They call him the Driver. By day he's a movie stuntman, by night he makes some extra money as a hired driver for criminal gangs. He doesn't care what the job is that night, he races through the night with police cars in the back. Shannon is Driver's mentor and manager, trying to match him up with film directors and thieves willing to pay good money for him. Shannon plans to buy a car in which Driver can compete in professional races. He suggests that Bernie Rose, a local rich man with questionable sources of income, become the investor. Lonely and deeply conflicted about his double life, Driver's life is completely changed by a chance meeting with his neighbour Irene, with whom he spends more and more time. But everything changes when Irene's husband Standard is released from prison. The Driver arranges one last robbery with him, which will allow Standard to pay off the debt for which he is being blackmailed by gangsters. But it turns out to be a set-up. Things start to get complicated and to protect himself and Irene, the Driver must do what he does best – step on the gas properly.