Off-road vehicle donations
Donate an off-road machine that stopped getting used
Kids grow up, land gets sold, knees stop cooperating, and the four-wheeler sits in the barn with a flat tire and an old battery. Off-road machines have strong demand and often no title, which makes people assume they cannot be donated. Usually they can.
- Loaded onto a trailer at our expense, from a barn, a garage or a field.
- Most off-road machines have no title, and that is normal.
- Running or not, single machines or a collection.
Know the make and model? Call (888) 228-7320.
Which machine do you have
These sell to different buyers in different seasons, and what matters about each one differs.
Not on the list? We also accept pit bikes, trials bikes, rock crawlers and buggies on truck frames, sand dragsters, utility carts and burden carriers, and the trailers these machines ride on. Most of these have no title at all, which is normal and not a problem. Related: motorcycle donations, motorcycle and ATV trailers, state title rules.
Why these machines end up idle
Off-road vehicles are bought for a place and a stage of life. The place gets sold, the kids move out, the riding area closes, or riding itself stops being a good idea. The machine keeps its value surprisingly well and keeps taking up space just as well.
Selling privately is harder than it looks: buyers want to ride it before they commit, cash deals on a machine with no title make people nervous, and a decade-old quad that will not start reads as a gamble. Giving Center takes it as it is, loads it onto a trailer, and finds the buyer who is looking for exactly that machine.
Picked up wherever it has been parked
Everything in this category travels on a trailer or in a truck. A machine that runs is loaded under its own power; one that does not is winched or pushed on. Barns, pole buildings, back pastures, storage units and garages are all normal pickups. Giving Center arranges and pays for the transport.
Tell us whether the tires hold air, whether the battery is dead, and how a truck and trailer can reach the building. If you have the trailer it sits on and want it gone too, add it to the form; trailers are welcome and add to the sale.
Every make, and most of these have no title at all
Off-road machines are brand-driven and usually have no title, which is normal. What we need is the VIN or serial number off the frame and a bill of sale.
- Side-by-sides and UTVs: Polaris RZR, Ranger and General, Can-Am Maverick, Defender and Commander, Honda Pioneer and Talon, Yamaha Wolverine, Viking and Rhino, Kawasaki Mule and Teryx, Arctic Cat and Textron, CFMoto, Kubota RTV, John Deere Gator.
- ATVs and quads: Honda Rancher, Foreman and TRX, Polaris Sportsman and Scrambler, Yamaha Grizzly, Kodiak and Raptor, Can-Am Outlander and Renegade, Suzuki KingQuad, Kawasaki Brute Force, and the older three-wheelers.
- Dirt and trail bikes: Honda CRF and XR, Yamaha YZ, TT-R and PW, Kawasaki KX and KLX, Suzuki RM and DR-Z, KTM SX and EXC, Husqvarna, GasGas, Beta, Sherco, and Coleman, Baja and Taotao mini bikes.
- Snow and tracked: Ski-Doo, Polaris, Arctic Cat and Yamaha snowmobiles, Timbersled and Camso snow bike kits, Argo, Sherp, Tucker Sno-Cat, Prinoth.
- Golf carts and LSVs: Club Car, E-Z-GO, Yamaha, ICON, Bintelli, Star EV, Cushman, Tomberlin.
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 deduct for an off-road vehicle
Values here span a wide range, from a non-running youth quad to a late-model side-by-side.
| Your situation | What you deduct | Paperwork |
|---|---|---|
| Giving Center sells the machine, as is typical | The gross sale proceeds | Form 1098-C from Giving Center |
| The machine sells for under $500, common for older and non-running units | The lesser of fair market value or $500 | Written acknowledgment from Giving Center |
| Proceeds are $500 to $5,000, the usual outcome for a running ATV or sled | Gross proceeds | Form 1098-C plus Form 8283 Section A |
| Proceeds exceed $5,000, common for late-model side-by-sides | 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 |
| You donate several machines at once | Each is documented separately | One acknowledgment or 1098-C per machine |
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.
No title is normal here
Most states never title off-road machines, or title only those registered for road use. Ownership is established by a bill of sale, the original purchase paperwork, an off-highway registration or decal, or a notarized affidavit of ownership with the VIN or frame number. Any one of those generally lets us proceed.
Some states do title UTVs and street-legal machines; our state title rules page says which. If the machine was financed and the loan is long paid off, no release is usually needed, but tell us if a lien might still be on record.
What raises what these bring
- Runs and moves. The biggest single factor, and easy to test before we arrive.
- Hours and model year. Late-model four-stroke machines have the widest demand.
- Four-wheel drive and power steering on ATVs and UTVs.
- Tracks, skis and belt condition on snowmobiles; carbides and studs help.
- Plastics and frame. Cracked plastics are cosmetic; a bent frame is not.
- Season. Sleds sell best in autumn, quads and side-by-sides in spring. We will tell you if waiting a few weeks would clearly help.
Off-road vehicle donation questions
More in the full FAQ.
I never had a title for my ATV. Can I donate it?
In most states, yes. A bill of sale, the original purchase paperwork, an OHV registration or a notarized affidavit of ownership with the VIN is normally enough. We will tell you which your state accepts.
Do you take machines that will not start?
Yes. Many need only a battery, fresh fuel and a carburettor clean. Tell us how long it has sat and where it was stored.
Will you take a golf cart?
Yes. Both gas and electric carts are accepted; for electric, tell us the battery age, because a fresh pack makes a substantial difference.
Can I donate a machine and the trailer it sits on?
Yes, and it makes the pickup easier. The trailer adds to the sale and is documented alongside the machine.
What about youth quads and go-karts?
Accepted, though they usually sell below $500, which caps the deduction at the lesser of fair market value or $500. We will say so up front.
Do you take dirt bikes with no lights or registration?
Yes. Off-road-only machines are the norm in this category and are sold that way.
Tell us what is in the barn
Make, model, whether it runs and where it sits. Photos of the machine and the VIN plate speed everything up.
Part of vehicle donations. Related: motorcycles · trailers · farm and ag equipment