Driving across the USA

[KARL]

I am aware that at one time there was a possibility for tourists to ferry vehicles from probably somewhere like Detroit to the West coast - they in effect had a free car for such a journey so traveller and buyer (who saved on cost) were happy when the vehicle reached its destination. Mostly as I understood it, this was a case of new vehicles being delivered but there were also some used ones being delivered for people who were moving and flew to their new abode. Here is my question: Is there anything similar still going on and if so how does one link up with requests for ferry drivers and what are the typical terms (time available, costs, etc.) ?

[dzug]

http://www.autodriveaway.com/default.aspx

will give you the info you need

You are going to need to be very lucky to find a vehicle needing the journey you want to do at the time you want to do it.

And there's this snag <<Foreign travelers must bring a current Motor Vehicle Record from your home country>>. I'm not clear what that is for the UK - it's certainly not your licence, which is needed as well.

[KARL]

Thank you dzug, this is very helpful indeed - the idea is being mulled over well in advance of any travel date (even which year) being decided.

[Clanad]

Ummm... the service referenced in the precding link is only for those auto owners seeking delivery of their vehicle... any driver used by them would require a CDL (commercial driver's license) and a foreign driver would require a green card, since they are being paid for their services...

Having said that, one used to be able to call any of the rental car companies to see if they needed a one-way rental returned to it's station of origin. With the increase in size of those companies, the one-way retrieval probably isn't that much of a problem anymore... but you could always try...

[KARL]

A quick phone call has established that this concept is still going and foreigners can get involved. There are no payment implications or need for a green card (Clanad) because you do not get paid and an ordinary license is fine because only ordinary vehicles are involved, mostly used ones being moved about. Watch the online list of wanted trips/vehicle/where and phone up to discuss being the driver, so I was told. The driver's vehicle record is a USA document available from the equivalent of the DVLA, except that in the UK you cannot get any equivalent to state your offenses record (anything down to parking tickets).

[jno]

sounds like a great way to do it. Despite what everyone thinks, Americans are safe and courteous drivers - much more so than Brits - and the roads well kept (though freeway lanes in LA are rather narrow).

[Dee Sa]

the only drawback with this scheme is the car company tell you exactly how many days you have to get to the destination, you cannot take as long as u like, they will fine you quite heavily if you dont get there on time, can even report the car as stolen.
I think you have to put down a deposit [ by credit card] and it is returned to you on delivery at the destinion, they have some form of security before they entrust you with the car. Good Luck.