Can I Hire Someone to Drive My Car for Me? Yes — Here's How Driveaway Works
What Is a Driveaway Service, and How Does It Work?
A driveaway service is exactly what it sounds like: you hire a professional driver to get behind the wheel of your vehicle and drive it from Point A to Point B. Your car stays on the road — not loaded onto a flatbed or squeezed onto a multi-car carrier — and arrives at your destination ready to use the moment it gets there.
The concept has been around for decades in the commercial fleet world, where dealerships and manufacturers have long hired drivers to deliver vehicles across the country. Today, driveaway services are widely available to everyday car owners who need their vehicle moved without flying, towing, or shipping it on a truck.
Here's how a typical driveaway works: you contact a driveaway company, share your vehicle details, pickup and delivery locations, and preferred timeline. The company assigns a vetted, insured driver to your car. That driver picks up your vehicle, conducts a documented pre-trip inspection, and drives it to your destination — usually following a pre-planned route with scheduled rest stops, fuel breaks, and nightly check-ins. When the car arrives, both you and the driver walk through a final inspection to confirm the vehicle's condition.
Think of it as hiring a private pilot for your car. You get door-to-door service, your car avoids the risks of being loaded and unloaded from a carrier, and you skip the exhaustion and expense of driving the route yourself.
How Driveaway Differs From Rideshare, Chauffeur, and Taxi Services
People sometimes confuse driveaway with rideshare services like Uber or Lyft, personal chauffeurs, or long-distance taxi rides — but these are fundamentally different services. With a rideshare or taxi, you're paying someone to drive you somewhere in their vehicle. With a chauffeur, someone drives you in your car — you're a passenger. With driveaway, the driver delivers your vehicle without you in it. You're not traveling with the car; you're having the car brought to where you need it.
This distinction matters because it changes everything about how the service is structured: the insurance, the pricing, the logistics, and the type of driver you need. A driveaway driver isn't giving you a ride. They're functioning as a professional vehicle transporter who happens to use the steering wheel instead of a trailer.
Who Uses Driveaway? Snowbirds, Relocations, Fleet Managers, and More
Driveaway services attract a surprisingly wide range of customers. Snowbirds — retirees who spend winters in Florida, Arizona, or the Southwest — are among the most frequent users. Many snowbirds prefer driveaway over auto transport because it's simpler, often faster, and lets them leave personal items in the car for their seasonal move.
People relocating for work or family are another major group. If you've accepted a job across the country and you're flying to start quickly, having a professional driver deliver your car eliminates one of the most stressful parts of a long-distance move. Military families on PCS orders, college students moving home or to school, and families merging households all rely on driveaway as well.
Beyond individual owners, fleet managers and dealerships use driveaway services to move inventory, reposition vehicles between branches, or deliver sold cars to customers in other states. Online car sellers shipping purchases to buyers across the country have also become a growing part of the driveaway market.
If you own a car and need it somewhere you aren't, driveaway is almost certainly an option worth considering.
Driveaway vs. Auto Transport: Which Is Better for Your Car?
This is the question we hear most often: "Should I hire a driver or put my car on a truck?" Both are legitimate ways to move a vehicle long-distance, and the right answer depends on your priorities — your budget, your timeline, your vehicle type, and how much flexibility you need.
Here's the core difference. Auto transport loads your car onto a carrier truck (either open-air or enclosed) and hauls it alongside other vehicles. Driveaway puts a driver behind your wheel and has your car driven to its destination on its own tires. Same result — your car arrives somewhere else — but the experience, risk profile, cost, and timeline can look very different.
Open Carrier vs. Enclosed Carrier vs. Driveaway: A Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Open Carrier | Enclosed Carrier | Driveaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost (cross-country) | $800 – $1,500 | $1,300 – $2,800+ | $900 – $1,800 |
| Delivery time | 7 – 14 days | 7 – 14 days | 3 – 6 days |
| Door-to-door service | Sometimes — carriers may need a staging lot | Usually yes | Yes — always |
| Personal items in car | No (DOT regulations) | Very limited | Yes — within reason |
| Exposure to elements | Full exposure to weather and road debris | Fully protected | Normal driving conditions |
| Risk of loading/unloading damage | Some risk — ramps, straps, tight spacing | Lower risk, but still present | None — car is never loaded onto anything |
| Adds mileage to vehicle | No | No | Yes — the driven route |
| Scheduling flexibility | Low — depends on carrier routes and fill | Low — fewer trucks available | High — driver assigned to your job |
| Real-time tracking | Limited | Limited | Yes — GPS tracking throughout |
| Best for | Budget moves, standard vehicles | High-value, classic, or exotic cars | Flexible timelines, seasonal moves, convenience |
When Driveaway Is the Smarter Choice Over Shipping on a Truck
Driveaway tends to be the better fit in several common scenarios. If you're working with a tight timeline, driveaway is almost always faster — your car isn't waiting for a carrier to fill its remaining slots before departing. If you need to move personal belongings inside the vehicle, driveaway makes this easy, while carrier services either prohibit it outright or severely limit what you can leave inside.
If you value door-to-door precision, driveaway delivers exactly that. Auto transport carriers often can't navigate residential streets or tight driveways, which means your car might be dropped at a staging lot or an intersection near your home rather than in your actual driveway. A driveaway driver parks it wherever you want.
Seasonal movers — especially snowbirds — often prefer driveaway because the scheduling flexibility is unmatched. You choose your pickup date, and the driver works around your calendar rather than the carrier's route schedule. For anyone who wants to stay informed throughout the trip, real-time GPS tracking is standard with professional driveaway services and still uncommon with most carrier companies.
When Auto Transport Makes More Sense Than Hiring a Driver
That said, auto transport is a better choice in certain situations. If your vehicle is an ultra-low-mileage collector car where every mile on the odometer matters, keeping it off the road is the priority — enclosed transport is your best bet. If your car is non-running or has mechanical issues that make it unsafe to drive long distances, it needs to go on a truck. And if you're moving multiple vehicles at once, bundling them onto a single carrier is usually more cost-effective than hiring individual drivers for each car.
Some owners of rare exotics prefer enclosed transport because the car is fully shielded from weather, road salt, and debris — a legitimate concern if you're moving a seven-figure hypercar through a winter corridor. For most standard, luxury, or even classic vehicles in good driving condition, however, driveaway is a strong option that many owners find more convenient and less stressful than shipping.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire Someone to Drive Your Car Across Country?
Cost is usually the first question — and it's a fair one. The price of a driveaway depends on a few straightforward factors: how far the car needs to go, what kind of vehicle it is, when you need it delivered, and which company or driver you hire. Here's a realistic breakdown.
Sample Pricing by Route: Real-World Cost Examples for Popular Corridors
These ranges reflect standard sedan and SUV deliveries through Car Driveaway. Larger vehicles, luxury cars, or peak-season requests (October through December for southbound snowbird routes) may adjust the price. Every quote we provide is all-inclusive with no hidden surcharges.
What's Included in a Car Driveaway Quote (and What You Pay Separately)
When you get a quote from Car Driveaway, it covers the complete delivery: driver compensation, fuel, tolls, a documented pre-trip and post-trip inspection, real-time GPS tracking, and insurance coverage for the duration of transit. You don't pay for gas, tolls, or driver meals — those are baked into the price.
What you're responsible for is making sure the car is in good mechanical condition before the trip. If the vehicle needs an oil change, new tires, or a brake check before a 2,000-mile drive, that's on you — and it's in your best interest. We'll cover the pre-trip checklist later in this guide.
Cost Per Mile: What to Expect for Short, Regional, and Cross-Country Trips
As a general rule of thumb, driveaway pricing breaks down roughly as follows: shorter trips (under 500 miles) tend to run between $0.75 and $1.10 per mile, because the fixed costs of assigning a driver, coordinating logistics, and conducting inspections are spread over fewer miles. Regional trips (500 to 1,500 miles) typically fall in the $0.55 to $0.80 per mile range. Cross-country deliveries (1,500 miles and up) are the most efficient on a per-mile basis, often landing between $0.40 and $0.65 per mile.
Keep in mind that per-mile pricing is a rough benchmark, not a formula. Vehicle size, seasonal demand, route difficulty, and delivery timeline all influence the final quote.
Hidden Costs to Watch for When Hiring an Independent Driver
If you're hiring a driver outside of a professional driveaway company — through a gig platform, Craigslist, or a freelancer — make sure you ask about costs that may not be included in their initial quote. Common surprises include fuel charges billed separately, toll reimbursements, overnight hotel expenses, one-way airline tickets for the driver to return home, food and per-diem costs, and vehicle damage that isn't covered because the driver doesn't carry adequate insurance. A price that looks like a deal on paper can end up costing significantly more than a professional all-inclusive quote once these extras are added in.
Want an exact price for your route? Get a free, no-obligation quote — most customers hear back the same day.
Get Your Free QuoteThree Ways to Hire a Driver for Your Vehicle
If you've decided to have someone drive your car, you have three realistic options — each with its own tradeoffs in cost, convenience, and risk. Here's an honest look at all three.
Option 1: Hire a Vetted Driver Through a Professional Driveaway Company
This is the option we offer at Car Driveaway, so we're obviously biased — but there are real, practical reasons why professional driveaway companies exist and why most repeat customers choose this route.
A professional driveaway company handles everything: finding and screening the driver, verifying their driving record, providing insurance coverage during transit, coordinating logistics, conducting vehicle inspections at both ends, and giving you real-time tracking throughout the trip. You're not managing the process yourself. You're handing your car off to a system designed specifically for this — and you're protected if something goes wrong.
The drivers who work with professional driveaway companies are typically experienced long-distance drivers with clean records who've been background checked, approved, and matched to your vehicle type. This matters more than people realize until they think about handing their car keys to a stranger for a 2,000-mile trip.
Option 2: Hire an Independent Driver Through a Gig Platform or Freelancer Site
Platforms like Craigslist, TaskRabbit, or even Facebook groups sometimes have people willing to drive your car for a fee. The upside is that it can be cheaper upfront — you're negotiating directly with the driver, and there's no company overhead built into the price.
The downsides are significant, though. You're responsible for verifying the driver's identity, license, driving history, and insurance status yourself. If the driver gets into an accident, causes damage, or simply doesn't show up, you're dealing with it on your own. There's no dispatch team, no GPS tracking, no pre-trip inspection protocol, and no insurance safety net beyond whatever the driver personally carries — which may be minimal or nonexistent for a long-distance delivery.
This can work fine if you find a reliable person and you're comfortable with the risk. But if anything goes wrong, you have very little recourse compared to working with a licensed company.
Option 3: Ask a Friend or Family Member to Drive Your Car
This is the most common first instinct — and sometimes it works. If you have a trustworthy friend or family member who's willing to make the drive, it's the most personal option and often the cheapest (you might cover fuel, a flight home, and buy them dinner).
The catch is that it puts strain on the relationship if anything goes wrong. A fender-bender, a speeding ticket, a mechanical breakdown on a remote highway — these are situations that test even strong friendships. There's also no formal insurance arrangement, no vehicle inspection protocol, and no way to track the car's location or the driver's behavior during the trip. If the car arrives with a new scratch or dent, it can be an awkward conversation that no one enjoys having.
Which Option Is Safest for Your Vehicle?
For most people, a professional driveaway company offers the best balance of cost, convenience, and protection. You're paying a modest premium over the cheapest options, but you're getting insurance, accountability, vetted drivers, and a process that's been refined over thousands of deliveries. If your car matters to you — whether it's a daily driver, a luxury vehicle, or a classic — the peace of mind is worth the investment.
What to Look for When Choosing a Driveaway Company
Not all driveaway companies operate the same way, and the differences matter when you're trusting someone with your car. Whether you're evaluating Car Driveaway or any of our competitors, here's what to check before you commit.
Licensing, Insurance, and Background Check Standards to Verify
Any driveaway company worth hiring should be able to provide proof of the following: active USDOT registration and, if applicable, an MC (Motor Carrier) number issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. These registrations confirm the company is legally authorized to transport vehicles. Beyond licensing, ask specifically about insurance — what does their policy cover during transit, what are the limits, and does it extend to damage caused by the driver? Finally, ask about their driver screening process. Do they run background checks? Do they verify driving records? Is there a minimum experience requirement?
A reputable company will answer these questions openly. If they dodge, deflect, or seem unsure, keep looking.
Red Flags: How to Spot an Unreliable Driveaway Service
- They can't provide a USDOT or MC number when asked.
- They won't share details about their insurance policy or driver screening process.
- The quote is dramatically lower than every other company you've contacted — this usually means corners are being cut on insurance, driver pay, or both.
- They ask for full payment upfront before any service is provided.
- They have no online reviews, or the reviews they do have look fabricated (identical language, posted on the same day, no detail).
- They can't explain what happens if your car is damaged during transit.
- They pressure you to book immediately without giving you time to compare options.
Questions to Ask Before You Book Any Driver
Before booking with any driveaway service, these are the questions that matter most: What does your insurance cover, and what are the liability limits? How do you screen and vet your drivers? Will I have real-time tracking during the trip? What happens if my car is damaged in transit — what's the claims process? Is the quote all-inclusive, or are there additional charges for fuel, tolls, or other expenses? Can you provide references or point me to verified reviews? What's your cancellation policy if my plans change?
The way a company handles these questions tells you as much as the answers themselves. Transparency and confidence are good signs. Evasion and vagueness are not.
How We Vet Our Drivers: Background Checks, Insurance, and Screening Standards
We believe the section above applies to us, too — so here's exactly how Car Driveaway screens, selects, and manages the drivers we assign to your vehicle.
Background Checks, Driving Record Screening, and Approval Criteria
Every driver who applies to work with Car Driveaway goes through a multi-step vetting process before they're approved for any assignment. This includes a comprehensive criminal background check covering federal and state databases, a driving record (MVR) review going back at least five years, identity and license verification, and a review of their professional driving experience. We look for clean records, stable driving history, and demonstrated reliability over time — not just the ability to hold a license.
Drivers with DUIs, reckless driving convictions, or patterns of moving violations within the review period are automatically disqualified. We enforce this consistently because the standard we apply to drivers is the one you'd apply if you were handing your keys to a stranger — which is exactly what you're doing.
Why We Only Accept a Small Percentage of Driver Applications
We're selective because we have to be. Every car we deliver belongs to someone who's trusting us with a vehicle worth tens of thousands of dollars — sometimes much more. Our approval rate is intentionally low, and we'd rather turn away ten marginal applicants than put one unreliable driver behind the wheel of your car.
The drivers who do make it through our vetting process are experienced, professional, and dependable. Many of them are long-haul veterans, retired fleet drivers, or transportation professionals who've been driving commercially for years. They treat your car the way you'd want it treated because they understand that this is someone's daily driver, family car, or prized vehicle — not just another delivery.
How Drivers Are Matched to Your Vehicle Type and Route
Not every driver is right for every vehicle. Someone experienced with sedans and SUVs may not be the best fit for a vintage Porsche or a lifted truck with a manual transmission. When we assign a driver to your delivery, we match based on vehicle type experience, route familiarity, and scheduling availability. If your car has specific requirements — a particular driving mode, a sensitive clutch, an aftermarket exhaust that requires gentle handling — we communicate that directly to the driver before the trip begins.
Step-by-Step: How to Book a Professional Driver Through Car Driveaway
Booking a driveaway through Car Driveaway is designed to be straightforward. Here's how the process works from start to finish.
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Request a Quote and Share Your Vehicle Details
Start by filling out our quote form with your vehicle's make, model, and year, your pickup and delivery locations, and your preferred timeline. You'll receive a personalized, all-inclusive quote — typically within a few hours, and always within the same business day. There's no obligation, and we don't require payment or a commitment to receive your quote.
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We Assign a Qualified Driver and Confirm Your Schedule
Once you approve your quote, we match a vetted driver to your vehicle and route. We'll confirm your driver's name, their experience, and the agreed-upon pickup date and estimated delivery window. If you have specific scheduling needs — an exact pickup time, a delivery-by date, or coordination with a move — we work with you to accommodate those details.
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Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection and Handoff
On pickup day, your assigned driver meets you (or your designated contact) at the agreed location. Before anything else, you and the driver conduct a thorough walk-around inspection of the vehicle. This includes documenting the car's current condition — existing scratches, dents, tire condition, fluid levels, dashboard warning lights, and mileage — with photos and a written checklist. Both parties sign off on the inspection report. This protects you and the driver by creating a clear, dated record of the vehicle's condition before the trip begins.
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Real-Time GPS Tracking From Pickup to Delivery
Once your driver departs, you'll receive a tracking link that lets you follow your vehicle's location in real time. You'll also get milestone updates at key points — departure confirmation, midpoint check-in, and approaching-destination notification. If you ever want an update beyond what the tracker shows, our team is available to check in with the driver directly and relay information to you.
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Final Inspection and Delivery at Your Destination
When your car arrives, you and the driver repeat the walk-around inspection. You'll compare the vehicle's current condition to the pre-trip documentation to confirm that it arrived in the same shape it left in. Once you're satisfied, you sign off on the delivery, and the job is complete. Your car is in your driveway, ready to drive.
Insurance and Liability: What's Covered When Someone Else Drives Your Car?
Handing your car to someone else raises an obvious concern: what if something happens? Understanding how insurance works during a driveaway is one of the most important parts of the process — and one of the least well-explained in this industry. Let's fix that.
What Car Driveaway's Insurance Covers During Transit
Every delivery through Car Driveaway is covered by our insurance policy for the duration of transit — from the moment your driver takes possession of the vehicle at pickup to the moment they hand it back to you at delivery. This policy covers physical damage to your vehicle caused by accidents, collisions, and road incidents that occur while the driver is operating the car on your behalf.
The specifics of coverage limits and terms are shared with you before you book, so you know exactly what's protected and what the process looks like if a claim needs to be filed. We believe in making this information completely transparent — not burying it in fine print that only matters after something goes wrong.
Does Your Personal Auto Insurance Apply When a Hired Driver Is Behind the Wheel?
This is a common question — and the answer depends on your specific policy. Many personal auto insurance policies extend coverage to "permissive use" drivers, meaning someone you've authorized to drive your car. However, the details vary significantly by carrier, state, and policy type. Some policies may exclude coverage for hired or compensated drivers. Others may apply but only as secondary coverage.
Before booking any driveaway service, contact your personal auto insurance provider and ask specifically: "Am I covered if I hire a professional driver to deliver my car across state lines?" Get the answer in writing if possible. This way, you'll know whether your personal policy applies as a backup, or whether you're relying entirely on the driveaway company's coverage — both of which are manageable situations, but ones you want to understand in advance rather than discover after an incident.
What Happens If Your Vehicle Is Damaged During a Driveaway
If your vehicle is damaged during a Car Driveaway delivery, here's what the process looks like. The driver documents the damage immediately with photos and a written report, and contacts our dispatch team right away. We notify you as soon as we're aware of the issue — we don't wait until delivery to surprise you. From there, we initiate the claims process under our insurance policy, and a dedicated team member works with you through resolution.
The pre-trip and post-trip inspection reports are critical here. They establish a clear before-and-after record of the vehicle's condition, which protects both you and us by preventing disputes about whether damage occurred during transit or was pre-existing. This is one of the reasons we take inspections seriously — they're not just a formality.
Preparing Your Vehicle Before a Driveaway: Your Pre-Trip Checklist
Your driver's job is to deliver your car safely. Your job is to make sure the car is ready for a long trip. A little preparation on your end goes a long way toward ensuring a smooth delivery — and it protects you if questions come up later.
Maintenance Check: What Your Car Needs Before a Long Trip
A driveaway puts real miles on your car, and your vehicle needs to be in solid mechanical shape before a driver takes the wheel for a multi-day trip. Before your scheduled pickup, make sure the following items are in order:
- Engine oil is fresh or within its service interval — if you're within 1,000 miles of your next oil change, get it done before the trip.
- Tire pressure is set to the manufacturer's recommendation and tread depth is adequate for highway driving.
- Coolant, brake fluid, and windshield washer fluid are topped off.
- Brakes are in good condition — no grinding, squealing, or excessive vibration.
- All lights are working: headlights, taillights, turn signals, and brake lights.
- The battery is in good health, especially if the car has been sitting for a while.
- There are no active dashboard warning lights that indicate a mechanical problem. (Check-engine light, oil pressure, temperature — these should be resolved before the trip.)
- Windshield wipers are functional and the windshield is free of cracks that could worsen during the drive.
If your car has any known quirks — a sticky door handle, a slow leak in a tire, a Bluetooth system that needs to be re-paired — let your driver know ahead of time. The more information they have, the smoother the trip goes.
What to Leave in the Car (and What to Remove)
One of the advantages of driveaway over auto transport is that you can leave personal items in the car. That said, be smart about what stays and what goes. Leave items that are practical for your move: clothing, shoes, non-perishable items, books, and small household goods. Keep everything below the window line so it's not visible from outside.
Remove anything irreplaceable, highly valuable, or sentimental: jewelry, important documents, family photos, electronics like laptops and tablets, prescription medications, and firearms. Our insurance covers your vehicle — not the contents inside it — so anything you leave in the car is left at your own risk. Treat it the way you'd treat checked luggage on a flight: pack things you'd be fine replacing if the worst happened.
Documenting Your Vehicle's Condition Before Handoff
Your driver will conduct a formal inspection when they pick up the car, but we recommend doing your own documentation before handoff as well. Walk around the car and take clear, well-lit photos of every panel, bumper, wheel, and any existing damage. Note the odometer reading and take a photo of the dashboard. If there are any pre-existing issues — a scratch on the rear quarter panel, a rock chip in the windshield, a scuff on the front bumper — photograph them and make sure they're noted on the inspection form.
This isn't about distrust. It's about creating a clear record that protects everyone involved. If a question comes up after delivery about whether a mark was there before the trip, you'll have date-stamped photos to reference — and so will we.
What Our Customers Say: Reviews From Real Car Deliveries
We think the best way to evaluate a driveaway company is to hear from people who've actually used one. Here are reviews from verified Car Driveaway customers across different types of deliveries.
Snowbird Seasonal Delivery Reviews
This is our third year using Car Driveaway for our fall move from Connecticut to Naples. The driver arrived on time, the car showed up in perfect condition four days later, and we could track it the entire way. We've tried auto transport before and honestly prefer this — faster, easier, and we can pack the trunk with things we need for the season.
I was nervous about having a stranger drive my car 1,500 miles, but the whole experience was smooth. The pre-trip inspection gave me confidence, and I appreciated getting text updates along the way. My car arrived in Scottsdale exactly when they said it would. I'm already booked for the spring return trip.
Cross-Country Relocation Reviews
I relocated from Portland to Charlotte for work and needed my car there before I arrived. Car Driveaway handled everything — I dropped the car off on a Monday and it was in my new apartment's parking lot by Thursday. The GPS tracking was great, and the driver was professional and communicative. Highly recommend for anyone doing a cross-country move.
Used Car Driveaway to move my Accord from Boston to Denver during a job change. The car arrived in good shape and on schedule. Only reason for four stars instead of five is that I wished the quote process had been a bit faster — but once things were booked, everything went smoothly. I'd use them again.
Luxury and Specialty Vehicle Reviews
I needed my 911 moved from my home in New Jersey to a storage facility in South Florida. I didn't want it on an open carrier exposed to highway debris for a week, and enclosed shipping was significantly more expensive. Car Driveaway assigned a driver who had experience with performance cars, and my Porsche arrived in immaculate condition. The door-to-door convenience was unbeatable.
We had our vintage Mercedes delivered from a seller in California to our home in Virginia. The driver was careful, communicative, and clearly experienced with classic cars. Car Driveaway even helped coordinate the pickup with the seller, which made the whole transaction much easier from 2,500 miles away. The car arrived exactly as described.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring Someone to Drive Your Car
Yes. Most driveaway services, including Car Driveaway, allow you to leave personal belongings in your vehicle during transit. We recommend keeping items below the window line and removing anything irreplaceable or of high sentimental value. Our insurance covers your vehicle — not personal property inside it — so treat the car like checked luggage and pack accordingly.
Professional driveaway services can handle nearly any drivable vehicle — sedans, SUVs, trucks, vans, luxury cars, classic vehicles, RVs, and even motorcycles with the right driver. At Car Driveaway, we match your vehicle type to a driver with specific experience handling that class of car. If you have a unique vehicle — a right-hand-drive import, a car with a manual transmission, or a vehicle with special handling requirements — let us know when you request your quote so we can find the right fit.
A coast-to-coast driveaway — for example, New York to Los Angeles — typically takes 4 to 6 days, depending on weather, route, and scheduled rest stops. Regional deliveries of 500 to 1,000 miles usually take 1 to 2 days. We provide an estimated delivery window when you book, and you can track your vehicle in real time throughout the trip. Our drivers follow DOT-compliant rest schedules and never rush a delivery at the expense of safety.
Yes — and for many owners of high-value vehicles, driveaway is actually preferable to shipping on an open carrier where the car is exposed to road debris, weather, and the mechanical risks of loading and unloading from a trailer. With driveaway, your vehicle stays on the road under the control of a vetted, experienced driver. Car Driveaway assigns specialty-vehicle-experienced drivers for luxury, classic, and exotic cars, and every trip is covered by our insurance policy.
Fuel policies vary by provider. At Car Driveaway, fuel costs are included in your quote — there are no surprise charges at the end of your delivery. Some independent drivers or other companies may charge fuel separately, so always clarify this before booking. When you receive a quote from us, what you see is what you pay.
If your vehicle experiences a mechanical issue during a driveaway, your driver will pull over safely and contact our dispatch team immediately. We coordinate roadside assistance and keep you informed throughout the process. Any pre-existing mechanical conditions should be disclosed before the trip so we can plan accordingly. This is why the pre-trip maintenance check matters — it dramatically reduces the chances of a breakdown occurring mid-delivery.
Yes. Car Driveaway provides real-time GPS tracking on every delivery. You'll receive a tracking link when your driver departs, and you can check your vehicle's location at any time during the trip. We also send milestone updates — departure, midpoint, and arrival — so you're never left wondering where your car is.
We recommend booking at least 5 to 7 days in advance for most routes, and 2 to 3 weeks ahead for peak seasons like fall and spring snowbird migration. That said, we accommodate last-minute requests when driver availability allows — submit a quote request and we'll let you know what's possible for your timeline.
With auto shipping, your car is loaded onto a carrier truck — either open-air or enclosed — and hauled alongside other vehicles to your destination. With driveaway, a professional driver actually drives your vehicle door-to-door on its own tires. Driveaway is often faster, more flexible with scheduling, allows you to leave personal belongings in the car, and avoids the loading/unloading risks associated with carrier transport. Auto shipping keeps miles off the odometer. The best choice depends on your vehicle, your timeline, and your priorities — and we're happy to help you figure out which option makes sense for your situation.
Get Your Free Car Delivery Quote — Most Customers Hear Back the Same Day
Tell us where your car is and where it needs to go. We'll send you a no-obligation, all-inclusive quote — usually within a few hours.
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