Is there a car donation program you’d like reviewed or have questions about? Let us know by leaving a comment on this post.

We’re here for you, our visitors, so let us know how can we assist you best.

Car donation charities are those that are able to accept donations of vehicles as a method of fundraising. The process is quite simple, and it can be a big help in supporting the mission of a variety of good organizations. Below you will learn all the basics you need to help out car donation charities.

read more…

With All of the Different Options Out There for Car Donations, Why Would People Choose to Donate a Car to the Kidney Foundation?

If you’re researching your options regarding car donation, you’ll most likely come across the car donation to the Kidney Foundation program. This program, also known as “Kidney Cars”, is one of the largest and most recognizable vehicle donation programs in the United States. With over 650,000 donations in the last 25 years, most people are comfortable knowing that a car donation to the Kidney Foundation is safe, secure, and helping to make a big impact. But what are some of the other major reasons people choose the Kidney Foundation Program?

read more…

Of all the car donation options currently available in the market and on the web, one of the most popular is the Purple Heart car donation program. This program is run by a government-chartered organization known as the Military Order of the Purple Heart, a group composed of war veterans and recipients of the honorable Purple Heart medal. The program’s intent is to honor these veterans by funding several types of benefits programs. But where does your donation really go?

read more…

Is it DAV, the Disabled American Veterans, or DVA, the Disabled Veterans Associations? Choosing the right one could leave veterans with 75% of the value of the donation, or as little as 10%. Story  below…

As the most populous state in the United States, consumers have the most options available to them if they are donating cars in California. Not only do the sheer numbers of citizens make car donation more likely, but as a state known for its social and ecological consciousness, car donation and recycling are becoming one of the smartest ways to dispose of older vehicles no longer needed or wanted. Being a contributor to the recent surge of donating cars in California is a great way to clear out your unwanted vehicles while making a positive difference.

California car donation follows a similar procedure to car donation all across the United States. In most cases, the work done by you is fairly minimal; you have to contact the organization, arrange a pick-up time, and have the title on hand. Towing costs and title transfers are almost always handled by the organization accepting the donation. However, as with car donations everywhere, donating cars in California also comes with the added burden of making sure that your vehicle is going to a reputable, recognized authority.

California-Based and National Car Donation Organizations

Although there are literally hundreds of options to choose from when deciding the organization to whom you will donate your car, here are some of the more popular California choices:

America’s Car Donation Charities Center can be found at http://www.donateacar.com/. You can choose from a list of hundreds of charities, and all pick-up services are provided by the company.

Charitable Auto Resources, Inc. is a California-based company that offers charitable organizations and donors a chance to connect. They can be found at http://www.charitableautoresources.com/.

1-800-Charity Cars (http://www.800charitycars.org/) offers vehicle owners a chance to donate their cars to families working to become self-sufficient. They offer pick-up services nationwide and all throughout California.

Tips for Donating Cars in California

Always make sure your donation is going to a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. This means that the organization is a recognized nonprofit – not a company trying to make money off the kindness of others. This also ensures that your donation is tax deductible.

Check your car donation organization and the charity you choose to receive the proceeds through the Better Business Bureau. Although some unfavorable companies can get a satisfactory rating through the BBB, it’s a great way to do an initial check.

Ask what percentage of the proceeds will go to charity. Donating cars in California (and any other state) through an agency or other organization means that some of the profits will have to be absorbed by those doing the pick-up and title transfer. Make sure you’re comfortable with how much of your car will be going to those who really need the money.

Donate Now

Whether you have a specific charity in mind or you simply want to offer your used vehicle to a worthwhile organization, rest assured that you are making the right choice. Donating cars in California is as easy as finding the right recipient and making a phone call. Your taxes, your chosen charity, and your environment thank you!

Whether you’re trying to get rid of an old car taking up space, looking to downsize your gas expenses and go green by getting rid of your car entirely, or simply seeking a great way to make a tax-deductible contribution, donating cars in New York is a great way to make a difference. With so many commuting opportunities and forward-thinking, eco-friendly families in the state, donating cars in New York has become a streamlined, hassle-free process that brings millions of dollars to charities both locally and around the United States.

Types of Car Donation Centers in New York

Donating cars in New York is best accomplished by one of two means: finding an organization that matches donors with charitable nonprofits or donating directly to an organization with vehicle pick-up capabilities.

The first type of organization – companies that pick up cars, convert the vehicle or its parts to money, and then provide a portion of the proceeds to a charity – are typically those used by those seeking to donate their used vehicles. By acting as a “middleman,” these organizations assume the cost, risk, and responsibility of acquiring the donations for a fee, which is then taken out of your donation. You typically get to either choose an organization from their list of affiliated charitable nonprofits or you can simply allow your funds to be disbursed equally. Either way, your donation is tax deductible, and you typically have to do little more than provide your title and a pick-up location.

The second type of organization – charitable nonprofits with a large enough means to create their own car donation department – typically offers consumers a big name with which to supply their donation. For example, Habitat for Humanity and the American Diabetes Association take direct vehicle contributions. In these cases, a larger percentage of your donation actually goes into the charity, since the secondary “middleman” is erased from the equation.

Why Donate?

Both options are a great way to unload a vehicle you no longer need or want. Opportunities are especially substantial in New York, since there a wealth of nonprofits awaiting assistance. For example, if you want to assist New York-based organizations like the YWCA, area food banks, or local rescue missions, there is no better opportunity than to seek contact with a local “Cars for Charity” organization. It’s simply a great way to help the community in which you live, and because pick-up is locally-based, someone is typically available to pick up your car within one to two business days.

Making a Difference

Car donation is one of the easiest types of charitable giving available today. Whether your car is outdated, no longer runs, or simply weighing you down with upkeep costs, donating cars in New York is as easy as picking up the phone or filling out an online form.

While many people want to do something good by donating their cars to charity, they need to be aware that there are a number of car donation scams out there. It is not always easy to tell the legitimate programs from the car donation scams, so people must be careful about how and where they donate their vehicles.

First of all, many nonprofit organizations are not actually set up to take automobile donations. There is a lot of work involved in being permitted to collect and process donated vehicles, and not all charitable organization have been willing or able to set up such a program for themselves. If they do still accept donations of this sort, then they must do it through a third party. These companies are often referred to as intermediary agencies.

Do Intermediary Agencies Equal Car Donation Scams?

The short answer to this question is “not necessarily.” Some intermediary agencies are truly serving an important purpose for nonprofit organizations that couldn’t otherwise accept car donations. They are able to pick up the cars, transfer the titles, take them to auction, and distribute the funds back to the nonprofit. Of course, they do all of this for a fee. If the fee is a reasonable one, then it is certainly worthwhile for the nonprofit organization to go ahead and pay it.

On the other hand, it is not unheard of for intermediary agencies to expect 50% or more of the proceeds. This might even be on top of the towing and title fees. In the end, the nonprofit organization could end up with as little as 10% of the actual money raised by a donated vehicle. Even if it’s not technically illegal, it’s not hard to recognize that these are car donation scams.

Other Car Donation Scams

In general, there are two things to keep in mind if you decide to go through an intermediary agency to donate your car. First of all, how much of the proceeds will actually go to the nonprofit organization? There are disreputable companies out there that say they are picking up a vehicle on a nonprofit’s behalf, but then they keep all of the money themselves. This is basically auto theft. In order to avoid this, or even intermediary agencies that just take more than their fair share, talk to the organization you want to support. Ask them if they’ve found the agency to be reliable in the past. Make sure that they’ve not only been receiving a reasonable cut, but that they’ve been getting paid at all.

Finally, be sure that the nonprofit you’re donating to is designated as a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization. If they have a different designation, such as 501(c)(4), then you may miss out on the opportunity to receive a tax deduction for your donation. It’s not unheard of for car donation scams to be as simple as just omitting a few details so someone will donate under false pretenses.

The majority of car donation programs are going to be legitimate, but doing just a little bit of homework will keep both you and your favorite charity from becoming victims of car donation scams.