I just bought a new(er) car to repalce my 1999 Honda Accord. The Accord has almost 200K in mileage and needs more repairs than it's worth. I don't want the hassle of selling it outright and am going the lazy easy way and donating it. The organization I called sends a wrecker, runs it through the auction and after small admin fees and towing fee the balance goes to the charity. I get a tax certificate for the donation.

Any pitfalls to worry about?

What are your experiences?

Thanks guys

I just hope you didn't call Kars-for-Kids. They are in the news once again for very little money actually going to the charity.

If it is about charity that is a good thing. It would be wise to check with CPA on the value of the tax write off. My accountant advised against this as he felt it would be an invitation for audit, kind of like having a home office.

Last time we did this, a couple months later we got a notice from the City of Chicago that we owed them for towing fees, it was stripped and abandoned on the street.

We called, told them we had donated it to the American Lung Association, and had no more contact over it. When the American Lung Assn disposes of the vehicles it receives, it is lax about the paperwork, leaving their mess for others to clean up.

Next time, we'll just have it towed straight to a junk yard.

This is a local Cars for Veteran's organization based in Tampa. I'm close enough to go stand on somebody's desk if necessary. But thanks for the warnings

I gave a minivan to the Salvation Army about 6 years ago. The process worked exactly as you described it -- it went perfectly.

For the best tax write off (fair market value), find a charity that will actually use the car as a car rather than sending it to auction for the cash. There is a significant difference. It used to be a full 50%, but I don't do tax law and that very well may have changed since I was in school.

-Rob

I don't know what is available where you live, but in Texas you can/are encouraged to file a change of ownership form with the State. Should the new owner not transfer the title or do something with the vehicle before the transfer, it gives the previous owner some leverage. I sold a car, the new owner drove up and down one of the toll roads for a week before transferring the title. I got the bill for the tolls. when disputed, the toll authority found my change of ownership filing and sent the charges to the new owner. I've heard another safety is to remove the plates from the car, forcing the new owner to register in their own name.

I donated my late wife's car to the salvation army
It was part of my healing process,they drove it on the trailer,someone got a good car.

I used an organization for the blind several times here in MY, no problems. I got the release back from the county within two weeks each time, and a tax certificate indicating the actual sale value of the car, which in both cases exceeded 500 bucks.

I donated my old Celica to the American Heart Association. Said if they could get it to run, they could have it. They did. Nice guy, too.

We donated an old Jeep a couple years ago. The tax deduction was minimal. The feeling of helping was good.

I've done it twice. Salvation Army once, the other was a local place supporting job development for the disabled. No problems. Oh, yeah, I hate that damn Kars for Kids commercial.

Be sure you take the plates off!

We have a Salvation Army used car lot in the area that has only donated cars for sale. I've never donated a car to them, but I've heard that it is painless and easy.

I'm a big fan of the Salvation Army so that is what I'd do if I had a car to donate.

Jim

put $600.00 on it AS IS, and there is no hassle.

I got that much for my "95 " grand prix.

here is the money , here is the title, ba da bing

Have donated to SA and to a church. No problem, but wasn't wild about seeing my dark blue Rabbit with Yale sticker being driven by someone who was smoking in the car!

Had a Volvo wagon and decided to donate it a local church for a family that needed a car.

They actually gave us a decent tax certificate for it. Saw it parked in a mall parking lot about a month later so glad it was being used.

Yes - donated a van many years ago that we no longer needed. It needed some work and we disclosed this up-front. The organization we gave it to trained people in auto mechanics then sold the vehicle for profit to support their efforts. No issues from our end.

If it is in decent cosmetic shape, put it up on Craigslist or FB buy sell trade pages for a few hundred bucks. Someone will buy it.

We had a 40' Bluebird Wander Lodge we donated to a church for their mobile ministry. We had had a good year and needed to get some deductions and our accountant said this was a good way to do it. Worked for us, was legal, and the church was very happy. Better than letting the feds waste the tax money on some foreign aid give-a-way.