Frequently Asked Vehicle Donation Questions
We have put together a list of questions and answers that may be helpful during the car donation process. If you have any additional questions about donating a vehicle, please call us at 1-855-811-4838. We are here to help!
We accept cars, trucks, vans, fleet vehicles, trailers, boats (with trailer), motorcycles, and RVs. If you have any questions about what you can donate, please call us at 1-855-811-4838.
In most cases we will need the title to the vehicle. However, call us even if you do not have the title papers; other arrangements can sometimes be worked out. You may contact us by calling us at 1-855-811-4838.
Yes, we are able to accept vehicles whether they run or not. To find out if we can accept your vehicle, please call 1-855-811-4838.
Yes, vehicles donated on this site are tax deductible and benefit disabled veterans.
Now you don’t have to because of the IRS Car Donation Tax Laws
Your car donation to an IRS approved 501(c)(3) charity is still tax deductible and will fall into one of these categories:
For vehicles sold for under $500, you can claim the fair market value up to $500.00 without any additional paperwork. The preliminary tax receipt will be mailed after vehicle has been confirmed picked up.
If the gross proceeds from the sale of your donated vehicle exceed $500.00, your deduction will be limited to the actual sale price. You will also be asked by the donee organization to provide your Social Security for the purposes of completing its IRS Form 1098-C form.
We will provide you with a receipt stating the final sales price of your vehicle within 30 days of its sale.
Your car donation to an IRS approved 501(c)(3) charity is still tax deductible and will fall into one of these categories:
For vehicles sold for under $500, you can claim the fair market value up to $500.00 without any additional paperwork. The preliminary tax receipt will be mailed after vehicle has been confirmed picked up.
If the gross proceeds from the sale of your donated vehicle exceed $500.00, your deduction will be limited to the actual sale price. You will also be asked by the donee organization to provide your Social Security for the purposes of completing its IRS Form 1098-C form.
We will provide you with a receipt stating the final sales price of your vehicle within 30 days of its sale.
At no cost to you, we will arrange to have your vehicle towed away at a scheduled time that is best for you.
Call us at 1-855-811-4838 any time, day or night, and our representatives will assist you with your vehicle donation and pickup.
On the day we receive your vehicle, our insurance provides coverage. We will handle all transfer documents, and provide you with receipts and information for your tax deduction typically within 15 days of when we receive your vehicle.
Check out our vehicle donation title FAQ to get your vehicle title questions answered. If you have any other questions, contact our Title Department at 1-855-811-4838.
Vehicles for Veterans is a program of Car Donation Foundation, a federally registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You receive a tax deduction for the total amount that your car sells for. See here for tax information.
Vehicles for Veterans thanks you for your generosity and truly appreciates your donations. While the costs of turning donated vehicles into cash are high compared to other forms of charity fundraising, through your donations, significant money is raised for veterans’ programs. Since 2010, Car Donation Foundation’s vehicle donation programs have made contributions of more than $167 million dollars to worthy charities that now include charities serving our disabled veterans. Your donation to CDF’s Vehicles for Veterans campaign will allow CDF to continue to provide contributions to those important charities.
Proceeds from donated vehicles go to CDF, which in turn provides direct cash donations to local disabled veteran programs. The amount that your vehicle ultimately sells for is based upon its make, year, mileage and condition. These are sales proceeds from your vehicle. CDF also has normal expenses involved in directly promoting the car donation program (advertising) and costs involved in turning your donated vehicle into cash (towing fees, auction fees, administrative costs). CDF’s cash donations to disabled veteran programs are based upon the sale proceeds of all donated vehicles during a given month, less deductions for normal monthly costs such as towing, advertising, auction fees and administrative fees. Because of the difference in sales proceeds from one vehicle to the next and because of the costs involved in turning your donated vehicle into cash, the donation that CDF makes to benefiting charities from the sale of your individual vehicle can be a larger percentage for a higher value vehicle, or much lower for a low valued non-running scrap vehicle that must be recycled. The lower percentage is a result of there being minimum fixed costs incurred to obtain, tow and sell each car. These fixed costs can sometimes be a high percentage of the selling price of a low valued scrap recycled vehicle. CDF does receive a large number of donated scrap vehicles, which can bring the estimated average donation per vehicle percentage down. For 2020, the average percentage donated to benefiting charities by Car Donation Foundation was approximately 39% based on Total Revenue compared to Grants and Similar Amounts Paid as reported on the annual IRS Form 990.
Car donation programs do have higher costs to promote and operate, compared to other forms of charity fundraising. If you are concerned about giving 100% of the value of your vehicle to a charity, the best way to do so is to sell your vehicle and directly donate your sale proceeds to your favorite charity.
Vehicles for Veterans thanks you for your generosity and truly appreciates your donations. While the costs of turning donated vehicles into cash are high compared to other forms of charity fundraising, through your donations, significant money is raised for veterans’ programs. Since 2010, Car Donation Foundation’s vehicle donation programs have made contributions of more than $167 million dollars to worthy charities that now include charities serving our disabled veterans. Your donation to CDF’s Vehicles for Veterans campaign will allow CDF to continue to provide contributions to those important charities.
Proceeds from donated vehicles go to CDF, which in turn provides direct cash donations to local disabled veteran programs. The amount that your vehicle ultimately sells for is based upon its make, year, mileage and condition. These are sales proceeds from your vehicle. CDF also has normal expenses involved in directly promoting the car donation program (advertising) and costs involved in turning your donated vehicle into cash (towing fees, auction fees, administrative costs). CDF’s cash donations to disabled veteran programs are based upon the sale proceeds of all donated vehicles during a given month, less deductions for normal monthly costs such as towing, advertising, auction fees and administrative fees. Because of the difference in sales proceeds from one vehicle to the next and because of the costs involved in turning your donated vehicle into cash, the donation that CDF makes to benefiting charities from the sale of your individual vehicle can be a larger percentage for a higher value vehicle, or much lower for a low valued non-running scrap vehicle that must be recycled. The lower percentage is a result of there being minimum fixed costs incurred to obtain, tow and sell each car. These fixed costs can sometimes be a high percentage of the selling price of a low valued scrap recycled vehicle. CDF does receive a large number of donated scrap vehicles, which can bring the estimated average donation per vehicle percentage down. For 2020, the average percentage donated to benefiting charities by Car Donation Foundation was approximately 39% based on Total Revenue compared to Grants and Similar Amounts Paid as reported on the annual IRS Form 990.
Car donation programs do have higher costs to promote and operate, compared to other forms of charity fundraising. If you are concerned about giving 100% of the value of your vehicle to a charity, the best way to do so is to sell your vehicle and directly donate your sale proceeds to your favorite charity.
Proceeds from the sale of your vehicle directly benefit disabled veteran charities and their programs.
3.6 MILLION
number of veterans living with a service-connected disability
49,933
estimated number of homeless veterans according to the HUD Department.
