How to Donate Cars in the State of California
Donating a car is a great way to get a vehicle you don't want or need off your hands and to get a fairly hefty tax deduction for it. If you live in the state of California and want to donate your vehicle, you will need the title as proof you own the vehicle you're donating. Everything else can be taken care of for you.
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Instructions
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Choose a charity to donate your car to that's based in the state of California. Some sample charities in the state can be found at Donate Car 2 Charity, Donate Car For Charity and at Give Cars.
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Donate the car. Once you've contacted the charity and made your desires known, you'll need to answer some basic questions such as make, model, year and condition of the vehicle to see if it's acceptable. If it is, either let the charity come and pick up your car or drive it to the nearest charity location.
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Sign over the vehicle title. Once you've signed the title over to the charity, the car is no longer yours and has been officially donated. In California, car donations must be accompanied by a "Release of Liability" form, which can be obtained through the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Ask for a receipt as proof that you donated the car. You will need this if you plan to claim a tax writeoff for donating the vehicle.
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Tips & Warnings
The amount of tax deduction you claim depends on a lot of different factors, such as the worth of the car, which charity you gave it to and the category of charitable donation the car falls into. It's a good idea to consult a tax preparer or California state tax laws for an up-to-date ruling on what you can claim based on your car and choice of charity.
