Donating a car is one of the most unique and easy ways to give back to the community. If you have a vehicle that you are not using, why not donate it for a good cause? Read below for what to donate, the why you should donate, the where you should donate and how you should donate your unused vehicle.



For many of us, the thought of having to try and sell our old car that we have had for years is a bad one. Haggling over price with a car dealer and having to spend money to ensure the vehicle is in good enough condition to sell is a nuisance. In fact, spending the time and money on an already old car is sometimes actually counterproductive and ends up costing more money than it's worth. When you donate a car to charity, you are not required to see that your vehicle is up to working standard.

When giving your car away as a donation, you should also be proud. This is another benefit to donating your car. Most individuals, who do donate their cars, are left with a feeling of selflessness and pleasure. Not all individuals make the decision to donate their cars. In fact, if given the opportunity, many car owners would choose to sell their car before donating it to charity. You should be proud of yourself for making to decision to help someone else before helping yourself.

Another one of the many benefits to donating your car is that it is relatively easy to do. In fact, when it comes to car donations, you will find that you have a number of different options. First, you could contact all local charities and ask if they would like to acquire your car, as a donation. If you do not have the time to do this, you could contact a company or organization that specializes in car donations. Once they have your car in their possession, they will then search for a charitable organization who could use it. Although you will not necessarily know where your car will end up, you will find that using a car donation company saves you time and maybe even money.

There are several different ways to donate depending on which program you use, what state you are a citizen of, and how you need to give the car. The very first thing you must do is that which is listed above: determine what item you are going to donate. This of course will depend on your needs and goals.

To prevent over-estimate, the IRS requires people who donate their car to produce a document from the charitable organization specifying the resale price of the car after the car is sold off. Automobiles with retail values up to $500 are exempt from this rule. In any case, make sure you get a receipt detailing your car donation. Requesting a receipt may also be necessary if you have your taxes prepared by a paid preparer.

Donating a car may sound like a big undertaking, but it's not. You can accomplish three things at once - getting rid of an old car that is taking up valuable space, helping your favorite charity, and getting a deduction on your income taxes. If you have an old car and want to reduce your tax payment, donating a car might be right for you!