What is a vehicle relocation? How it works in North America
Rental companies across North America need vehicles driven to another city. Take one there for $1 a day or free.
Rental companies across the US regularly end up with vehicles parked in one city while customers are waiting for them in another. A vehicle relocation is how those vehicles get back to where they're needed: you drive one there, and the rental costs $1 a day or free.
Most travelers book a relocation for a cheap road trip, but relocations also work if you're moving to a new city, heading off for seasonal work or going to see family. A deal this good can raise eyebrows, so it helps to understand how it works before you request one. This guide explains why relocations exist, what you'll pay, who can drive and how to book on Transfercar, plus what it's like to travel on a fixed route with a return deadline.
A vehicle relocation is a one-way rental of a car, campervan or RV that the rental company needs in another city. Rather than paying staff or a transport company to move it, the company lets a traveler drive it there for $1 a day or free, within a set number of days. You cover gas and any other costs along the way.
WHY RELOCATIONS EXIST
Why rental companies relocate vehicles
Travelers don't always return a rental vehicle to the city they picked it up from. Take Las Vegas to Los Angeles as an example. If several travelers pick up rental vehicles in Las Vegas and drop them off in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles branch ends up with more vehicles than it can rent out, while Las Vegas runs short of them.
Rental companies can put the vehicles on a truck, pay drivers to move them, or let travelers take them. The third option costs the least, and it's the reason relocation deals exist.
HOW IT WORKS
How does a vehicle relocation work?
Every relocation comes with a handful of conditions set by the rental company:
- Pickup and drop-off locations. Usually a rental branch in or near each city. The listing shows the general area of each branch.
- A date window. A range of dates for the trip. You choose your own pickup and drop-off dates inside it.
- Included days. Always enough to complete the drive, sometimes with a little extra.
- Miles. Either a set mileage allowance for the trip or unlimited miles, depending on the deal.
- A bond. You pay it at pickup, and the rental company refunds it once the vehicle is back in good condition.
Within those limits, the trip is yours to plan. Choose where to stop, where to camp or stay, and how long to spend in each place, as long as the vehicle arrives on time.
Most relocations run between cities in the United States, and routes in Canada come up from time to time.
COSTS
What a vehicle relocation actually costs
The daily rate is only one part of the total. Here's what to budget for on a typical relocation in the US.
| Cost | How much |
|---|---|
| Daily rental rate | $1 a day or free |
| Booking fee | $0 with Transfercar |
| Bond | Varies by deal; the amount is on every listing. |
| Gas | Paid by the driver. |
| Tolls, parking and campgrounds | Paid by the driver, if you use them. |
REQUIREMENTS
Who can drive a relocation vehicle?
Driver requirements are set by each rental company and shown on the listing. Most of the time, you'll need:
- A valid, full driver's license
- To meet the rental company's minimum age, shown on the listing
- A credit card in the driver's name
- A free Transfercar account
A standard driver's license covers cars and most campervans and RVs. Class B and Class C motorhomes can generally be driven on a standard driver's license in all 50 states. Some states ask for a special license only for much larger vehicles, such as those over 26,000 pounds.
Visiting from abroad? The rules for foreign licenses vary by state, and you may need an International Driving Permit as well as your license. Get the permit in your home country before you travel, and check the listing for any extra requirements from the rental company.
STEP BY STEP
How to book a relocation with Transfercar
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Search your route
Enter your pickup and drop-off cities, or explore every relocation on the map. To hear about new deals on a route, set up an alert.
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Read the deal
Look over the date window, included days, miles and branch areas, then open the policy tab for the bond amount and cancellation terms.
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Send your request
You'll need a credit card to send a request. If more than one relocation matches the same route and dates, requesting several of them boosts your chances. Any request can be withdrawn until the rental company confirms it.
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Wait for confirmation
The rental company looks through its requests and chooses who drives. If you've requested other relocations for the same dates and locations, those are canceled automatically once one is confirmed. Requests for other trips on different dates, like a return leg, stay active.
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Pick up and drive
Hand over the bond at the rental counter, collect the keys and hit the road. Return the vehicle by the deadline, and the bond comes back to you as long as there's no damage.
Each rental company chooses its own drivers; Transfercar doesn't. When several deals cover the same route and dates, requesting more than one is the easiest way to improve your odds.
VEHICLES
Cars, campervans and RVs: what you can relocate
The vehicles on offer depend on what rental companies need to move at the time. A relocation can be:
Cars
A simple way to get between cities.
Campervans
Compact enough for city streets, with a bed inside.
RVs
More room, a kitchen and often a bathroom for longer trips.
Campervan and RV relocations are popular with couples, families and groups because the vehicle doubles as a place to sleep. Each listing shows exactly what kind of vehicle you'll be driving.
Is a vehicle relocation right for your trip?
Relocations are best for trips that can work around the vehicle's schedule.
A great fit if
- Your travel dates can shift by a few days
- You're traveling one way
- You're fine with driving most days
- You want a rental vehicle without paying regular rental rates
Less suited if
- You need a specific vehicle on fixed dates months in advance
- You're planning a round trip
- You'd rather decide for yourself how many days the trip takes
New relocations are published every week, and many go up close to the pickup date. Set a route alert to hear about new deals as soon as they're listed.
WHY TRANSFERCAR
Why book your relocation through Transfercar
Finding your first relocation
With a relocation, you give up some flexibility and get a rental that costs almost nothing. Stick to the route and the drop-off deadline, and the vehicle is yours for $1 a day or free, with gas and a refundable bond as the main expenses. Transfercar doesn't add a booking fee. For one-way travel with some give in your dates, few options cost less.
Or set an alert for your route and get the next deal straight to your inbox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a vehicle relocation really free?
Often, yes. The price is $1 a day or free, and the more urgently a vehicle has to move, the more likely it's free. Gas, campgrounds, tolls and parking are on you, and the rental company holds a refundable bond. Transfercar adds no booking fee on top.
Does Transfercar charge a booking fee?
No. Transfercar doesn't charge a booking fee on any relocation in the US or Canada. Some other relocation websites do add one. On Transfercar, the price shown on the deal is what you pay for the rental.
How much is the bond on a relocation?
It varies by deal. The rental company sets the bond and lists it in the policy tab of each listing, so you'll know the amount before you request. You pay it to the rental company at pickup, as with any rental, and get it back when the vehicle is returned undamaged.
What is a campervan relocation?
It's a relocation where the vehicle is a campervan. A rental company wants the van moved to another city, and you take it there within the days allowed, paying $1 a day or nothing at all. Because the van has a bed, it handles both your transportation and your accommodation.
Who pays for fuel on a relocation?
You do. Gas isn't included in US relocations, so budget for it along with the rest of the trip. The listing explains the fuel policy for each vehicle, including how full the tank should be at drop-off, so check it before you request.
How far in advance are relocations listed?
Most relocations are listed a few days to a few weeks before pickup, and new deals are published every week. Rental companies only know where they need vehicles once their bookings firm up. Setting a route alert is the easiest way to catch a new deal as soon as it's listed.
Can I take passengers on a relocation?
Yes, up to the number of seat belts in the vehicle. Anyone who'll take a turn driving must be on the rental agreement and meet the same age and license requirements as you. Some rental companies charge a small daily fee for each additional driver, and the deal shows it.
Do I need insurance for a relocation?
The rental company's standard insurance covers the vehicle, just like on a regular rental. Your bond acts as the deductible, so the rental company can keep part or all of it if the vehicle is damaged. Some rental companies offer extra coverage to lower the deductible, for an added cost.
Can I cancel a relocation after it's confirmed?
Yes, though canceling after the rental company confirms means paying a cancellation fee. Each deal's policy tab shows the amount up front. Before confirmation, withdrawing a request is free, so you can switch to another date or deal.
Is Transfercar legit?
Yes. Transfercar has been running vehicle relocations since 2008, with marketplaces in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil and Argentina as well as North America. In the US, rental companies list their own vehicles on the site, and you sign the rental agreement with them and pay them the bond at pickup. There's no booking fee.