Top 22 Most Esteemed American Charities for Vehicle Donations
 Donate Your Car in Sacramento: Support a Worthy Cause |
 How and Where to Donate a Car To Charity in California |
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| Best Place To Donate Car To Charity in the U.S Today |
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To avoid the hassle of trying to find buyers and negotiate prices, vehicle donations are the perfect solution. Donating it can help not only the person or family to whom it is given, but also the community at large.
In times of hardship, many people would greatly benefit from the gift of a car that they otherwise couldn't afford. Over 700,000 people have made a difference in someone's life this year, and they continue to do so every year.
In order to help those who might not be able to afford a car otherwise, some charitable organizations will take in vehicles in need of repair, have them serviced, and then distribute them to those in need.
You might be surprised to learn how many organizations are happy to receive car donations free of charge. Here are just a few examples of good causes that gladly accept donations of automobiles and other motorized vehicles:
Top 20+ Reputable Charities That Accept Automobile Donations In The U.S Today
1. American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association works to better the lives of those who have diabetes as well as to prevent and treat the disease.
It works with a car donation service to sell your donated vehicle at auction after you've made a donation. The earnings support its programs. The association recycles your car even if it doesn't run for the value of its scrap metal and parts.
Call the American Diabetes Association at 800-ADA-6570 (800-232-6570) to donate your car, or complete the online form on the organization's website under "Car Donation." Within three to four days, a representative will get in touch with you to arrange a free vehicle pickup.
The American Diabetes Association will send you an acknowledgment letter with the vehicle identification number (VIN), date of sale, gross proceeds of the sale, and the date of your donation, as required by the IRS, if your donated vehicle sells for more than $500 within 30 days of the sale.
2. Habitat for Humanity
By collaborating with local communities, this international nonprofit organization has been working in all 50 states of the United States. Their work enhances each person's life with strength, stability, and independence in order to create a decent society.
In order to raise money for the construction of safe and affordable housing, they have accepted over 120,000 cars since the start of their vehicle donation campaign in 2005. People have been able to afford it at lower rates thanks to vehicle donations, which have helped raise more than $30 million over the last five years.
One can arrange a free pick up by this charity after providing the basic information about themselves and the state of their vehicle or car. They accept cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, RVs, and vehicles used for farming and construction.
3. Ronald McDonald House
Their goal is to give families of children in hospitals a place to call home away from home. They were founded in California in 1984 and quickly benefited from the strong local support and fantastic partnership opportunities.
They fervently believe that giving away trucks, cars, RVs, and boats can utterly transform someone's life. They aid families whose access to transportation is limited in maintaining contact with their hospitalized children.
On their website or by calling their toll-free number, one can find out all there is to know about donations and the procedure involved. They have a spotless 4-star rating on Charity Navigator.
4. The Salvation Army
Millions of people have benefited from William and Catherine Booth's nationwide network of programs and Adult Rehabilitation Centers, which they founded in 1865. Their initiatives have a holistic component to them that can assist people in overcoming their destructive tendencies.
They join a work community to support them in rebuilding their lives once they are healthy again and are able to concentrate on leading stable lives. A vehicle donation helps this charity achieve its stated mission.
Once the donation is accepted, they come and pick up the car for free from the owner's house and offer a tax deduction if the donor chooses to itemize. They have a perfect Charity Navigator rating for strong community values.
5. Goodwill
Through its numerous target-appropriate programs, Goodwill has been improving and constructing quality of life for millions of people for more than a century. Giving a car to charity is a proactive step in restoring stability to someone else's life.
Vehicles like cars, boats, golf carts, SUVs, trailers, trucks, jet skis, and other types of vehicles, both running and not, are accepted by Goodwill. The staff will schedule a free pick-up from one's home after a brief information exchange and then issue the appropriate receipt for tax purposes.
Some vehicles are used in auctions, and the donations of those vehicles enable them to carry out beneficial activities for the neighborhood.
6. Cars for CARE
International nonprofit organization CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere) offers immediate assistance while also battling poverty and promoting social justice. This includes putting a particular emphasis on empowering women and girls globally.
The money from the sale of your car, truck, motorcycle, boat, snowmobile, trailer, or recreational vehicle donated to its Cars for CARE Vehicle Donation Program will be used to pay for its programs.
For instance, your car donation might generate enough money to support a woman-owned business, provide clean water and soap to two communities, or feed a family for a year.
To donate your car, either call CARE at 888-755-5452 or complete the online donation form with some basic information about your car. The transaction is handled by Car Donation Wizard, a vehicle donation management company. Within 24 to 48 hours, a free pickup is scheduled.
You'll receive a receipt to use for the donation tax deduction after a few weeks (after the sale of your car).
7. Car Talk Vehicle Donation Program
With the help of the Car Talk Vehicle Donation Program, your neighborhood NPR station will receive funding from the sale or recycling of your vehicle. NPR is a free, nonprofit media organization that investigates local and international news and human interest stories.
A legacy of the public radio program Car Talk is the Car Talk Vehicle Donation Program. Up until one of the brothers passed away in 2014, a pair of brothers hosted the program and responded to listeners' weekly car-related questions. However, the program for donating vehicles continues as a way to support public radio.
To donate your car, contact the program at 877-215-0227 or complete the online form on the charity's website. Within one to three business days, a representative will get in touch with you to arrange a convenient free pickup time. As long as the charity has already received the title or you've left it for them in the glove box, you don't even need to be there.
Depending on the sale price of your vehicle, you either receive a sales receipt or an IRS form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale after your donation is finished—the charity sells your donated car at an auction or recycles it for scrap metal or parts.
8. Charitable Adult Rides & Services
A nonprofit organization called Charitable Adult Rides & Services (CARS) provides car donations to other charities. As a result, it is a rare example of a car sales service combined with a charitable foundation. Through a program called On the Go, it additionally provides seniors with meals and transportation.
Whether or not your charity of choice is listed as a partner organization that CARS already collaborates with, the service enables you to donate your car to any charity of your choice. Additionally, they accept any kind of vehicle.
After you donate your car, CARS sells it through a network of more than 400 dealers across the country. These consist of salvage yards, auctions, and individual buyers. The company selects the outlet it believes will fetch the highest selling price, maximizing both the donation to your preferred charity and your tax deduction.
To donate your car, pick a charity, fill out the online form, or contact the nonprofit at 855-500-RIDE (7433) to arrange a free pick-up time that works for you. CARS may be able to pick up your car the same day you call in some circumstances.
The representative who comes to pick up your car gives you a receipt for your donation. If your vehicle sells for less than $500, the receiving charity will send you a thank you letter within 30 days of the sale. Your 1098-C will also be sent to you by CARS if it sells for more than $500.
9. Canine Companions
They have led canine research for the past 20 years and paved the way for service dogs. Along with helping the dogs, their team also takes care of them to enhance service activities.
Through their partnerships with numerous universities and educational institutions, they are growing their research foundation for wellness and improving the human-canine bond. All 50 states are covered by their pick-up services.
Donations can be made for heavy machinery like farm equipment as well as trailers, boats, RVs, motorcycles, cars, campers, and other vehicles. These donations come in both running and non-running conditions.
After the current and clear title is approved, they tow the car for free because it matters. They have a flawless Charity Navigator rating of 4 stars.
10. Boy Scouts of America
They serve more than 189 club scout packs spread across 5 Sea Scout ships and cover nine counties. They are now able to support their scouts both domestically and abroad thanks to the introduction of the One Car One Difference program.
The proceeds from the auction sale of the donated vehicles are used to support the local governments and communities. They can use any motorized vehicle, including heavy machinery, RVs, cars, vans, boats, and ATVs.
Fleet vehicles are regarded as another excellent donation for this initiative. They have a 3 out of 4 star rating from Charity Navigator.
11. Donate A Car
Donate A Car is not in and of itself a charity. The North American auto auction business Insurance Auto Auctions Donation Division provides this service for donating vehicles. Your car is picked up, sold at auction, and you get to pick which of its 300 charity partners gets the proceeds. Donate A Car donates 70% or more of the sale price to its partner charities, in contrast to third-party con artists you should be wary of.
Partner charities may be any of the following:
animals for good
charities that work to treat or assist people with particular illnesses, like lupus, diabetes, and cancer
general philanthropic organizations like the Red Cross
Select your cause by visiting their website. Subsequently, complete a donation form with your contact details and the specifics of the vehicle you wish to donate. Call 800-237-5714 instead. You don't have to be present when it happens; a representative from Donate A Car will pick it up for free as soon as the following day.
Donate A Car will mail you a receipt about five days after a representative collects your car. And if your car sells for more than $500, you'll get a Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale.
12. Car Easy
As one ages, it gets more and more challenging to maintain an independent social life in the community as one loses their ability to use automobiles. Recognizing this shortcoming, Car Easy introduced their On the Go program in 2006 to provide older adults in Sa Diego County with services like individual rides, shuttle groups, and excursions.
More than 2,300 rides are taken every month for a variety of reasons, including personal needs, social outings, religious or cultural events, and more. Since its debut, it has provided more than 400,000 customers with comfortable rides and has provided a simple way to cross transportation barriers.
They strongly advocate car donations for the aforementioned cause, and if they come across a situation where a vehicle would be useful, they will also give it to that family or person.
13. National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation promotes kidney disease awareness. Along with funding research for treatment and prevention, it also offers assistance and direction to kidney patients' families.
After you donate your car, the charity auctions it off to raise money for its programs. The foundation will recycle your car for parts if it isn't running.
Call 800-488-CARS (2277) or complete the online form on the National Kidney Foundation's donor page to donate your car. Then just choose a free pickup time that works best for you. Most vehicles can be picked up within 24 hours.
After donating your car, you'll get a letter as proof of the donation within two weeks. A sales receipt or Form 1098-C, depending on the sale price, will be provided to you within 30 days of the vehicle's sale, which you must file with your tax return.
14. The Arc
The Arc is the largest community-based organization in the country that supports and advocates for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities of all ages as well as their families. Its lengthy list of programs and services is focused on early intervention, transition planning, supported employment, and job training. They also include financial support for technology development, health services, travel plans, and even assistance with legal defense.
Melwood, a different nonprofit that offers job training and employment to people with disabilities, oversees its vehicle donation program. From the first point of contact with the donor to the distribution of the sale proceeds to the charity, the Melwood Charity Car Donation Center manages vehicle donations.
Fill out the online donation form or call 877-MELWOOD (877-635-9663) to schedule a convenient free pickup time for your vehicle. For a representative to pick up your vehicle, you are not required to be present. Most vehicles can be picked up within 72 hours.
You will receive three different receipts from Melwood. When the towing company picks up your car, they give you the first one. Melwood will send you an official letter thanking you for your donation as soon as the towing company notifies us that the vehicle is in our possession. You'll get a Form 1098-C after your car is sold with the tax-deductible sale price noted for your records.
15. Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America is a nonprofit organization that provides various forms of care for people.
It offers assistance to homeless people, at-risk youth, and people with disabilities. For those in need, such as those affected by natural disasters or those living in poverty or who are otherwise without resources, it also provides basic necessities like food and clothing.
It also gives access to services for substance abuse as well as mental health. Additionally, the organization offers housing assistance to homeless people, veterans, and people who have served time in prison.
Call the charity at 833-300-5737 to donate your car, or go to the donor page on their website and submit the form there. Within 30 days of the sale of your vehicle, a representative will pick up your vehicle at no cost to you and provide you with a donation receipt that can be used for tax deductions.
16. Wheels For Wishes
The Make-A-Wish Foundation, which works to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses, benefits from the car donation program Wheels For Wishes. As stated in the charity's mission statement, fulfilling these wishes may serve as the glimmer of hope that children and their families need to persevere in trying times.
Fill out the online donation form or call 888-737-5808 to arrange a free pickup time that works for you. Wheels For Wishes mails you a receipt of donation for your vehicle as soon as you donate it. You'll get a Form 1098-C with the sale price of your car listed on it within 30 days of the sale.
17. Your Local High School or Vocational College
A test subject for an auto shop class can be obtained by donating a car directly to a high school or vocational school in the area. Vehicles donated to schools that run these programs are very beneficial for education. Finding out which schools accept donations, however, necessitates some investigation.
Ask if there is an auto shop program at each of the high schools or vocational schools in your area by getting in touch with the administration office. After that, ask the shop teacher or program director directly if your car qualifies for donation. Be aware that some shows only use American vehicles.
If you want to claim a tax deduction, make sure the school is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that is tax-exempt. According to the IRS, charitable donations only apply to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations.
then make plans to drive the vehicle to the school. You can drive the car over if it runs. If not, this method of donation has the drawback that you have to pay to have it towed.
Deliver the title and keys to the person taking ownership of the vehicle before transferring the title to the school. then watch for your donation receipt to arrive. An official receipt from the school outlining the value of your donation will be prepared and sent to you.
As an alternative, you can search well-known websites for car donations like Cars2Charities to find educational nonprofits like high schools and colleges. This allows you to avoid using the DIY method entirely and let Riteway Charity Services Inc., the parent company of Cars2Charities, handle the donation process for you, including picking up your car for free and taking care of any title issues, even if a nearby school isn't on the partner charity list.
Going this route, however, means that the money will be donated to the school rather than the car and that your car will be sold at an auction or to a salvage yard for its scrap metal and parts.
18. Animal League
Donating a car, or any other vehicle, can help raise money for animal rescue work or help a family in need receive it. This can make all the difference in helping the pets or getting rid of an old vehicle.
By submitting an online donation form, they can book a cost-free pickup for a time and date that works for them. One is indirectly assisting in saving the lives of homeless animals and giving them shelter with the money raised because it can be used as a tax deduction.
19. Car Angel
People who give a vehicle to this organization have the option of picking one of its programs to receive proceeds from the sale of the vehicle. This organization also runs a program called "Boat Angel," which allows people to donate watercraft such as boats, yachts, jet skis, and other types of watercraft.
20. 800-Charity Cars
This charity is probably one of the most well-known ones that accepts donations of cars, and it puts the vast majority of the money from those donations to good use by reselling the vehicles and contributing the proceeds to the cause. Some of the vehicles are eventually given as donations to families and individuals who are struggling financially.
21. Kars4Kids
This charity is a Jewish nonprofit organization, and the donations of vehicles that it receives are used to fund a wide variety of programs for young people. Some of these programs include summer camps, mentorship, after school programs, educational support, and more. This organization will take in almost any type of motorized vehicle, including automobiles, motorcycles, boats, and even airplanes.
22. DAV
The proceeds from the sale of vehicles that have been donated to the DAV are used to help support the mission of the organization, which is to provide assistance to veterans and the families of veterans. This charity for veterans is willing to take in nearly all varieties of motorized vehicles, regardless of their state or whether or not they are operational at the moment.
| There are some things you should know about the charity you choose, including how it can use your donation and what pitfalls you should watch out for. Due to the high cost and additional manpower involved, most charities will not accept vehicle donations directly. Instead, they may work with a car donation service or auction house, which will sell the vehicle for a fee and then donate the money to the charity. Unfortunately, fraud is common in the field of vehicle donations. Criminals often pose as vehicle auction houses with a charitable mission and deduct astronomical fees. Then, they donate as little as 13 percent of the money made to a good cause. Donation costs and fees are subtracted from the final sale price (which may reduce your tax benefit). All fees associated with pickup, towing, title transfer, auction, and dismantling are covered. However, the most reliable programs for donating cars ensure that at least 70% of the sale price goes to the charity. Use sites like Charity Watch and Charity Navigator to find the most effective charities, in addition to checking well-researched best-of lists. RVs, campers, trailers, motorhomes, boats, motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and jet skis are all welcome at many organizations that accept vehicle donations. Some people even travel by tractor or plane. Donating one of these requires checking with the organization in advance to ensure they will accept the item. |
Final Thoughts: Best Places to Donate Your Car in the U.S
The aforementioned organizations all follow a similar framework in order to provide cars to those in need and put them in touch with their loved ones. However, not everyone can afford to buy a car on top of their other problems and financial burdens, even though the cost of maintaining a car can be covered. Charities provide relief and make it easier for them to go about their daily lives.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of worthy organizations grateful for car donations. In fact, local organizations could be worth investigating. Car donations are often gratefully received by institutions like schools and churches.
Donating a car to a local charity may be the most convenient option. You can also check out Car Donation Wizard. This group facilitates a vehicle donation program for charitable organizations. Donors can choose which of their partnered charitable organizations will benefit from the sale of their donated vehicle.
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