10. Be detail-oriented.

10. Be detail-oriented. This paper trail may seem cumbersome, but think about it: This may be one of the biggest charitable donations you ever make. By taking the time to dot the i’s, you can make sure that the charity gets the most benefit and you get the biggest possible deduction.

9. Keep a thorough paper trail.

9. Keep a thorough paper trail. If your donation is worth more than $500, you’ll have to attach IRS Form 8283 to your tax return. If it’s worth more than $5,000, your documentation must include an outside appraisal. You’ll also need proof of the donation, such as a receipt from the charity and a copy of the title change.

8. Know when you can report the fair market value.

8. Know when you can report the fair market value. You won’t need evidence of the sales price if the charity keeps the vehicle or vessel and uses it in its charitable work, or if your donation is worth less than $500. Then you can report its fair market value based on listings from Kelley Blue Book and similar sources.

7. Your estimate of the donation’s value probably won’t cut it.

7. Your estimate of the donation’s value probably won’t cut it. If your car or boat is worth more than $500, the IRS is going to want to see evidence of how much the charity got for it. (Most charities that accept these donations turn around and sell them for cash.) You’ll need to get a receipt from the charity revealing exactly how much money it made.

6. Transfer the vehicle with care.

6. Transfer the vehicle with care. Want to eliminate all risk of running up parking tickets and other violations after you’ve said goodbye to your donated vehicle? Then formally re-title the vehicle to the charity, and report the transfer to your state’s department of motor vehicles or licensing. Never agree to leave the ownership space on the charity donation papers blank.

5. Do the delivery yourself.

5. Do the delivery yourself. Once you’ve identified a worthy charity, recognize that it will have to pay someone to pick up your car or boat for you. To help the charity maximize the benefit of your donation, drop the car or boat off yourself.

4. Know the status of your recipient.

4. Know the status of your recipient. In order for you to qualify for a deduction, the charity that gets your donation must be an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) organization. Your church, synagogue, mosque or temple likely qualifies. (Check first just to make sure.) You also can visit the Internal Revenue Service’s Web site and search for Publication 78 to find other qualifying non-profit organizations. (Just type “78” into the search field on the IRS home page and you’ll be directed to the right publication.)

3. Check the math.

3. Check the math. If you still feel compelled to use an intermediary organization – possibly because you’re busy – at least ask the organization how much of the car or boat’s value will go to charity. If the organization simply gives charities flat fees — say, $100 for a used vehicle regardless of its value, or $2,000 a month — your donation may not be eligible for a tax deduction.

3. Check the math.

3. Check the math. If you still feel compelled to use an intermediary organization – possibly because you’re busy – at least ask the organization how much of the car or boat’s value will go to charity. If the organization simply gives charities flat fees — say, $100 for a used vehicle regardless of its value, or $2,000 a month — your donation may not be eligible for a tax deduction.

2. Find a worthy charity.

2. Find a worthy charity. If the charities you normally support aren’t equipped to accept such donations, do some homework until you find a reputable charity that is. You can research charities’ track records online at this Better Business Bureau siteand through Charity Navigator. 

1. Avoid middlemen.

1. Avoid middlemen. Numerous for-profit intermediary organizations advertise aggressively on TV, billboards and elsewhere, offering to help you donate your vehicle to charity. Here’s the catch: These organizations typically keep about 50 percent to 90 percent of the vehicle’s value for themselves, and the charities don’t get what they could have gotten. To prevent this, check directly with charities you admire and find out whether they accept car or boat donations.

How to donate a car or boat to charity

It sounds so simple: Donate your used vehicle or boat to charity, avoid the hassles associated with selling it, and score a tax deduction at the same time. Everybody wins, right?

Not necessarily. As the saying goes, the road to h-e-double-hockey-sticks is paved with good intentions, and it can be surprisingly easy to fumble this well-meaning act.

Before you hand one of your biggest assets over to anyone, read the following tips to be sure you’re making the right moves.

How car donations work

When you pledge your automobile donation, the Vehicle Donation Processing Center takes the donor information over the telephone, and handles all of the documents, vehicle donation pick up, charity auction sale and distribution of the proceeds to the charity. We guarantee payment of all expenses with your car donations. Donate a car to free yourself from the hassles of selling and give something to your community at the same time.

The Vehicle Donation Processing Center, Inc. is a processing agent for charities seeking automobile donations. Through our specialized program, we help citizens like you with your vehicle donation - including car donations, truck donations, trailer donations and boat donations - to any of our 501-C3 non-profit corporation charity clients. .

Check out How to Complete a Vehicle Donation to get started, or go straight to our Vehicle Donation Pick Up Form!

Looking to donate a car? Learn more about the donation process here.

Information for Donors

Car Donation Info
Frequently Asked Questions
Cash for Clunkers Program
Click Here to Donate Your Car!

Look here for more information about the Vehicle Donation Processing Center, Inc. (VDPC).

Information about the VDPC

Who is the Vehicle Donation Center?
Our Services to Charities
Press about the Vehicle Donation Center
Contact Us

Car Donation with Donate Car USA!

Car Donations are fast and easy with our charity vehicle donation program. Donate cars, trucks, vans, boats, planes, even lots and real estate. Choose a charity from more than 300 non-profit organizations. Your auto donation is as easy as a phone call or a simple online form. Call or click: 800-269-6814 or Donate Online.

When you make a charity car donation:

• Get free vehicle pick-up whether your car to donate is running or not.
• Avoid confusing Department of Motor Vehicles paperwork or Smog hassles.
• Qualify for an IRS tax deduction.
• Avoid all the headaches of selling a used car with car donations; no expensive want ads, no taking phone calls, no showing the car repeatedly, no price haggling...

Our charity car donation program

How much easier could car donations be? We make it simple and hassle-free to donate a car! Your vehicle donation helps support a charity of your choice in their vital work. People like you with cars to donate make a significant contribution to these organizations and the people they help. Your charity car donation helps these organizations substantially increase their contributions to the public good! If you are thinking about donating a car to charity, please see our list of charities accepting car donations.

Or if you know which charity you would like to contribute to go directly to a car donation application for that organization:

Donate Motorcycle - Receive A Fair Market Value Tax Deduction (In Many Cases)

Donate Motorcycle - Receive A Fair Market Value Tax Deduction (In Many Cases)

Donating a motorcycle or other vehicle is extremely simple. Donating to Online Car Donation also allows you to deduct the motorcycle value from your federal income tax. Why sell your motorcycle for a couple hundred dollars when you can gain much more by donating it to charity and helping someone in the US that truly needs a helping hand?

Donate motorcycles new and used for sale instead of trying to sell motorcycle yourself. Online Car Donation makes it easy to donate a motorcycle by make, model, location, and more. Instead of posting a Motorcycles for sale ad donate new motorcycle or a used motorcycle for sale honda motorcycle yamaha kawasaki motorcycles harley-davidson motorcycle Harley suzuki motorcycle bmw motorcycle donations

MOTORCYCLE DONATION - DONATE MOTORCYCLE TO CHARITY

• MOTORCYCLE DONATION BENEFITS

Donate motorcycle to Charity. Why would someone donate a motorcycle you ask? The answers are quite simple actually. First of all, if you have been trying to sell a motorcycle, you know how frustrating it can be. Constant no-shows, cheapskates, advertising costs and those midnight phone calls take a toll on your nerves. When you donate a motorcycle to charity, all of those headaches are eliminated.

Online Car Donation offers those wishing to make a motorcycle donation a fast and trouble-free way to positively contribute to our society while still allowing you to deduct the fair market value (in many cases). Just complete the motorcycle donation form below and we will schedule a time to pick up your motorcycle that is convenient to you. Call any time with questions you may have!

*Most motorcycles we get donated are completely restored to their former glory. We then use your motorcycle donation to help Online Car Donation and other charity organizations with their raffle needs.
We do not sell your motorcycle donation! Most Motorcycles are also entitled to a free vacation voucher!

Donate Motorcycle Through The Easy Bike Donation Form Below....

Or Call Us Toll Free (888)-228-7320 - Takes only 90 Seconds!
Want to Choose a Different type of Vehicle Donation? Go here for other Vehicle Donation
We Look Forward to Helping you with your Motorcycle Donation !

Donate Truck - We Strive To Get You A Fair Market Value Tax Deduction

Donate Truck - We Strive To Get You A Fair Market Value Tax Deduction

About the only truck that hasn't been donated would be a monster truck donation. I guess if Online Car Donation received that type of used truck donation we would need to partner with a truck accessory or truck part company because we would have to test drive it once a week to keep the engine working. Amazingly this really is the only type of truck donation we have not received. Over the years we have had fire trucks, tow trucks, moving trucks and even a dump truck. We have many partners in the industry that offer truck repair and donate truck tires to help us get the truck ready for the road again.

We have had a couple peterbilt and international truck donations and also a mack truck and volvo truck donated recently. You probably wonder what we do with such a big truck / semi truck. Depending on the condition of the truck donation we have the truck serviced and then donate to select individuals we have helped get truck driving jobs and a new start to a better life. Why waste your time posting trucks for sale ads? We make it easy for people to donate chevy truck, ford truck and dodge truck rather than listing the truck for sale in truck trader or through truck dealers and waste incalculable hours of your life. Commercial Truck Donation

TRUCK DONATION - DONATE TRUCKS TO CHARITY

• TRUCK DONATION BENEFITS - CHARITY CAR DONATION

Donate a truck to charity and support an extremely worthy cause. Your truck donation will go directly to helping families and organizations in need throughout the USA with their vehicle needs. You easily get rid of your old truck, enjoy a 2009 fair market value tax deduction (in many cases), plus you may be entitled to a free vacation!

Your truck donation entitles you to fast free towing and it does not matter if your truck no longer runs. We accept 99.9% of the truck donations offered to us nationwide! Why waste your time posting truck for sale ads? We make it easy for people to donate a truck rather than list the truck for sale in truck trader or through a truck dealer and waste countless hours of your life. Donate a truck - Act Now!

Donate A Truck Through The Charity Donation Form Below....

Or Call Us Toll Free (888)-228-7320 - Takes only 90 Seconds!
Want to Choose a Different type of Vehicle Donation? Go here for other Vehicle Donation
We Look Forward to Helping you with your Truck Donation !

Online Car Donation - Strives To Get You A Fair Market Value Tax Deduction

Online Car Donation - Strives To Get You A Fair Market Value Tax Deduction

How Much is my Car Donation Worth?
We created a Used Car Values section to help you determine the fair market value of your car donation.
Find out how much your used car is worth - Used Car Value

How Much Can I Deduct on my Taxes? See  IRS Car Donation Guide
When you donate car with Online Car Donation you are still able to receive the full Fair Market Value tax-deduction if we provide your vehicle to a family in need.

Donating a car, truck, boat, RV or other vehicle is extremely simple. A charity car donation with Online Car Donation also allows you to deduct the vehicle value from your federal income tax. Why sell your car for a couple hundred dollars when you can gain much more by donating it to charity and helping someone in the US that truly needs a helping hand? Convertible Car Donation - Donate Kit Car

Donate car through Online Car Donation & get:

Donate car through Online Car Donation & get:

• Fair Market Value Tax Break most cases
• Free Vacation - Hotel or a Cruise
• Free Towing & Unbeatable Support
• Knowing you made a difference!

The car donation process is simple and fast.
donate car online through our easy car donation form in under 2 minutes. All

Want to donate car but not sure about the car donation rules? Call Online Car Donation free at (888) 228-7320 or email us with any questions and we will gladly assist you. Our car donation program has a professional and friendly staff waiting to help you donate used vehicle whether it runs or not. You candonate car, RV, SUV, truck, van, donate boat (all sizes), tractor trailer, donate airplane, construction equipment or any other type of vehicle. We accept car donations nationwide and offer free towing for those that need it. Charity Car Donations

Call (888)-228-7320 Donate Car to Charity

Why Donate Car To Charity Through Online Car Donation

Car Donation Charity Program - Donate Car Online
Any Type Vehicle Donation - Fair Market IRS Tax Deduction

Why Donate Car To Charity Through Online Car Donation

Online Car Donation is dedicated to helping you donate car which benefits a variety of charity causes and rewards you with a free vacation and tax deduction.

Answers to Your Questions

1 (877) 505-5775

Do you have questions about how to donate a car to charity? Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the car donation process. If you don't find the information you need here, please feel free to call our toll free number 1 (877) 505-5775.

• How long will it take for my vehicle to be picked up?
• Is my car donation tax deductible?
• What type of vehicles do you accept as donations?
• What paperwork do I need to donate my vehicle?
• My car hasn't run in years. Can I still donate it?
• Do you pick up vehicles nationwide?
• How do I calculate the value of my donated vehicle?
• How will my car be picked up?
• How can I schedule a pickup?

 How long will it take for my vehicle to be picked up?

We can normally pick up your car within a few days. If you need your car picked up sooner, please call and we will try to make arrangements to fit your schedule.

 Is my car donation tax deductible?

Vehicles donated on this site will benefit Activated Ministries, a nonprofit Christian Ministry classified with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and are tax deductible. For more information, you can check outA Donor's Guide to Vehicle Donations(pdf).

 What type of vehicles do you accept as donations?

Children's Day in Monterrey, Mexico

We accept most cars, trucks, vans, fleet vehicles, trailers, boats, motorcycles, and RV's. If you have any questions about what you can donate, please send us an email (info@donateacar2charity.com) or call us toll-free at 1 (877) 505-5775.

 What paperwork do I need to donate my vehicle?

In most cases we need the title to the vehicle. But, if you do not have title papers call us anyway; other arrangements can sometimes be worked out. You may contact us by submitting our Car Donation Form or by calling us toll-free at 1 (877) 505-5775.

 My car hasn't run in years. Can I still donate it?

Yes, we are able to accept most vehicles whether they run or not (exceptions include older or damaged vehicles whose value would not offset the cost of towing). To find out if we can accept your vehicle, please complete and submit our online donation form.

 Do you pick up vehicles nationwide?

Yes, we can pick up most vehicles in most localities throughout the continental US and Hawaii.

 How do I calculate the value of my donated vehicle?

Car donation tax laws in effect as of Jan. 1st, 2005

Your car donation to an IRS approved 501(c)3 charity is still tax deductible and will fall into one of these categories:

1. For low value vehicle donations you can claim the fair market value up to $500.00 without any additional paperwork besides the receipt we will provide at the time of the pickup.
2. If you donate a car that is worth more then $500.00, your deduction will be limited to the actual sale price of your car donation. If your vehicle is sold, all proceeds will benefit Activated Ministries, a 501(c)3 Christian charity. We will provide you with a receipt stating the final sales price of your vehicle within 30 days of the sale of your donated car. We will work to get top dollar for your car donation, however most vehicles are sold "wholesale" at auctions, dealerships etc. and are frequently sold for less then the Kelly Blue Book value.
3. For cars that are in safe and good running order that we can specifically use for our charitable projects or if we can significantly improve your vehicle before it is sold then you can generally claim your car's fair market value. Please call us at 1 (877) 505-5775 if you want to verify if this would be the case for your car donation. If your donated vehicle is used by Activated Ministries for our charitable purposes or if it is improved before the sale, we will provide you with a receipt specifying this exception so that you can claim the fair market value of your car donation.

 How will my car be picked up?

We will arrange to have your vehicle towed away at a scheduled time.

 How can I schedule a pickup?

Please complete and submit our Car Donation Form or call us toll free at 1 (877) 505-5775.

Donate Car for 2009 Tax Deduction

Donate Car for 2009 Tax Deduction

During this Holiday Season of giving, donating a car to charity can make a difference in someone's life!  Remember that you can donate your vehicle online any time before midnight, December 31st and you will still be able to claim your tax deduction for 2009.  One of the most frequent questions we hear from donors is what type of deduction they will be able to claim for their car donation.  The deduction you claim depends on several factors, but can be easily broken down into three categories:

1. Vehicles that will be sold for parts or scrap, or that are valued at under $500:  You can claim up to $500 for your vehicle donation with the acknowledgment receipt that you will receive at the time of your donation.

2.  Vehicles that are sold at auction for more than $500:  You can claim a tax deduction for the gross sale amount of your donated vehicle.  The additional IRS forms required for  this deduction will be mailed to you promptly when the vehicle is sold.

3.  Fair Market Value deduction: The IRS allows you to deduct the Fair Market Value of your vehicle if it is used for the charities nonprofit purpose, or if it is sold to needy individuals for below the market value. If your vehicle is in good running condition, and can be used for our charity's purpose, please request evaluation at the time of donation to see if your vehicle qualifies for a Fair Market Value deduction.

Happy Holidays from Donate a Car 2 Charity

How the IRS Calculates Your Good Will

How the IRS Calculates Your Good Will

Jan 12th, 2010

You are to be congratulated! In a time when others may be holding on to every worldly possession in sight you are considering giving what could be the largest charitable contribution you've ever made.  But how does the Uncle Sam look at this generous gift?  The simple answer is this: the IRS wants proof of how much the charity benefited from the donation.

Believe it or not, when you donate a car to charity what happens to the car after it's picked up by the charity is very important to the IRS. The Internal Revenue Service is attempting to get as accurate a figure as possible representing the benefit of your car donation to the charity.  They've set up of a tiered value system with the following rules to arrive at the value of your contribution. 

1. Up to $500: A vehicle donor can claim a charitable contribution deduction up to $500 of the vehicle's value, regardless of what the charity does with the vehicle.
2. Over $500: The tax deduction claimed must match the sale price the charity received when they put the car up for sale, or the fair market value if the vehicle is used to further the charity's programs.
3. Over $5000: In the case of the sale of the vehicle by the charity, the sale price is all the documentation you need to claim a deduction of over $5000, in the case of the vehicle being put into use by the charity you will need to obtain an independent appraisal to substantiate your claimed value.

Initially this could be a little bit overwhelming to someone considering donating their vehicle for the first time.  However, there's no need to panic, at DonateACar2Charity we've been handling vehicle donations just like yours for over 10 years.  If you need more details regarding your particular donation just pick up the phone and dial  1 (877) 505-5775 to speak to one of our experienced operators.  You can also browse our site where we've posted a wealth of information about car donations and the most common IRS questions and tax form issues.

Thanks for visiting! We're here to help if you have any further questions.