Should I Donate My Car?
But as good as our intentions may be, our busy lifestyles often make it difficult to find the time to make a difference.
Thankfully, there are numerous charities through which we can donate our money, when we can't donate our time.
One of the best ways to benefit your favorite charity these days is through an automobile donation.
Car donations can be a great source of much-needed funds for a number of charitable organizations that accept them.
And because car donations can count as a tax deduction, you can help the needy and still recoup your investment at tax time.
There is no shortage of charitable organizations benefiting from car donations.
Well-known charities such as Habitat For Humanity, the United Breast Cancer Foundation, and USO all receive funds from auto donations.
There are also dozens of smaller charities who benefit from this type of donation.
The donation process is fairly simple and straightforward.
You'll have to choose a charity whose cause you'd like to benefit.
If you're interested in deducting the donation from your taxes, make sure that the charity is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization.
There are quite a few organizations to choose from, so narrow down your choices by considering what charitable missions mean the most to you...
this way, you're not just randomly donating, the donation actually reflects what you believe in most.
Once you've settled on which lucky organization will receive your car donation, you'll need to contact the organization and go through some simple paperwork.
After that, the organization will arrange to have the vehicle picked up over the next few days.
These charities are very time efficient in picking up your vehicle, and will often show up for the vehicle in less than 72 hours after your first contact with the organization.
You'll get some type of receipt at the time of pickup.
In most states, you'll want to make sure that you sign over the title and remove your license plates before the vehicle is carried away.
Check with your attorney and local Department of Motor Vehicles for specific requirements in your area.
After this, the charity will likely resell the vehicle and use the funds towards their mission.
Make sure they send you the documentation showing what the vehicle sold for, so you can use that as proof of your donation on your tax return.
Car donations can go a long way toward making the world a better place for others.
They're a fairly simple, straightforward way to make a large donation towards a worthy cause.
You can have the satisfaction of knowing you benefited a charity you believe in, while also looking forward to a great deduction at tax time.