Keypoints on How to Donate a Car to Charity

Keypoints on How to Donate a Car to Charity

Maybe there is an old car in working condition which has been sitting in the garage for a few years now. You have tried slapping a for sale sign on it a few times but no offers were presented. Here is what you can do to free up some of that longed for garage space and put that car to good use.

Donate your car to a charity:

Donating the car to charity might just the idea. Doing this will not only open up space in your garage, but it will also help families in need of a vehicle be able to purchase one at a low price. Make sure that in your search for a charity the organization has a vehicle charity program.

Find a reputable charity:

Find a charity that accepts car donations. An easy way to search for a charity is online on your favorite search engine. However, beware of fraudulent charity websites. To research background information about the charity of your choice is the Charity Navigator at the website of the Better Business Bureau. Be sure to make contact with the program director in order to clear up any question you may have in relation to your vehicle donation.

Deliver It:

Take the time out to deliver the car donation on your own instead of using a middle man donation assistance service. By doing this you will be able to make sure that the charity will make the most of the value of your car donation. These are companies who promote car donation assistance services actually charge a fee that can take up to 90 percent of the total worth of your car donation! That could leave your charity of choice with less than 10 percent after the process is completed. Also, think twice about making charity of your choice pick up the vehicle themselves. Remember that these charities do not usually have their own tow trucks to pick up car donations. The charity will have to contract an outside towing service to pick up the car, which costs money.

Tax deductions:

If you are thinking about getting a fair market value tax deduction for your car donation, make sure to do your research and keep a paper file on all documentation relating to your donation. You will not receive a tax deduction from Uncle Sam if the proper steps were not taken in the process of the donation. So, be detail oriented and take the time to ensure a smooth a beneficial process for both the charity and your tax deduction.

Vehicle Title:

Make sure to have your vehicle title in hand in order to transfer over the title. Remember that this is a transfer of personal property over to the charity. If you do have a title for the vehicle, the charity will not be able to accept the donation.