‘Tis the Season: How to Donate Your Car

AD here

The holiday season is a great time to help others, and donating your car to a worthy cause can be a great way to aid those in need. Still, making a donation can be tricky if you want a reputable charity to make the most of your gift. Make sure you know how to donate your car, truck or SUV so that the charity you choose benefits as much as possible in the season of giving.

Find the Right Charity

You might want to consider giving your car to a worthy cause that directly accepts donated vehicles, which will help ensure that the charity gets the most money possible when your vehicle is sold for profit or parts. While it may seem easier to respond to vehicle donation ads that you see on television or hear on the radio, these commercials are often from for-profit organizations that act as middlemen between you and the charity, and they often keep some of the proceeds.
Even if your first charitable choice doesn’t accept vehicle donations, that doesn’t mean you should give up hope. Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau are resources that can help you find worthy organizations that accept vehicle donations in your area.
If you must use a for-profit agency to get your vehicle to a respected charity, call the agency and the charity to find out how much money will actually be donated. The proceeds that are donated are usually negotiated by the agency and the charity, so you should try to find one that donates the largest amount possible.

Make Sure It’s Tax-Deductible

In many cases, you can get a tax deduction by donating your car. However, to get a tax break, you need to make sure that you’re donating to an IRS-approved charitable organization. A common type of qualified charity is a 501(c)(3) public charity status organization. Churches, mosques, synagogues and temples often meet these requirements, but you can also find qualifying organizations by asking charities for copies of their federal tax-exempt status documents, or by searching the IRS website.

Deliver the Biggest Donation Possible

When a charity has to retrieve a donated vehicle from your house, it often must to pay someone to either tow it or pick it up. However, you can help reduce the charity’s expenses by dropping the car off yourself.

Do Your Paperwork

Whenever you donate a vehicle, you must transfer its title to the new owner; check with your state’s department of motor vehicles for information on how to do this. Remember that the charity will probably sell your car for proceeds, which could lead to problems if it’s still legally in your name and the new owner doesn’t register it. If you don’t completely transfer ownership of your vehicle, you could be held responsible for violations committed in the car after you donate it, such as parking tickets that aren’t yours.

Ad here