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. 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.
Who Uses Driveaway? Snowbirds, Relocations, Fleet Managers, and More
Snowbirds — retirees who spend winters in Florida, Arizona, or the Southwest — are among the most frequent users. People relocating for work or family are another major group. Military families on PCS orders, college students moving home or to school, fleet managers, dealerships, and online car buyers all rely on driveaway services as well.
Driveaway vs. Auto Transport: Which Is Better for Your Car?
Auto transport loads your car onto a carrier truck 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 | Usually yes | Yes — always |
| Personal items in car | No (DOT regulations) | Very limited | Yes — within reason |
| Exposure to elements | Full exposure | Fully protected | Normal driving conditions |
| Loading/unloading damage risk | Some risk | Lower risk | None — never loaded onto anything |
| Adds mileage to vehicle | No | No | Yes — the driven route |
| Scheduling flexibility | Low | Low | High |
| Real-time tracking | Limited | Limited | Yes — GPS throughout |
| Best for | Budget moves, standard vehicles | High-value or exotic cars | Flexible timelines, seasonal moves |
When Driveaway Is the Smarter Choice
Driveaway tends to be the better fit when you need a tight timeline, want to move personal belongings inside the vehicle, need true door-to-door delivery, or want real-time GPS tracking throughout the trip.
When Auto Transport Makes More Sense
Auto transport is better if your vehicle is a ultra-low-mileage collector car where every mile matters, if the car is non-running, or if you're moving multiple vehicles at once and want to bundle them onto a single carrier.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire Someone to Drive Your Car Across Country?
Sample Pricing by Route
These ranges reflect standard sedan and SUV deliveries. Every Car Driveaway quote is all-inclusive — driver compensation, fuel, tolls, inspections, GPS tracking, and insurance coverage are all included.
Cost Per Mile
Shorter trips under 500 miles typically run $0.75 to $1.10 per mile. Regional trips from 500 to 1,500 miles fall in the $0.55 to $0.80 range. Cross-country deliveries over 1,500 miles often land between $0.40 and $0.65 per mile.
Hidden Costs to Watch for With Independent Drivers
If hiring outside a professional company, watch for fuel billed separately, toll reimbursements, overnight hotel costs, one-way airline tickets for the driver, and damage that isn't covered because the driver lacks adequate insurance.
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
Option 1: Hire a Vetted Driver Through a Professional Driveaway Company
A professional company handles everything: driver screening, insurance, logistics, inspections at both ends, and real-time tracking. You're protected if something goes wrong. Drivers are background-checked, approved, and matched to your vehicle type.
Option 2: Hire an Independent Driver Through a Gig Platform
Can be cheaper upfront, but you're responsible for verifying the driver yourself. There's no dispatch team, no GPS tracking, and no insurance safety net beyond whatever the driver personally carries.
Option 3: Ask a Friend or Family Member
Sometimes this works well — but it puts strain on the relationship if anything goes wrong. There's also no formal insurance arrangement and no vehicle inspection protocol.
For most people, a professional driveaway company offers the best balance of cost, convenience, and protection. You're getting insurance, accountability, vetted drivers, and a process refined over thousands of deliveries.
What to Look for When Choosing a Driveaway Company
Licensing and Insurance to Verify
Any company worth hiring should provide active USDOT registration and, if applicable, an MC number from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Ask about insurance coverage limits and their driver screening process.
Red Flags to Watch For
- They can't provide a USDOT or MC number when asked.
- They won't share details about insurance or driver screening.
- The quote is dramatically lower than every other company you've contacted.
- They ask for full payment upfront before any service is provided.
- No reviews, or reviews look fabricated.
- They can't explain what happens if your car is damaged.
- They pressure you to book immediately.
How We Vet Our Drivers: Background Checks, Insurance, and Screening Standards
Every Car Driveaway driver goes through a comprehensive criminal background check, a driving record review going back at least five years, identity and license verification, and a review of professional driving experience. Drivers with DUIs, reckless driving convictions, or patterns of moving violations are automatically disqualified.
Our approval rate is intentionally low. We'd rather turn away ten marginal applicants than put one unreliable driver behind the wheel of your car. When we assign a driver, we match based on vehicle type experience, route familiarity, and scheduling availability.
Step-by-Step: How to Book a Professional Driver Through Car Driveaway
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Request a Quote and Share Your Vehicle Details
Fill out our quote form with your vehicle details, pickup and delivery locations, and preferred timeline. You'll receive an all-inclusive quote typically within a few hours. No payment or commitment required.
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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 and confirm the pickup date and estimated delivery window.
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Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection and Handoff
On pickup day, you and the driver conduct a thorough walk-around inspection documenting the car's condition with photos and a written checklist. Both parties sign off before the trip begins.
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Real-Time GPS Tracking From Pickup to Delivery
You'll receive a tracking link when your driver departs and milestone updates at departure, midpoint, and arrival.
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Final Inspection and Delivery at Your Destination
You and the driver repeat the walk-around and compare it to the pre-trip documentation. Sign off and your car is ready to drive.
Insurance and Liability: What's Covered When Someone Else Drives Your Car?
Every Car Driveaway delivery is covered by our insurance policy for the full duration of transit — from pickup to delivery. This covers physical damage caused by accidents, collisions, and road incidents.
Before booking, contact your personal auto insurer and ask: "Am I covered if I hire a professional driver to deliver my car across state lines?" Get the answer in writing so you know exactly where you stand.
If your vehicle is damaged during delivery, the driver documents it immediately and contacts our dispatch team. We notify you right away and initiate the claims process. The pre-trip and post-trip inspections establish a clear before-and-after record that protects everyone.
Preparing Your Vehicle Before a Driveaway: Your Pre-Trip Checklist
- Engine oil is fresh or within its service interval.
- Tire pressure is correct 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 or squealing.
- All lights are working: headlights, taillights, turn signals, and brake lights.
- Battery is in good health.
- No active dashboard warning lights.
- Windshield wipers are functional and windshield is free of cracks.
What to Leave in the Car (and What to Remove)
You can leave practical items: clothing, shoes, non-perishable goods, books, small household items. Keep everything below the window line. Remove jewelry, important documents, electronics, prescription medications, and firearms. Our insurance covers your vehicle — not the contents inside it.
Documenting Your Vehicle's Condition Before Handoff
Take clear photos of every panel, bumper, and wheel, plus any existing damage. Note the odometer reading. Make sure any pre-existing scratches or chips are photographed and noted on the inspection form.
What Our Customers Say: Reviews From Real Car 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. 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.
Cross-Country Relocation Reviews
I relocated from Portland to Charlotte for work and needed my car there before I arrived. 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.
Used Car Driveaway to move my Accord from Boston to Denver during a job change. The car arrived in good shape and on schedule. I wished the quote process had been a bit faster — but once booked, everything went smoothly. I'd use them again.
Luxury and Specialty Vehicle Reviews
I needed my 911 moved from New Jersey to a storage facility in South Florida. Car Driveaway assigned a driver with 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. The car arrived exactly as described.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring Someone to Drive Your Car
Can I Leave Personal Belongings or Luggage in My Car During a Driveaway?
Yes. Most driveaway services, including Car Driveaway, allow you to leave personal belongings in your vehicle during transit. Keep items below the window line and remove anything irreplaceable or of high sentimental value. Our insurance covers your vehicle — not personal property inside it.
What Types of Vehicles Can a Driveaway Service Handle?
Professional driveaway services can handle nearly any drivable vehicle — sedans, SUVs, trucks, vans, luxury cars, classic vehicles, RVs, and motorcycles with the right driver. We match your vehicle type to a driver with specific experience handling that class of car.
How Long Does It Take to Deliver a Car Cross-Country?
A coast-to-coast driveaway typically takes 4 to 6 days depending on weather, route, and rest stops. Regional deliveries of 500 to 1,000 miles usually take 1 to 2 days. Our drivers follow DOT-compliant rest schedules and never rush a delivery at the expense of safety.
Is Driveaway Safe for Luxury, Classic, or Exotic Cars?
Yes — and for many owners of high-value vehicles, driveaway is preferable to an open carrier where the car is exposed to road debris and weather. Car Driveaway assigns specialty-vehicle-experienced drivers for luxury, classic, and exotic cars, and every trip is covered by our insurance policy.
How Is Fuel Handled — Do I Pay for Gas?
At Car Driveaway, fuel costs are included in your quote — no surprise charges at the end of your delivery. What you see is what you pay.
What Happens If My Car Breaks Down During Transit?
Your driver will pull over safely and contact our dispatch team immediately. We coordinate roadside assistance and keep you informed throughout. Disclose any pre-existing mechanical conditions before the trip so we can plan accordingly.
Can I Track My Vehicle While It's Being Driven?
Yes. Car Driveaway provides real-time GPS tracking on every delivery. You'll receive a tracking link when your driver departs and milestone updates at departure, midpoint, and arrival.
How Far in Advance Should I Book a Driveaway?
We recommend 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. We also accommodate last-minute requests when driver availability allows.
What's the Difference Between Driveaway and Auto Shipping?
With auto shipping, your car is loaded onto a carrier truck and hauled alongside other vehicles. With driveaway, a professional driver drives your vehicle door-to-door on its own tires. Driveaway is often faster, more flexible, and allows you to leave belongings in the car. Auto shipping keeps miles off the odometer.
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.
Request Your Free Quote