VIN check. Some states also collect sales tax at registration. Check your state DMV for the exact list.
What about a private-party purchase?
It works the same way. Pay the seller, get the signed title and a bill of sale, arrange plates or a transit permit, add the car to your insurance, and we pick it up from the seller’s address.
How much does it cost to have a car driven home from another state?
Most trips cost 50¢ to 90¢ per mile, all-inclusive. For example, 500 miles is about $380–$450, 1,000 miles about $600–$800 and coast to coast about $1,400–$1,825. Use the cost calculator, or get a written quote within 2 hours.
Should I get an inspection before I buy?
If you are buying sight unseen, yes. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop near the seller is worth it, and it also tells you the car is safe for a long drive home.
Key facts
- Service: a professional driver collects a car bought in another state from the dealer or private seller and drives it to the buyer’s door.
- Timing: most trips take 1 to 3 days; drivers average about 950 miles a day.
- Most trips cost 50¢ to 90¢ per mile, all-inclusive: driver, fuel, tolls, the driver’s travel and GPS tracking. Short trips land near the top of that range and long trips near the bottom.
- The car travels on its temporary tag, transit permit or plates, with the purchase paperwork and the buyer’s proof of insurance.
- Quotes: written within 2 hours; the quoted price is the price you pay. Coverage: all 48 continental states.