Donate a forklift when the warehouse no longer needs it

Where donated forklifts come from

Businesses closing or relocating, almost entirely. A manufacturer consolidates two plants and has three lifts too many. A distributor moves to a building with a leased fleet. A lumberyard replaces a rough-terrain unit. The lift works, it simply has nowhere to be, and the landlord wants the floor empty by a date.

Electric units bring a specific problem: a battery pack at the end of its life can cost more than the lift is worth, which makes a private sale awkward and honest disclosure important. We accept those and price them realistically rather than pretending otherwise.

Loaded from the dock or the yard

Warehouse forklifts are loaded onto a tilt-deck or step-deck, usually straight off a loading dock, which is the simplest possible pickup. Rough-terrain and large-capacity units go on a lowboy. Electric units travel with the battery in place unless it is unserviceable. Giving Center books and pays for transport.

Tell us the capacity, whether it drives and lifts, whether the mast leaks down under load, and how a truck reaches the building. If the lift is inside a building with a low door or a tight turn, mention it so the right equipment comes.

What decides what a forklift brings

• Capacity, with 5,000 pound units the easiest part of the market to sell into.
• Hours and mast condition, including whether it holds a load without drifting down.
• Fuel type. Propane sells widely; diesel suits outdoor work; electric depends almost entirely on the battery.
• Battery age on electric units, which can swing the value more than the hours do.
• Mast configuration. Triple-stage and free-lift masts, side shift and fork positioners all add value.
• Tires and leaks, the cheap items a buyer notices first.

The paperwork, and what you can deduct

Machines in this class are not titled in any state, which is normal rather than a problem. A manufacturer's statement of origin, a bill of sale matched to the serial plate, or a fleet or farm asset record establishes ownership. Where nothing survives, a notarized affidavit of ownership with the serial number is accepted by most buyers and auction houses. Financed units need a lien release, which we help you request.

Your deduction is the gross sale proceeds once Giving Center sells it, on Form 1098-C. Items in this class often sell below $500, in which case you may deduct the lesser of fair market value or $500. Above $500 you file Form 8283 Section A; above $5,000 the IRS requires a qualified appraisal you obtain and pay for. We tell you which to expect before pickup. Full detail on the tax benefits page.

Makes and models we accept

Forklifts are bought on brand, capacity and fuel type.

• Warehouse and industrial: Toyota 8 and 9 series, Hyster, Yale, Crown, Clark, Mitsubishi and Cat Lift Trucks, Nissan and UniCarriers, Komatsu, Doosan, Hyundai, Linde, Raymond reach trucks.
• Rough-terrain and specialty: Taylor, Sellick, Case and Gradall rough-terrain, Combilift, Moffett truck-mounted, Hoist, Svetruck, Kalmar.
• Electric and narrow-aisle: Crown RR and SP, Raymond, Yale NR, Toyota 7BNCU, Big Joe and Blue Giant walkies.

Manufacturer names appear here so you can find your own machine. No manufacturer sponsors, endorses or is affiliated with this program.