Passenger van donation
Donate a passenger van that no longer fills up
Passenger vans come out of service when the group they carried changes. A church van, a shuttle, a team bus, a day program vehicle. The van is often mechanically sound and cosmetically tired, and there are buyers who want exactly that.
Where donated passenger vans come from
Churches, schools, camps and nonprofits. A 15-passenger van is bought for a program and the program changes, the insurance gets expensive, or a newer van replaces it.
Hotels, care facilities and shuttle operators send vans on a mileage cycle. Those tend to have high miles and consistent maintenance, which is a good combination for resale.
We also see wheelchair-accessible vans with lifts and ramps. Those sell to a specific and grateful buyer pool, and the conversion is worth noting on the form because it raises the value rather than lowering it.
Driven or towed, both arranged
A running registered van gets driven. A van that does not run gets towed. Towing a van is inexpensive, so a non-runner is usually still worth doing.
Tell us whether it starts, rolls and steers. Vans that have sat for two or three years typically need a jump, a set of tires or both, and that is normal.
Clear out the interior. Vans accumulate more left-behind property than any other vehicle type we accept, and anything still in it goes with the sale.
What decides what a passenger van brings
- Seating configuration. A full 15-passenger layout, a 12-passenger, or seats removed for cargo. All three sell, to different buyers.
- Mileage and engine. These vans run high miles. A known-good engine at 200,000 miles is a normal and saleable proposition here.
- Accessibility conversion. A working wheelchair lift or ramp with tie-downs adds real value and widens the market.
- Rust and roof condition. Rocker and wheel-arch rust on an older van, plus any roof leaks around a raised roof or a rooftop unit.
- Records. Fleet maintenance records are worth sending. On a high-mileage van they change the conversation.
Makes and bodies we accept
Vans are shopped by make, seating count and engine.
- Full-size: Ford Transit and E-150 through E-450, Chevrolet Express 2500 and 3500, GMC Savana, Ram ProMaster, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Nissan NV1500 through NV3500.
- Shuttle and small bus bodies on van chassis: Starcraft, Glaval, Champion, Turtle Top, Collins, Elkhart Coach, Goshen, Federal Coach.
- Accessibility conversions: Braun Ability, VMI, Rollx, El Dorado, Ricon and Braun lifts, Q'Straint tie-down systems.
Manufacturer names appear here so you can find your own vehicle. No manufacturer sponsors, endorses or is affiliated with this program.
The paperwork, and what you can deduct
It is a titled vehicle, so the title has to transfer. If it is lost, most states have a duplicate process and the state title rules page walks through yours. If it was financed, we need the lien release. A company-owned vehicle needs whoever signs to have authority to sign for the entity.
Giving Center sells the van and your deduction is the gross sale proceeds on Form 1098-C. Most passenger vans land between $500 and $5,000, where you file Form 8283 Section A and no appraisal is required. A low-mileage van or one with a good accessibility conversion can clear $5,000, and above that line the IRS requires a qualified appraisal at your expense.
If the van belongs to a church or a nonprofit rather than an individual, the paperwork runs to the organization and whoever signs needs authority to sign for it. Your board may also want a resolution on file; that is between you and your own records, but it is worth checking before the pickup.
Passenger van donation questions
Our church van has 240,000 miles. Is it worth anything?
Often yes. High mileage is normal in this category and buyers price for it. A van that runs and drives has a market.
Do you take wheelchair-accessible vans?
Yes, and the conversion usually raises the value. Tell us the lift or ramp maker and whether it works.
What if the seats were removed?
Still fine. A cargo-converted van sells to a different buyer. Tell us the current configuration and whether the seats go with it.
Will you take one that does not run?
Usually. Towing a van is cheap enough that the math works in most places. Tell us whether it rolls and steers.
The van is titled to our nonprofit. Anything different?
Only that whoever signs has to have authority to sign for the organization. Otherwise the process is the same.
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.