How to Donate Your Vehicle to a Non-profit

You can donate your vehicle to non-profits and charities such as the American Lung Foundation and the National Kidney Foundation.
Donating your car, truck, RV, motorcycle or any other type of vehicle to a non-profit can be tax deductible.
Most vehicles are accepted at places such as the American Lung Association.
The process to donate your vehicle is not difficult. Just place a call to the non-profit and the organization requests your vehicle information. Then, they will arrange for a volunteer to pick up the vehicle. Plus, there is no charge for pick up or towing.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a vehicle to donate

1. **Contact a non-profit organization**
   
   Find a non-profit to donate to. Seek organizations through online resources or by asking family and friends for their recommendations of places that you can donate your vehicle to. Donating to such organizations as the Kidney Foundation or the American Lung Association, can be rewarding. These organizations have Donate-A-Car programs. Donating your vehicle to a non-profit gives you the opportunity to file the donation on your taxes for a tax write off.

2. 
    

   **Provide a vehicle title**
   
   If you are calling a nationwide organization, all you need to do is let the representative know the make and model of the vehicle. The only thing that you will need to have ready when it is time for pick up is your vehicle title.

3. **Schedule a time for pick up**
   
   Once you have provided the organization's representative with pertinent information about your vehicle, schedule a time for pick up. A local volunteer is usually available to transport vehicles. When scheduling a day and time, make sure it is a time that is convenient for you. Allow at least a thirty-minute window of time for during the pick up time. For instance if you choose 5 p.m. as a pick up time allow at least until 5:30 p.m. for pick-up in case of a mix up in directions to your residence.

4. **Remove personal effects**
   
   Remove any personal effects from the vehicle before the volunteer picks up the vehicle. Clean the interior of the vehicle. From my experience, it is best to do this before they arrive.

5. 
    

   **Obtain paperwork**
   
   Get the paperwork that proves you donated to the organization. You will need this documentation later for when you file your taxes. Make sure that the volunteer gives you this before he tows the vehicle away.
   This paperwork information will detail your name as the donor, the odometer reading, and brief tax information along with the vehicle make, model and year.

6. 
    

   **Contact the commissioner of revenue**
   
   Make sure that you call your local commissioner of revenue so that they can take that car off your personal property tax records. Let them know ahead of time that you are donating your vehicle, to avoid being charged with future personal property taxes.

7. 
    

   **Contact DMV**
   
   Contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles and tell a representative about your donation so that your records can be updated.

Tips & Warnings

• If there is anything mechanically wrong with the vehicle, let the organization or volunteer know. There knowledge of such mechanical defects will help them determine which parts to use in your vehicle.
• Make sure that you remove your vehicle tags and turn them in at the DMV.

[1InternetSmarty]

on 1/1/2010 Great idea! Thanks for the info. Five stars.

[smoot27ryan]

on 12/31/2009 good article

[rakhib]

on 12/28/2009 gr8 post..5* and a recc

[SarahV]

on 12/6/2009 Thanks for the tips! We might do this soon.

[makaksa]

on 11/23/2009 Good to know information on donating a vehicle to a non-profit.