Des Moines and Iowa car driveaway planning

Last updated: July 26, 2026

Planning status as of July 26, 2026: SelectDrive is accepting route details for planning estimates only while its federal interstate operating authority is pending. No interstate for-hire move will start until the required operating authority is granted and active, and the specific trip has current insurance, vehicle, driver, and signed agreement approvals. A pet that travels well may accompany the vehicle it belongs to, and ordinary belongings that fit safely below the window line may be accommodated, but both require advance disclosure and written approval in the trip agreement. Approval is separate from the price estimate and is never automatic. These accommodations are incidental to delivering the vehicle. SelectDrive does not offer household goods moving, standalone goods delivery, or standalone pet transport. No person may ever travel in the vehicle.

A real Iowa driver, not an out-of-state broker

Many companies advertising on local car-shipping searches are national brokers. Dan lives in the Des Moines metro and is building SelectDrive around local route knowledge and direct customer contact. If service is activated, the planned model will not use an open load board, and each signed agreement will name the approved driver before pickup.

Areas in the Des Moines planning region

SelectDrive accepts nonbinding route-planning requests involving the Des Moines metro and the rest of Iowa, including:

• Des Moines, West Des Moines, and Clive
• Ankeny, Urbandale, Johnston, and Grimes
• Waukee, Adel, and Norwalk
• Altoona, Pleasant Hill, and Bondurant
• Ames, and the wider central Iowa corridor

Planning requests may also involve Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, the Quad Cities and Davenport, Council Bluffs, Sioux City, and Cedar Falls. A planning request is not a booking, and it does not establish that service is legally available for an intrastate or interstate route.

Des Moines is a natural Midwest hub

Sitting where Interstate 80 meets Interstate 35, the Des Moines area is a practical base for possible driveaway routes in every direction: east to Chicago and the coast, south to Texas and Florida, and west to Denver, Phoenix, and the Pacific. A future approved written quote would identify route-positioning travel from the Des Moines base.

Common lanes from Iowa

• Des Moines to Denver, about 680 miles
• Des Moines to Phoenix, about 1,450 miles
• Iowa to Texas (Des Moines to Dallas about 720 miles)
• Iowa to Florida, about 1,500 miles
• Chicago to Florida, a nearby Midwest snowbird lane

Who may find the planning useful

• Snowbirds sending a car to Florida, Arizona, or Texas for the winter
• Families relocating to or from the Des Moines metro
• Buyers who purchased a car out of state and need it driven home
• Students and parents moving a vehicle to or from campus
• Military families comparing a private CONUS option after checking their orders

Any future approved trip would require a signed agreement that identifies the driver and trip terms. Before pickup, the specific trip would also need current insurance, vehicle, and driver approvals. A pet that travels well and ordinary belongings secured safely below the window line may accompany the vehicle only after advance disclosure and written approval in that trip agreement. Contents approval is separate from the estimate, never automatic, and applies only as an incidental part of delivering the vehicle, not standalone pet or goods transport. No person may travel in the vehicle. See the current vehicle contents policy.

Military PCS and POV moves

Your orders and installation transportation office determine whether a POV shipment or personally arranged expense is authorized. SelectDrive cannot determine eligibility or promise reimbursement. After you confirm those rules, use the military PCS car transport guide to evaluate whether a future approved driveaway could fit, then compare driveaway with driving it yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Is SelectDrive based in Des Moines?

Yes. SelectDrive is owned from the Des Moines, Iowa metro by Dan Ketelsen, its owner and primary planning contact. Interstate transportation is not active while required operating authority is pending.

What areas is SelectDrive planning for from Iowa?

SelectDrive accepts planning requests involving the Des Moines metro, the rest of Iowa, and possible routes across the lower 48. This does not mean a route is available or approved.

What is the Des Moines driveaway planning cost model?

The illustrative model bills driver pay at $450 per day in half-day increments, with a one-day minimum. It adds gas fuel where applicable, tolls, lodging, insurance surcharge, and itemized positioning travel. Electric charging is billed at documented actual cost with receipts. It is not a booking quote. Use the cost calculator for preliminary route planning.