How to Donate Your Old Car to a Charity

Sometimes it can be very difficult for the owner of a used car to sell it when it's time to replace it. Sometimes the car owner needs to be able to save receipts for tax deductions. You may need the space in your garage or carport more than you need the car. There are many charities in the United States and elsewhere who are desperate for any funds they can get. Donating your used car can solve all these problems, and it's very easy to do. Here's a quick tutorial.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• The title to the car you wish to donate
• A telephone
• The internet
• A car you no longer need

1. Make sure you own the car you want to donate. If you are still making payments on it, you don't own it yet and can't legally donate it. Also, if your name is not on the title, you must contact the Department of Motor Vehicles and have the title changed so it has your name on it. You may own the car jointly with someone else and his or her name is also on the title, in which case, both of you need to be involved to sign off the car to the new owner. If you own the car but don't have the title to it, it is easy to get a copy from the Department of Motor Vehicles, though there will be a fee, and it may take a few weeks to get it. You can't donate a car without a title.

2. Once you have the title in hand, go to a car donation site on the internet, such as http://www.donatecarusa.com, which will give you a selection of different charities which accept donations, or to the website of the charity of your choice, if you already have one in mind. Any charity which accepts donated cars will have a link on its website to at least one car donation agency.

3. On most car donation websites, you have the option of filling out all the paperwork online or talking to a live operator. In any case, once you've made contact with the car donation website, they take it from there and walk you through the whole process.

4. Once you've set a time and place for the charity to come and pick up your car, all you have to do is wait, and be there to hand over the title and the keys to the car. After that, your car will be towed away to an auction site, where it will be sold to the highest bidder and the charity you chose will get the funds. Congratulations!

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have the car keys, or if the car doesn't run, it's still possible to donate the car. Let the donation people know ahead of time so they can plan accordingly.
• It's a good idea to remove all personal items from the car before the donation people show up, and to give it a good cleaning.
• Here are a few telephone numbers for popular car donation agencies: [phone], [phone], [phone], [phone].
• If your car title has your name AND someone else's name, you need that other person to sign the paperwork and be involved in the donation process. If the title had your name OR someone else's name, it's perfectly legal for you to be the only name on the paperwork.

Resources

• Donate a Car in the U.S.A.
• Donate Your Old Car
• The California D.M.V.

[psychonurse]

on 8/30/2009 Well written explanation, with details. 5*****
(Good to see you back!!)

[2besure]

on 8/27/2009 Glad to see you are still writing great articles!