How Do Auto Driveaway Services Work?

1. Other Driveaway Services & Vehicle Preparation
2. Preparing Your Vehicle For Pick Up
3. Auto Driveaway Resources

Auto driveaway services are a form of auto shipping in which another driver picks up your vehicle and drives it to the location you need it delivered to. The end result is similar to other types of car transport with the main difference being that the vehicle is driven rather than put on a transport truck. What this means, of course, is that all the miles between where your car is and where you want it to be delivered will show up on your odometer. It also means that there is a possibility of mechanical issues when using driveaway services, which can add to the total cost.

There are, however, several advantages to using driveaway services. Since there is no need for loading or unloading vehicles on a transport truck, or hauling several cars at once on a carrier, the delivery times are much quicker for driveaway transport. Where a standard transport carrier with several vehicles on it may be able to travel 300 miles or more in a day, hiring a driver means a much greater distance can be covered in the same amount of time.

Another advantage is the cost of delivery. Driveaway and truckaway services are a far more affordable method of auto transport. This is mainly the case because many of the costs that are associated with standard car shipping do not apply to driveaway shipment. Things like the cost of a transport truck, fuel, driver pay, dispatching, and logistics all contribute to the cost of transporting a vehicle. With a driveaway service, you only pay for the fuel and a minimal charge for the drive time. (If there is a mechanical issue during delivery that is not the fault of the driver, that is covered by the owner. For at-fault issues, companies that provide driveaway services have insurance in place to cover damages.)

Do you have questions about or are you considering using auto driveaway services? Whether you just have some questions, or are planning a trip and need a FREE estimate, contact us today to learn more about what we offer and how we can help! Call or email any time!

Other Driveaway Services & Vehicle Preparation

All the services available for standard car shipping also apply to auto transport driveaway. For example, the majority of driveaway services are for shorter distance—500 miles or less—but the option to use the service for longer distance is also available. Similarly, door to door delivery is also an option and easier to accommodate when it comes to shipping to a specific address in a residential neighborhood. (Due to the size of auto transport carriers, traditional shipment requires more room to maneuver during drop off.)

There are some types of vehicles, of course, that can’t be moved using driveaway services. Things like heavy equipment and certain oversize vehicles that are not designed to be driven long distances shouldn’t be shipped using the driveaway process.

Preparing Your Vehicle For Pick Up

The preparations you’ll need to undertake before your vehicle is picked up are minimal and they’re no different from what you’d do if your car was shipped on a transport truck. The basics include things like making sure it’s cleaned inside and out, which includes removing any personal items from the inside of the vehicle.

There is some leeway with things like modifications and other external components, but in most cases, they should also be removed if nonpermanent. If there is any existing cosmetic damage to the vehicle, you should document that on the contract so you have something to reference when the vehicle is dropped off. This way, you’ll be able to make sure that no damages have occurred during the delivery process.

For more information about the process of vehicle preparation, see the resources section below.

Auto Driveaway Resources

• Preparing Your Vehicle For Driveaway - Our guide for preparing your vehicle to be shipped, or in this case, driven. There are some aspects of driveaway that are slightly different (for example the acceptable level of fuel), but most of it applies equally to both.
• Car Maintenance Tips - Keeping your car in good running condition is always important and it’s a good idea to run a check up before using driveaway services. These tips will help ensure that everything is good working order from pick up to drop off.