Table of contents
Quick answer
In a driveaway, a hired driver drives your car to its destination instead of trucking it. Federal rules treat it as a driveaway-towaway operation, where the vehicle itself is the freight. It suits motorhomes, box trucks and fleet vehicles that don't fit a car carrier, and moves where you need the car sooner than a truck can manage. The trade-off is real mileage and wear on your car, plus insurance questions you must settle in writing before you hand over the keys.
What a driveaway actually is
That definition is the useful part: your car is cargo that happens to move on its own wheels. A driveaway company holds the operating authority, assigns a driver, and takes responsibility for the vehicle in transit, the same way a carrier does when it loads a car onto a trailer.
- One driver, one vehicle, direct to the destination.
- No loading ramps, so height, length and weight matter far less.
- The odometer climbs by the length of the trip.
When it beats a car carrier
Vehicles that don't fit
Motorhomes, box trucks, ambulances and buses can't ride on a car carrier.
Fleet and dealer moves
Several vehicles between sites, where trucking each one is slower and dearer.
Tight timing
A direct drive can beat waiting for a truck that fits your route.
Remote ends
Places a full-size carrier struggles to reach at all.
For an ordinary car on a common route, a carrier is usually the better deal: the car arrives with no extra miles, and one truck spreads its costs over seven to ten vehicles.
The trade-offs to weigh
| Item | Driveaway | Car carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Miles added | The whole trip | None |
| Wear | Tires, brakes, fluids, the engine | Loading and unloading only |
| Vehicle size | Almost anything that drives | Must fit the trailer |
| Who's behind the wheel | A stranger, for days | Nobody: the car is strapped down |
| Typical use | Motorhomes, trucks, fleets, urgent moves | Cars, SUVs, motorcycles, non-runners |
Miles added
- Driveaway
- The whole trip
- Car carrier
- None
Wear
- Driveaway
- Tires, brakes, fluids, the engine
- Car carrier
- Loading and unloading only
Vehicle size
- Driveaway
- Almost anything that drives
- Car carrier
- Must fit the trailer
Who's behind the wheel
- Driveaway
- A stranger, for days
- Car carrier
- Nobody: the car is strapped down
Typical use
- Driveaway
- Motorhomes, trucks, fleets, urgent moves
- Car carrier
- Cars, SUVs, motorcycles, non-runners
What you're actually paying for
A driveaway quote is mostly a person's time, and the parts people forget are at the ends of the trip. Ask how each of these is handled before you compare two quotes, because one company's “all-in” is another's “plus expenses”.
- The driver's hours, including any overnight stops the route forces.
- Fuel, and whether you pay it directly, reimburse receipts or it's included.
- Tolls, ferries and any permits for an oversized vehicle.
- Getting the driver home again, which on a one-way move is a flight or a bus.
- Waiting time if the vehicle isn't ready when the driver arrives.
Then add what the trip costs your vehicle: fuel is visible, but tires, brakes, fluids and a service interval arriving early are real money too. On an ordinary car those add up to more than people expect, which is the main reason carriers win for cars and driveaway wins for vehicles that can't ride on a truck.
Checking a driveaway company
- Look up the authorityAsk for the USDOT number and check the operating status and insurance on file.
- Ask who the driver isName, license check, and whether the driver is an employee or a contractor.
- Agree the route and the clockExpected days, overnight stops, and what happens if the vehicle breaks down.
- Record the conditionPhotograph the vehicle and the odometer at handover, and do the same on arrival.
- Write down the moneyFuel, tolls, the driver's travel home and what's included in the quoted price.
Frequently asked questions
What is a driveaway service?
A company supplies a driver who drives your vehicle to its destination, with the vehicle itself as the freight. Federal rules call this a driveaway-towaway operation, and the company needs operating authority and insurance just like a trucking carrier.
How much mileage will it add?
Roughly the distance between the two addresses, plus a little for detours and fuel stops. If added miles would hurt the vehicle's value, such as on a low-mileage collector car, choose a carrier instead.
Who insures the car during a driveaway?
It depends on the company and your own policy. Reputable driveaway companies carry coverage for vehicles in their care and will show you the certificate; your insurer also needs to confirm what happens while someone else drives your car for hire.
Is driveaway cheaper than shipping?
Sometimes for large vehicles that can't ride on a trailer, and rarely for ordinary cars. Nobody publishes reliable national driveaway rates, so get written quotes for your exact vehicle and route and compare them with carrier quotes.
Can I use a driveaway for a motorhome or box truck?
Yes, and this is the classic use. Vehicles that are too tall, long or heavy for a car carrier are regularly moved by hired drivers, sometimes with a tow bar behind them.
What if the driver gets a ticket?
Agree in advance, in writing, who pays fines, tolls and any towing. Without that, a citation issued to the vehicle can land on the registered owner: you.
Sources
Written and reviewed by the Haulwide editorial team. Editorial policy
