Question 1

What Can I Donate?

Accepted Answer

We accept cars, trucks, vans, fleet vehicles, trailers, boats, motorcycles, and RVs. Your donated vehicle can be a car, truck, van, motorcycle, RV or boat with trailer. We also accept real estate.

Question 2

What Is Required To Donate My Car?

Accepted Answer

We need basic information about your car. Some of what we ask for includes: your contact information, the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), year/make/model/color of the vehicle, address of the vehicle, if the car is running or not, and if you have the title in your possession. Your signed title is required at time of pickup, as well as the car key. If you have lost your car title, please call us toll-free at (866) 392-4483 and we can give you instructions on what to do based on your state.

Question 3

Is My Car Donation Tax-Deductible?

Accepted Answer

Our charities are non-profit organizations and a vehicle donation on their behalf is completely tax-deductible for taxpayers that itemize. Individual tax situations may vary so please check with your tax professional. (Please be aware that to qualify for a tax deduction, you must not receive, in exchange, any goods and/or services from the 501 (C)(3) nonprofit organization receiving your car donation.)

Question 4

How Is The Tax Deduction Amount On A Car Donation Determined?

Accepted Answer

The amount of the tax deduction is based on the sale price of your vehicle. Vehicles that sell for over $500 entitle you to a deduction equal to the sale price. If your vehicle sells below $500 you may take the greater amount of either the sale price, or the fair market value of the vehicle (up to a maximum of $500). This means that in most cases, your minimum tax deduction amount will be $500.nnYou should consult your tax professional if you have further questions. (Please be aware that to qualify for a tax deduction, you must not receive, in exchange, any goods and / or services from the 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization receiving your donation.)

Question 5

Can You Estimate What The Sale Price For My Car Will Be?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we can give you an estimate, but will need the basic information requested on our donation form. We are upfront and transparent about pricing for your vehicle, and will have a conversation with you prior to assigning the vehicle to be picked up.

Question 6

How Will The Car Be Picked Up?

Accepted Answer

You will be contacted by a licensed and insured towing company. They will arrange for pickup at a mutually acceptable time. We strive for you to be contacted by a tower within 24 hours of the vehicle being assigned.

Question 7

How Should I Prepare For The Vehicle Pick Up?

Accepted Answer

Remove all personal belongings.

Question 8

Are There Restrictions On Where You Will Pick Up?

Accepted Answer

We pick up from almost any location in all 50 states. However, if your vehicle is in a remote location we might not be able to get a buyer for your vehicle, due to the cost of towing from a remote location being higher than the sale’s price of that vehicle. We always exhaust all our vendor resources in trying to assist our customers who live in a remote area.

Question 9

Must A Car Be Operational When I Donate It?

Accepted Answer

No. Vehicles do not have to be running in order to be accepted for donation.

Question 10

What Happens To My Donated Car?

Accepted Answer

Your vehicle will be picked up and sold to either a licensed car dealer or a licensed vehicle recycler.

Question 11

Do You Take Older Cars?

Accepted Answer

The short answer is yes, we do. A car is defined as older if it is more than 10 years old. If you are concerned about what your older car will sell for, please see the question “Can you estimate what the sale price for my car will be?”.

Question 12

Do You Accept Boats And RV’s?

Accepted Answer

Yes we do! However, we suggest the donor either drive them to our Auction Facility, or pay for the tow. Unfortunately, towing these types of vehicles can be cost prohibitive at auction.

Question 13

Shopping Around? Please Do.

Accepted Answer

We are confident that we utilize business practices that are as honest and transparent as any company in this business. Are we perfect? No. But, we are constantly making improvements. If you are shopping around, be sure to ask at least a few questions:nnWhat percentage of the sale of my car will go to the non-profit?nIf a company tells you 100% of the sale’s dollars goes to the non-profit, that person is misinformed. Neither the auction company, nor the tower, volunteer their services.nCan you give me a sales price estimate for my car?nOf course they can!nWhat is that company’s advertising budget?nSome donation companies literally spend millions of dollars on advertising, instead of channeling those funds to nonprofits.nIs the donation company its own nonprofit? If so, why?nMany of these companies are their own nonprofit. You can easily pull up a recent IRS 990 filing to get a better idea of how their vehicle donation money is spent.

Question 14

How Does Donate For Charity Work With My Favorite Nonprofit?

Accepted Answer

Donate For Charity is under contract with your favorite nonprofit, and are their authorized agent for selling cars. We ensure that your nonprofit gets the maximum amount from your vehicle donation proceeds by individually managing the sale of every vehicle at one of numerous auction locations throughout the country.nnYour selected charity will receive 70% of the net proceeds from the sale of your car, depending on the sale amount (the percentage increases as the sale amount increases). Non profits are paid at the beginning of every month, for vehicles sold the previous month.

Question 15

How Do I Donate My Car?

Accepted Answer

It’s simple. Either call our toll-free number (866) 392-4483 or click on the link to our car donation form. You will need to provide us with the year, make, model and approximate mileage of your vehicle.nnIn addition, you will need the vehicle identification number (VIN) which is a 17-digit number found on your registration, title or insurance policy. It can also be found on your car, near the base of the windshield, usually the left-hand side.

Question 16

What Do Other Donors Have To Say About The Program?

Accepted Answer

Please view these YouTube Testimonials  Donor Video Testimonials

Donate a vehicle to support
California

Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery

Side by Side

Nature Collective

San Francisco Suicide Prevention

San Francisco Women Against Rape

San Mateo-Foster City Community Education Foundation

San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church

Sacred Heart Community Service

Reasons To Believe

Rebuilding Together East Bay-North

Rebuilding Together Oakland East Bay

Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley

Reading To Kids

Peninsula Open Space Trust

Pacific Autism Center For Education

Pacific Diversified Services

Pathways for Kids

Pathways of Hope

Novato Foundation for Public Education

Oakland Museum of California

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