How to Purchase Donated Vehicles

More people are donating cars to benefit others and enjoy the tax benefits of getting a gently-used vehicle off their hands. Many of the vehicles can be surprising finds. Some are less than six years old, and others are in good to mint condition. If you take pains to be careful and do your homework, a lemon won't sour your experience and your financial standing!

Instructions

1. Check local car donation charities. There are many perks to this. The cars are checked by a certified mechanic. However, you may have to qualify to be a recipient. Each organization has separate guidelines. Check out the Donate A Car Website for a listing of charities near you where you can find a quality vehicle. You'll find the link in our Resources section.

2. Try your hand at a live auction. Many cars at auction are donated by local organizations and charities. There is usually a system by which to judge the condition of the vehicle. For example, green can mean that the motor and transmission is in good working order, but red can mean that a vehicle is sold as-is. Either way, make sure to inspect and test drive the vehicle with someone who knows cars before the auction. Don't bid first thing. Hang back. See how it's done.

3. Explore Internet marketplaces. This may sound scary at first, but eBay motors, for example, offers vehicle protection of up to fifty thousand dollars to provide recourse for those who are the victims of fraud. Interstate Auto Auction is another major online marketplace. Tread, but tread cautiously.

4. Try Goodwill. Many people think of Goodwill as a place to find vintage clothes or smaller goods, such as home furnishings. However, this large international organization also sells donated vehicles at local auctions and on the Internet. The organization sells its vehicles through both its Wheels-to-Work program (to help people get transportation to stay on the job) and outright through its auctions.

5. Explore Riteway Charity Services. Riteway is one of the country's largest car donation marketplaces. It also offers both live auctions, and it offers online auctions. The organization works with many non-profits, including the Salvation Army. It processes 1,200 to 1,500 vehicles a month. Check out its inventory at the Website listed below.

Tips & Warnings

• Know your rights. For example, if you are buying online and fraud protection is in place, read the exclusions beforehand. The protection may only cover some things, such as if the car you were sold had title issues, was stolen or never arrived in the first place.

Resources

• DonateACar -- America's car donation center, offering a listing of organizations that specialize in donated cars.
• eBay Motors -- listing of vehicles sold on eBay's online auction site
• Interstate Auto Auction -- Browse vehicle inventory, as well as online auction and tips for succeeding at an online auction
• Shop Goodwill -- Listing of donated vehicles available through Goodwill
• Riteway Charity Services -- One of the largest "car recyclers" in the country