Car donations
Donate a car and be finished with it this week
The second car nobody drives. The one your daughter left behind when she moved. The sedan that would cost more to repair than it is worth. Tell us about it today and in most cases it is gone within a few business days, with the paperwork following on its own.
- Free towing anywhere in the country, scheduled around you.
- Title transfer and DMV notification handled by Giving Center.
- Form 1098-C within 30 days of sale, stating the figure you deduct.
Rather talk to a person? Call (888) 228-7320.
Whatever is keeping you from selling it, there is a page for it
The awkward situations are the ones we handle most often. Start with the one that sounds like yours.
Not on the list? We also accept sedans and coupes of any make, cars with failed emissions tests, cars with a stolen catalytic converter, high-mileage commuters, and second and third cars nobody drives any more. Running or not. Related: a car that does not run, collector cars, donate vs. sell.
The reasons people donate instead of selling
Almost nobody donates a car because selling it was going well. They donate because a listing brought three lowball offers and one no-show, because the car sits at a parent's house four states away, because it failed inspection and the repair quote was more than the car is worth, or because a lease return, a new purchase or a move left them with one car too many.
Selling privately means photographing it, answering messages, meeting strangers, and handling a title transfer yourself, all while the car keeps costing insurance and registration. A dealer will take it, but a trade-in allowance on an old car is often a few hundred dollars. Donating hands the entire job to Giving Center: we tow it, sell it, notify the state, and send you the tax document. The car leaves and the obligation leaves with it.
Towing is free, nationwide, and does not require you to be there
A licensed driver comes to wherever the car sits: your driveway, a street space, an apartment garage, a storage lot, a repair shop that is holding it, or a relative's property. It does not need to start, the tires can be flat, and it can be parked in a way that needs a winch.
Most pickups are scheduled within a few business days of your form, in a window you choose. If you cannot be present, we can arrange pickup with a neighbor, a landlord, a shop manager or a family member, provided the signed title and keys are available. You receive a written receipt at pickup before the car is loaded.
What we can accept, and when we will tell you not to bother
Running or not, any year, any make, damaged or clean, with or without current registration. Cars that will not start, cars with failed transmissions, cars with body damage, cars that have not moved in a decade: all of these have a market, either to a buyer who will repair them or to one who wants the parts.
There is one case where we will talk you out of it. If a car is genuinely at scrap value and sits far from any buyer, the tow can consume everything the sale brings. Every cost falls on Giving Center the moment the car is turned over, so a donation that loses money helps nobody. In that situation we will tell you plainly that a local yard will likely pay you cash, and that donating that cash is welcome and receipted. See cars that do not run.
Every make, and the year and mileage matter more than the badge
We accept any make. What actually moves the sale is the year, the mileage, whether it runs and whether the title is clean, so lead with those on the form. The make is how buyers search, which is why it is worth naming.
- Domestic: Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Buick, Cadillac, Lincoln, and the discontinued Pontiac, Saturn, Oldsmobile, Mercury and Plymouth.
- Import volume brands: Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Volvo.
- Luxury and performance: BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, Genesis, Porsche, Land Rover, Jaguar, Mini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo.
- Hybrid and electric: Toyota Prius and RAV4 Hybrid, Honda Insight, Ford Escape and Fusion Hybrid, Chevrolet Volt and Bolt, Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S, 3, X and Y, Hyundai Ioniq, Kia Niro and EV6, BMW i3.
Not seeing yours? The list above is a search aid, not a restriction. We accept any make or model in this category, named here or not, including orphan brands and builders long out of business. What decides a donation is the condition and the paperwork, never the badge, so put yours on the form even if it is not listed.
Manufacturer names appear here so you can find your own vehicle. No manufacturer sponsors, endorses or is affiliated with this program.
What you can actually deduct for a donated car
The rules come from the IRS, not from us, and they depend on what happens to the car after pickup.
| Your situation | What you deduct | Paperwork |
|---|---|---|
| Giving Center sells the car, which is what happens to most donations | The gross sale proceeds | Form 1098-C from Giving Center, attached to your return |
| The car sells for under $500, common for older and non-running cars | The lesser of fair market value or $500 | Written acknowledgment from Giving Center |
| The car sells for $500 to $5,000 | Gross proceeds | Form 1098-C plus Form 8283 Section A |
| The car sells for more than $5,000 | Gross proceeds, and the IRS requires a qualified appraisal you obtain | Form 1098-C plus Form 8283 Section B, signed by your appraiser and by Giving Center |
| Giving Center makes significant use of the car, materially improves it, or transfers it below market to a person in need | Fair market value | Form 1098-C with the use, improvement or transfer certified |
Giving Center does not provide tax, legal or financial advice. Donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law. See IRS Publication 526, Publication 561 and Publication 4303, and consult a tax professional.
The title, the plates and the notification
You sign the title over at pickup, in the seller or transferor section. If you cannot find it, most states issue a duplicate to the registered owner in one to four weeks; our state title rules page has the process for yours. If a lien was paid off years ago but never released, the lender can issue a lien release letter.
Remove your plates unless your state requires them to stay with the car, then cancel the registration and notify your insurer. Giving Center files the transfer notification so the car stops being your liability, but canceling your own insurance is a step only you can take.
What raises what your car brings at sale
- Runs and drives. The single biggest factor. A car that can be driven onto the trailer sells to a wider pool.
- Mileage and year. Lower mileage on a common model means a retail buyer rather than a wholesale one.
- Body and interior. Straight panels, no rust through, intact glass and seats.
- Records and keys. Two keys and a service history are worth real money.
- Tires and brakes. The first items any buyer prices in.
- Clean title. Salvage and rebuilt titles sell for less but are still accepted.
Car donation questions, answered plainly
More in the full FAQ, or read what happens to your vehicle after pickup.
How fast can you pick up my car?
Usually within a few business days of your form or call, in a window you pick. Same-week pickup is normal; dense cities and remote areas occasionally take a few days longer. We give you the timeline before anything is booked.
Do I have to be home when the tow truck comes?
No. You need the signed title and the keys available, which can be left with a neighbor, a landlord, a repair shop or a family member. The driver leaves a written receipt.
Does the car have to run?
No. Non-running cars are accepted and towed at no cost to you. If the car is at scrap value and a long way from a buyer, we will tell you honestly that the tow may consume the proceeds, and what your alternatives are.
Can I donate a car that is not in my name?
Only if you have the legal authority to transfer it. An executor with letters testamentary can donate an estate vehicle; a family member cannot donate a car titled to someone else. Call us and we will tell you what your state needs.
What if I still owe money on it?
A lien has to be released before the vehicle can be sold. If you still owe on it, call us before you do anything. On higher-value items we can sometimes coordinate the payoff with your lender, and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth doing. See lien-encumbered vehicles.
Is my donation tax deductible?
Yes, if you itemize. Giving Center is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3), EIN 92-1162407. What you deduct depends on the sale, as the table above sets out. Standard-deduction filers should know that a vehicle donation will not reduce their federal tax.
Tell us about the car
Year, make, model and where it is parked. That is enough to schedule a tow and tell you what to expect.
Part of vehicle donations. Related: truck donations · collector cars · tax benefits