SelectDrive vs Auto Driveaway: an honest comparison
Last updated: June 2026
SelectDrive and Auto Driveaway are both driveaway services: a professional drives your operable car to its destination instead of loading it on a trailer. The difference is structure. Auto Driveaway is a large national network that dispatches a driver from a pool and leans toward fleet and dealer customers. SelectDrive is owner-operated, so the same named driver, Dan Ketelsen, handles your move from pickup to delivery, with flat published pricing and live GPS.
If you have looked at Auto Driveaway and wondered whether a smaller, owner-run service would treat your single car with more personal attention, this page lays out the real differences. Both are legitimate driveaway models; they simply fit different customers.
What Auto Driveaway is
Auto Driveaway has operated since 1952 and is the best known name in the driveaway category, headquartered in the Chicago area. It offers both driven transport and trailer transport, runs a national footprint of locations, and in September 2024 it consolidated its former franchise locations under single corporate leadership. Its public site emphasizes corporate fleets, dealerships, auctions, and fleet-management customers, and it also accepts individuals. Pricing is quote-based, requested by form or phone, with no published rates as of mid-2026. These facts come from Auto Driveaway's own materials and trade-press coverage of its 2024 franchise consolidation.
| SelectDrive | Auto Driveaway | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Owner-operated driveaway, one named driver | National driveaway network, driver dispatched from a pool |
| Who drives your car | Dan Ketelsen, every job, start to finish | An assigned network driver |
| Primary customer | Individuals and families moving one car | Fleets, dealers, auctions, plus individuals |
| Pricing | Flat 0.75 USD per mile, 500 USD minimum, itemized up front | Quote-based, no published rates (as of mid-2026) |
| Tracking | Live GPS on every job, plus photo inspection | Online order portal and tracking tools; fleet-manager app |
| Pets and belongings | Allowed when they fit | Not advertised for individual moves |
| Also offers trailer transport | No, driveaway only | Yes, driven or trucked |
| Reach | Lower 48, many lanes from the Des Moines hub | National network, US and Canada |
Where Auto Driveaway fits
Auto Driveaway is a strong choice when scale is the priority. If you are a dealership or fleet manager moving many vehicles, need a national network with both driven and trailered options, or want add-on services like titling, licensing, and reconditioning, a large established company with locations across the country and a deep driver pool is built for exactly that. For high-volume business relocation, that infrastructure is a real advantage that a single owner-operator cannot match.
Why customers pick SelectDrive
For a single operable car, the things that matter most are usually accountability and clarity, and that is where an owner-operator wins. With SelectDrive you always get Dan, not a driver you will never meet. The price is flat and published, 0.75 USD per mile with a 500 USD minimum and every line itemized, so there is no quote-only black box. You get live GPS on the whole trip, photo documentation at pickup and delivery, and you can send a pet or packed belongings that fit in the car. One person is responsible from the moment your keys change hands to the moment they are handed back.
The honest trade-offs
Because SelectDrive is one driver, capacity and scheduling are finite, so booking ahead matters, especially in peak snowbird and moving seasons. Like any driveaway service, including Auto Driveaway's driven option, the route distance is added to your odometer, and your car must be safely operable. If you need a fleet moved next week or want the car trailered so no miles are added, a national network or a trailer carrier is the better tool, and we will say so.
Frequently asked questions
Is Auto Driveaway the same as SelectDrive?
Both are driveaway services, meaning a professional drives your operable car on its own wheels rather than trailering it. The difference is structure. Auto Driveaway is a large national company, founded in 1952, that dispatches a driver from a pool and leans toward fleet and dealer customers. SelectDrive is owner-operated, so the same named driver handles your job start to finish.
Does Auto Driveaway publish its prices?
As of mid-2026 Auto Driveaway's pricing is quote-based, requested by form or phone, with no published rates on its site. SelectDrive publishes a flat rate of 0.75 USD per mile with a 500 USD minimum, itemized up front.
Does Auto Driveaway only serve businesses?
Auto Driveaway serves corporate fleets, dealerships, and auctions, and also takes individual customers. Its public site emphasizes business and fleet services. SelectDrive is built first for individuals and families moving a single car.
Which driveaway service is better for one car?
For a single operable car where you want one accountable driver, transparent flat pricing, and live GPS, an owner-operated service like SelectDrive is usually the simpler fit. For large fleets or many vehicles on tight national timelines, a network like Auto Driveaway has more drivers to dispatch.
Do both services track the car?
Auto Driveaway offers an online order portal and tracking tools, with a mobile app aimed at fleet managers. SelectDrive provides live GPS on every job plus photo documentation at pickup and delivery, with the driver reachable directly.
More comparisons
Moving one car and want one driver on it?
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