Getting Started with Car Donation Charities

Instead of selling off your old car or having it towed to the wrecking yard, you call up your favorite charity and let them know you’d like to donate it to them. If they have a car donation program, then they will set up the details with you. They will turn around and sell the vehicle, usually at an auction, and then keep the proceeds.

What’s in It for Me?

In addition to feeling good about yourself for supporting a car donation charity, you may also be eligible to get a break on your taxes. After the car has been sold, the charity will give you a receipt for the total amount it brought, and you will be able to use all or some of this on your next income tax return.

Other Ways to Support Car Donation Charities

While car donation charities obviously accept donations of used cars, it’s quite possible that they accept other vehicles, as well. So, if you are looking to get rid of an old boat, RV, or even an airplane, it’s possible that those items can go to help out a nonprofit organization, too.

The Fine Print

There are a few things to keep in mind in order to properly donate your car to charity. For example, most states are going to require you to have the title to the vehicle being donated. In addition, the car donation charity can only make out the receipt to the name on that title. In some states you will also be required to fill out a Release of Liability Form or a Report of Sale Form.

A Few Tips for Helping Car Donation Charities

If you’re supporting car donation charities, then you may be interested in making sure they get the most money possible for your donation. In order to help ensure this, take their needs into consideration, as well as your own. Most charities will pay to have your car picked up, for example, but if you are able to drive it in, then you will save them the towing costs; and more of the money actually raised by your vehicle will go back into their budget.

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?

Kidney Cars Fund’s Count

All money raised through Kidney Cars goes to increase screenings, education, and research for kidney disease through the National Kidney Foundation. Funds are often placed toward dialysis transportation services, and the program also supports an annual camp for children currently on dialysis or otherwise affected by kidney disease.

Fast and Easy, No Hassle Car Donations

One of the primary benefits of a car donation to the Kidney Foundation is the ease of pick-up and title transfer. Because Kidney Cars is one of the founders of the car donation movement, they have streamlined the process of giving. Their pick-up services are offered around the entire United States and are available all throughout the year. Vehicles are towed free-of-charge from the most convenient location and time for you – all that is needed is a clear title to be transferred.

When You Choose Car Donations to the Kidney Foundation, You Choice Makes A Bigger Difference

Nationally, the average of funds that make it into the hands of those most in need through car donation is less than 50 percent. Kidney Cars is unique in that over two-thirds of the proceeds made from your car’s sale go directly to the National Kidney Foundation and its affiliates.

Kidney Cars also makes a concentrated effort to reduce the ecological side effects of unused cars. By recycling car parts when the vehicles become too difficult to salvage, landfills are eased of some of the burden caused by unwanted cars.

As a licensed 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, most donations can be considered tax deductible. Kidney Cars makes this easy by providing all donors with a package of paperwork containing the necessary tax documents once the transaction has been completed.

And Finally, A Name People Trust

There are countless

currently on the market and on the web. Although most of these organizations are legitimate and able to make a difference, Kidney Cars remains one of the most recognizable and trusted names in the car donation business. Most donors are secure knowing that all transactions will be handled professionally, quickly, and with the best possible outcome for everyone involved.

To learn more about this incredible program or to make a car donation to the Kidney Foundation, visit their website at http://www.kidney.org/support/kidneycars/index.cfm or call their toll free number, 1-800-488-CARS.

Where Your Purple Heart Donation Goes

Although you don’t get to choose exactly where the funds for your Purple Heart car donation go, the organization helps several different nationally-recognized veteran programs. These include the National Service Officer Program, the National Appeals Office, the Court of Veterans Appeals, the National Outreach Program, various educational scholarship programs, and United Service Operations (USO), among others. For most of these programs, the needed funds go not only to veterans and vet hospitals/centers, but to the families and dependents, as well.

Benefits of the Purple Heart Program

As with car donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations, donated vehicles are eligible for tax deductions. The organization streamlines the process by issuing receipts that contain the necessary Vehicle Identification Number and vehicle value. Items accepted include cars, vans, trucks, boats, recreational vehicles, and motorcycles, assuming you own the title free and clear.

Donations to the Purple Heart car donation program have the additional bonus of being sincerely needed. While most charitable organizations certainly need all the financial assistance they can get, U.S. war veterans continue to be among the most neglected part of the population, especially given their incredible personal contributions to the safety and happiness of millions of citizens.

Drawbacks to the Purple Heart Program

Although most of the Purple Heart car donation program is similar to other successful vehicle donation programs on both a national and local level, it may not be accessible from all areas. Outlying localities and some cities may not have pick-up services available to them. The organization also encourages its donors to drop off working cars, rather than utilizing their free tow service. This added inconvenience may restrict those who don’t live within towing distance or whose cars are not in working order.

It is advised that potential donors contact the organization directly to learn how to best take advantage of the Purple Heart car donation program.

One of the Best Car Donation Choices

Despite the possibility of difficult transport, making a donation to the Purple Heart car donation program is worth it. Donors have the peace of mind of knowing that their donation is appreciated and that they are not going to be taken advantage of by scam artists or unfair “middle men.” The money goes right where it has for the other 300,000 donors since the program’s onset: to brave war veterans and their families.

You can contact the Purple Heart car donation program toll free at 1-888-414-GIVE (4483). You can also fill out a fairly easy-to-use online form at their website, http://www.purpleheartcars.org.

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…

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!

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.

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.