Car Donation - Donating A Car To Charity

If you have recently gotten a new vehicle and still have your old one, or you have an unusable vehicle in your possession that you no longer want or need, you may be wondering what you can do with it. Of course you have options such as selling it yourself, scraping it for parts or recycled metal, or giving it to someone you know.

While all of these are viable options, have you considered a charity car donation? It makes for a wonderful alternative. This simple alternative allows you to rid yourself of an unusable, or no longer necessary, vehicle in a way that requires little effort on your part, but represents hope and opportunity to those that the vehicle goes to benefit.

Benefits In Donating Your Car

Donating your unneeded car can offer amazing benefits to any number of groups, but can also benefit you as the donor.

• You will be able to have your car towed away from your property, at no personal expense, within days of making arrangements with the charity of your choice. This can save you time, money and extra hassles.
  
  
• Many neighborhoods limit the number of vehicles, particularly inoperable vehicles, that are present at each home. It can be difficult to remove a vehicle that can no longer be used, but donating it to charity will get that vehicle off of your property, putting your belongings within your neighbourhood guidelines, without issue.
  
  
• Cars that are still usable can be given to charities or individuals in desperate need of vehicles. Those that need to be fixed will be brought to the appropriate technicians who will bring the car back into operational condition and then it can be distributed to those who need it. This will save you the cost of having the car repaired, while also benefiting someone else.
  
  
• If your car is totally inoperable, there are still uses for that vehicle. Different charities utilize these donations in different ways, but even if your car will not even start, it will make a valuable donation to any number of charities.
  
  
• When you donate your car to a qualified charitable organization you will be provided with documentation of your donation. This documentation allows you to take a tax deduction equal to the market value of your donated vehicle. A car donation tax deduction represents savings that could be very beneficial to your financial condition.
  
  
• You can select the particular charity that will benefit from your vehicle donation. This means that if there is a certain cause or organization that is close to your heart, you can support it in a simple, but high-impact manner.
  
  
• Donating a car allows you to make a charitable gesture even if you do not have the financial availability to donate a large amount of cash. A car can bring much more to your chosen charity than you may be able to provide in money. This could be in cash form, or in the form of transportation.

Charities That Use Donated Cars

There are many car donation charities that seek out donated autos for a large portion of their support. You can choose among these options, or, if there is another charity that you feel very strongly about, you have the option of contacting that charity directly and inquiring as to their policy regarding accepting donated vehicles.

If you know that you want to donate your vehicle to charity, but are unsure which charity would benefit the most, you can review some of the most prevalent and choose the one that speaks to your heart.

• Cancer Fund of America accepts donated vehicles to be sold. The money from these sales goes to benefit cancer patients with the services and support that would be impossible for them to receive without this help.
  
  
• Other organizations accept donated vehicles in the same capacity for the benefit of veterans and troops. The money garnered from the sale of vehicles or their parts will go to creating care packages of food, hygiene products, basic comfort items, entertainment and letters of encouragement and thanks that are sent to troops overseas. They will also go to providing help to veterans upon their return home.
  
  
• If you wish to help the troops or veterans in another way through your donation, you can choose charities that use the cars specifically for the purpose of creating programs for wounded and disabled veterans. These programs offer invaluable support and outreach for veterans dealing with injuries and disability.
  
  
• There are charities that seek to promote the welfare, education and advancement of children through the use of donated vehicles. These charities are available in various forms, including those specific to certain religions, ethnicities, locations or aspirations.
  
  
• One of the most well-known charities accepts unneeded vehicles for the benefit of kidney disease research. This is one of the first charities to take advantage of such donations, and has raised a tremendous amount of money for research into this disease.
  
  
• Those that hope to donate a car that could be used not for its financial value but its performance ability can look to charity car programs that provide much-needed vehicles to people who do not have forms of personal transportation. These charities accept vehicles that can then be given to applicants that need them. This is a very personal choice, as you can go onto the website of such charities and see the people that have applied for such cars. In some cases you are even able to select particular individuals or families that you wish to support.

Selecting a Car Donation Charity

Just as with any form of donation, selecting the charity to which you wish to donate your vehicle is a highly personal matter. Every person has a different cause or organization that they hold dear and would like to support. Sometimes, however, it is not possible to provide financial support. Donating a car is a way to support this cause in a real, measurable way.

If you wish to donate to one of the car donation charities that does not specifically elicit the donation of vehicles, it is still possible to ensure that that particular charity can receive the benefit of your donation.

One way to manage this is to contact one of the large charitable organizations that encompasses many others. These organizations will accept your vehicle, sell it either at auction or for parts, and collect the money. This money is then donated to the charity that you indicate.

These options range from human condition organizations and disease research foundations to animal rescue and protection groups. With this option you are able to offer a donation to your charity of choice, while also gaining the benefit of a tax deduction.

How to Donate Your Car

The process for donating your car is very simple.

• First you must select the charity, or charitable organization that you wish to support with your donation. This can be accomplished easily through an internet search.
  
  
• When you have chosen your charity, contact them either through the provided web form or by phone. Calling the organization is generally the most straight-forward and fastest way to donate your vehicle.
  
  
• Provide the organization with the information about your vehicle such as its make and model, age, operation and condition. This will allow the charity to plan its use.
  
  
• If you are working with a group that allows you to choose your charity, carefully select which group you wish to benefit.
  
  
• The charity will make plans with you regarding pick up of your vehicle. Within a few days they will send a tow truck. Your vehicle will be towed away at no charge to you.
  
  
• At the time of pick up, or soon thereafter, you will be given documentation of your donation including tax forms. You will then be able to take your tax deduction the next time you file your taxes.

Donating your unneeded or unwanted car is an amazing gesture, one that will provide huge benefits to whatever organization you wish to support. In addition to helping others you will be helping yourself get rid of a vehicle you do not need without cost or hassle. A vehicle donation can provide integral funding, hope and potential to deserving causes.