🚗 Free car rental? 😱 Yes, please 🙏

🚗What is vehicle relocation?

Normally when you hire a car, you pick it up and drop it off in the same place. If you want to return it to a different city or country, you’ll usually have to cough up a hefty fee – known as a one-way rental charge.

But here’s the thing: car rental companies still need to move their vehicles back to the original location. And that’s where vehicle relocation comes in.

Instead of paying staff to do it, they offer the job to travellers – often for free or a tiny fee. Sometimes they’ll even throw in perks like insurance, fuel, or a ferry ticket if you’re travelling between an island and the mainland.

It’s basically a free ride (with a few strings), and it helps the rental company out too. Win-win!

🔹 Europe

Vehicle relocations are becoming more common across Europe, especially in countries with busy travel networks and strong infrastructure. You’ll often find routes between big cities or tourist hotspots. Here are some of the top regions:

France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria – loads of city-to-city routes like Paris–Lyon, Berlin–Munich, Rome–Milan

Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) – sometimes the deal even includes a ferry ticket

UK & Ireland – domestic routes across the UK, and sometimes to Ireland too

Poland – increasingly popular, with relocations for vans, cars and campers

🔎 Where to find these deals?

Here are some handy sites to check:

Driiveme – operates in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and more

Relocer.com – focused on relocations in Poland (cars, vans and campervans)

Imoova – big directory of camper, car and van relocations across multiple countries

🏴‍☠️ Pirate tip: These deals come and go fast, so if you see something that suits your dates and destination, snap it up!

🌍 Outside Europe

In some parts of the world, vehicle relocations are a big deal – and a go-to travel hack for backpackers and budget-conscious travellers. You’ll find loads of epic routes, and some of them even come with perks like free fuel or ferry tickets.

Here are some top destinations where relocation deals are really popular:

Australia – Classic road trips like Melbourne to Sydney or Brisbane to Cairns. You’ll often get a fully equipped campervan, and sometimes even fuel included

New Zealand – Well-trodden routes between the North and South Islands (like Auckland ↔ Christchurch), often with a ferry ticket included in the deal

USA & Canada – Loads of options on the West Coast (think LA to San Francisco), but also routes on the East Coast and across Canada

🔎 Wjere to look?

Transfercar

Imoova

🧭 What to watch out for?

Before you jump behind the wheel, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Time and distance limits – Most deals give you a set number of days (usually one to three) and a mileage cap. So you’ll need to plan your route and stick to it – no long detours!

What’s included? – Check the small print. Are fuel, insurance, toll fees or ferry crossings covered? Some are, some aren’t.

Vehicle type – It could be anything from a small hatchback to a massive campervan with a kitchen and a bed. Be ready for surprises (and maybe learn to reverse park a van, just in case…)

Deposit or small fee – Many are free, but some ask for a symbolic amount (like €1–10) or a refundable deposit to lock in the booking.

🏴‍☠️ Pirate tip: Read the terms carefully and take photos of the car before and after – just like with any hire.