diff --git a/cmd/minikube/cmd/config/util_test.go b/cmd/minikube/cmd/config/util_test.go
index 0815332033..cd05e88210 100644
--- a/cmd/minikube/cmd/config/util_test.go
+++ b/cmd/minikube/cmd/config/util_test.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/assets"
 	pkgConfig "k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/config"
+	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/constants"
 )
 
 var minikubeConfig = pkgConfig.MinikubeConfig{
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ func TestFindSetting(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSetString(t *testing.T) {
-	err := SetString(minikubeConfig, "vm-driver", "virtualbox")
+	err := SetString(minikubeConfig, "vm-driver", constants.DriverVirtualbox)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Couldnt set string: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
index b4b914b5b5..d7bc068da1 100644
--- a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
+++ b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
@@ -175,14 +175,7 @@ func runStart(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	console.OutStyle(console.Happy, "minikube %s on %s (%s)", version.GetVersion(), runtime.GOOS, runtime.GOARCH)
 	validateConfig()
 
-	currentUser, err := user.Current()
-
-	// Display warning if minikube is being started with root and vmDriver is not HyperV
-	if err != nil {
-		glog.Errorf("Error getting the current user: %v", err)
-	} else if currentUser.Name == "root" && !(viper.GetString(vmDriver) == "hyperv" || viper.GetString(vmDriver) == "none") {
-		console.OutStyle(console.WarningType, "Please don't run minikube as root or with 'sudo' privileges. It isn't necessary.")
-	}
+	validateUser()
 
 	oldConfig, err := cfg.Load()
 	if err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
@@ -231,11 +224,12 @@ func runStart(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	host, preexisting := startHost(m, config.MachineConfig)
 
 	ip := validateNetwork(host)
-	// Makes minikube node ip to bypass http(s) proxy. since it is local traffic.
+	// Bypass proxy for minikube's vm ip
 	err = proxy.ExcludeIP(ip)
 	if err != nil {
 		console.ErrStyle(console.FailureType, "Failed to set NO_PROXY Env. Please use `export NO_PROXY=$NO_PROXY,%s`.", ip)
 	}
+
 	// Save IP to configuration file for subsequent use
 	config.KubernetesConfig.NodeIP = ip
 	if err := saveConfig(config); err != nil {
@@ -364,6 +358,18 @@ func selectImageRepository(mirrorCountry string, k8sVersion string) (bool, strin
 	return false, fallback, nil
 }
 
+// validerUser validates minikube is run by the recommended user (privileged or regular)
+func validateUser() {
+	currentUser, err := user.Current()
+
+	// Display warning if minikube is being started with root and vmDriver is not HyperV
+	if err != nil {
+		glog.Errorf("Error getting the current user: %v", err)
+	} else if currentUser.Name == "root" && !(viper.GetString(vmDriver) == "hyperv" || viper.GetString(vmDriver) == "none") {
+		console.OutStyle(console.WarningType, "Please don't run minikube as root or with 'sudo' privileges. It isn't necessary.")
+	}
+}
+
 // validateConfig validates the supplied configuration against known bad combinations
 func validateConfig() {
 	diskSizeMB := pkgutil.CalculateDiskSizeInMB(viper.GetString(humanReadableDiskSize))
@@ -371,11 +377,11 @@ func validateConfig() {
 		exit.WithCode(exit.Config, "Requested disk size (%dMB) is less than minimum of %dMB", diskSizeMB, constants.MinimumDiskSizeMB)
 	}
 
-	if viper.GetBool(gpu) && viper.GetString(vmDriver) != "kvm2" {
-		exit.Usage("Sorry, the --gpu feature is currently only supported with --vm-driver=kvm2")
+	if viper.GetBool(gpu) && viper.GetString(vmDriver) != constants.DriverKvm2 {
+		exit.Usage("Sorry, the --gpu feature is currently only supported with --vm-driver=%s", constants.DriverKvm2)
 	}
-	if viper.GetBool(hidden) && viper.GetString(vmDriver) != "kvm2" {
-		exit.Usage("Sorry, the --hidden feature is currently only supported with --vm-driver=kvm2")
+	if viper.GetBool(hidden) && viper.GetString(vmDriver) != constants.DriverKvm2 {
+		exit.Usage("Sorry, the --hidden feature is currently only supported with --vm-driver=%s", constants.DriverKvm2)
 	}
 
 	err := autoSetOptions(viper.GetString(vmDriver))
diff --git a/pkg/drivers/hyperkit/driver.go b/pkg/drivers/hyperkit/driver.go
index 84b7a3815a..94a729d1f7 100644
--- a/pkg/drivers/hyperkit/driver.go
+++ b/pkg/drivers/hyperkit/driver.go
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func (d *Driver) Create() error {
 
 // DriverName returns the name of the driver
 func (d *Driver) DriverName() string {
-	return "hyperkit"
+	return constants.DriverHyperkit
 }
 
 // GetSSHHostname returns hostname for use with ssh
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ func (d *Driver) Start() error {
 	h.Memory = d.Memory
 	h.UUID = d.UUID
 	// This should stream logs from hyperkit, but doesn't seem to work.
-	logger := golog.New(os.Stderr, "hyperkit", golog.LstdFlags)
+	logger := golog.New(os.Stderr, constants.DriverHyperkit, golog.LstdFlags)
 	h.SetLogger(logger)
 
 	if vsockPorts, err := d.extractVSockPorts(); err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/drivers/kvm/kvm.go b/pkg/drivers/kvm/kvm.go
index 1a160900f8..4f2ccd3c2f 100644
--- a/pkg/drivers/kvm/kvm.go
+++ b/pkg/drivers/kvm/kvm.go
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ func (d *Driver) GetSSHHostname() (string, error) {
 
 // DriverName returns the name of the driver
 func (d *Driver) DriverName() string {
-	return "kvm2"
+	return constants.DriverKvm2
 }
 
 // Kill stops a host forcefully, including any containers that we are managing.
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/cluster/cluster.go b/pkg/minikube/cluster/cluster.go
index 40089d0f0b..7642204d13 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/cluster/cluster.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/cluster/cluster.go
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ func GetVMHostIP(host *host.Host) (net.IP, error) {
 	switch host.DriverName {
 	case "kvm":
 		return net.ParseIP("192.168.42.1"), nil
-	case "kvm2":
+	case constants.DriverKvm2:
 		return net.ParseIP("192.168.39.1"), nil
 	case "hyperv":
 		re := regexp.MustCompile(`"VSwitch": "(.*?)",`)
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ func GetVMHostIP(host *host.Host) (net.IP, error) {
 			return []byte{}, errors.Wrap(err, fmt.Sprintf("ip for interface (%s)", hypervVirtualSwitch))
 		}
 		return ip, nil
-	case "virtualbox":
+	case constants.DriverVirtualbox:
 		out, err := exec.Command(detectVBoxManageCmd(), "showvminfo", host.Name, "--machinereadable").Output()
 		if err != nil {
 			return []byte{}, errors.Wrap(err, "vboxmanage")
@@ -432,9 +432,9 @@ func GetVMHostIP(host *host.Host) (net.IP, error) {
 			return []byte{}, errors.Wrap(err, "Error getting VM/Host IP address")
 		}
 		return ip, nil
-	case "xhyve", "hyperkit":
+	case "xhyve", constants.DriverHyperkit:
 		return net.ParseIP("192.168.64.1"), nil
-	case "vmware":
+	case constants.DriverVmware:
 		vmIPString, err := host.Driver.GetIP()
 		if err != nil {
 			return []byte{}, errors.Wrap(err, "Error getting VM IP address")
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/constants/constants.go b/pkg/minikube/constants/constants.go
index 6690a0bf79..a01ab32af2 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/constants/constants.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/constants/constants.go
@@ -59,19 +59,37 @@ func ArchTag(hasTag bool) string {
 	return "-" + runtime.GOARCH + ":"
 }
 
+// DriverNone is the none driver.
+const DriverNone = "none"
+
+// DriverKvmOld is the old kvm driver option
+const DriverKvmOld = "kvm"
+
+// DriverKvm2 is the kvm2 driver option used in linux
+const DriverKvm2 = "kvm2"
+
+// DriverVirtualbox is the virtualbox driver option
+const DriverVirtualbox = "virtualbox"
+
+// DriverHyperkit is the hyperkit driver option for mac os
+const DriverHyperkit = "hyperkit"
+
+// DriverVmware is the hyperkit driver option for mac os
+const DriverVmware = "vmware"
+
 // SupportedVMDrivers is a list of supported drivers on all platforms. Currently
 // used in gendocs.
 var SupportedVMDrivers = [...]string{
-	"virtualbox",
+	DriverVirtualbox,
 	"parallels",
 	"vmwarefusion",
-	"kvm",
+	DriverKvmOld,
 	"xhyve",
 	"hyperv",
-	"hyperkit",
-	"kvm2",
-	"vmware",
-	"none",
+	DriverHyperkit,
+	DriverKvm2,
+	DriverVmware,
+	DriverNone,
 }
 
 // DefaultMinipath is the default Minikube path (under the home directory)
@@ -130,7 +148,7 @@ const (
 	// MinimumDiskSizeMB is the minimum disk image size, in megabytes
 	MinimumDiskSizeMB = 2000
 	// DefaultVMDriver is the default virtual machine driver name
-	DefaultVMDriver = "virtualbox"
+	DefaultVMDriver = DriverVirtualbox
 	// DefaultStatusFormat is the default format of a host
 	DefaultStatusFormat = `host: {{.Host}}
 kubelet: {{.Kubelet}}
@@ -235,9 +253,6 @@ func GetKubernetesReleaseURLSHA1(binaryName, version, osName, archName string) s
 // IsMinikubeChildProcess is the name of "is minikube child process" variable
 const IsMinikubeChildProcess = "IS_MINIKUBE_CHILD_PROCESS"
 
-// DriverNone is the none driver
-const DriverNone = "none"
-
 // FileScheme is the file scheme
 const FileScheme = "file"
 
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/drivers/hyperkit/driver.go b/pkg/minikube/drivers/hyperkit/driver.go
index 849fd6c52d..f848598ae4 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/drivers/hyperkit/driver.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/drivers/hyperkit/driver.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import (
 
 func init() {
 	if err := registry.Register(registry.DriverDef{
-		Name:          "hyperkit",
+		Name:          constants.DriverHyperkit,
 		Builtin:       false,
 		ConfigCreator: createHyperkitHost,
 	}); err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/drivers/kvm2/driver.go b/pkg/minikube/drivers/kvm2/driver.go
index 787b3739ad..93395611a8 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/drivers/kvm2/driver.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/drivers/kvm2/driver.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import (
 
 func init() {
 	if err := registry.Register(registry.DriverDef{
-		Name:          "kvm2",
+		Name:          constants.DriverKvm2,
 		Builtin:       false,
 		ConfigCreator: createKVM2Host,
 	}); err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/drivers/virtualbox/driver.go b/pkg/minikube/drivers/virtualbox/driver.go
index 8886377ee1..1a1c50d6c1 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/drivers/virtualbox/driver.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/drivers/virtualbox/driver.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ const defaultVirtualboxNicType = "virtio"
 
 func init() {
 	err := registry.Register(registry.DriverDef{
-		Name:          "virtualbox",
+		Name:          constants.DriverVirtualbox,
 		Builtin:       true,
 		ConfigCreator: createVirtualboxHost,
 		DriverCreator: func() drivers.Driver {
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/drivers/vmware/driver.go b/pkg/minikube/drivers/vmware/driver.go
index 44e958d3f3..0538079a54 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/drivers/vmware/driver.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/drivers/vmware/driver.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import (
 
 func init() {
 	err := registry.Register(registry.DriverDef{
-		Name:          "vmware",
+		Name:          constants.DriverVmware,
 		Builtin:       false,
 		ConfigCreator: createVMwareHost,
 	})
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/machine/client_test.go b/pkg/minikube/machine/client_test.go
index 06fed6d801..3a8e2d3451 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/machine/client_test.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/machine/client_test.go
@@ -76,12 +76,12 @@ func TestLocalClientNewHost(t *testing.T) {
 	}{
 		{
 			description: "host vbox correct",
-			driver:      "virtualbox",
+			driver:      constants.DriverVirtualbox,
 			rawDriver:   []byte(vboxConfig),
 		},
 		{
 			description: "host vbox incorrect",
-			driver:      "virtualbox",
+			driver:      constants.DriverVirtualbox,
 			rawDriver:   []byte("?"),
 			err:         true,
 		},
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ func TestRunDriver(t *testing.T) {
 	defer os.RemoveAll(tempDir)
 
 	os.Setenv(localbinary.PluginEnvKey, localbinary.PluginEnvVal)
-	os.Setenv(localbinary.PluginEnvDriverName, "virtualbox")
+	os.Setenv(localbinary.PluginEnvDriverName, constants.DriverVirtualbox)
 
 	// Capture stdout and reset it later.
 	old := os.Stdout
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/tunnel/tunnel.go b/pkg/minikube/tunnel/tunnel.go
index d60b063f87..6c06ca2c7a 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/tunnel/tunnel.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/tunnel/tunnel.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	typed_core "k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes/typed/core/v1"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/config"
+	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/constants"
 )
 
 //tunnel represents the basic API for a tunnel: periodically the state of the tunnel
@@ -149,7 +150,7 @@ func setupRoute(t *tunnel, h *host.Host) {
 			return
 		}
 
-		if h.DriverName == "hyperkit" {
+		if h.DriverName == constants.DriverHyperkit {
 			//the virtio-net interface acts up with ip tunnels :(
 			setupBridge(t)
 			if t.status.RouteError != nil {