Things To Remember When Donating Your Car to Charity

Posted in Donating Your Car to Charity

Donating your car to charity can be a simple process but there are things you want to be aware of in doing so. It’s not always a way in the park as you may think. Here are a few important tips that you should remember when deciding to donate your car, truck or motorcycle.

1. Be sure to choose the right charity. Many charities will accept vehicles as donations. They may either sell your vehicle and use the revenue generated towards their efforts, or they may decide to use your vehicle as transportation if it’s condition, and their policies, allow it. If you already donate to an organization, or if an organization has helped you in the past, call them first. There’s more information on our Car Donation Charities page. Do some research online via the Better Business Bureau to be certain that the charity you choose is worthy of your support.

2. Know the numbers first. In order to make certain you can get a tax deduction with the IRS, ask the organization how much of the value will actually be donated. This will keep you from having issues when you file your taxes. There’s more specific tax information on our Car Donation Tax Deduction page.

3. Transfer the title properly. Doing this will eliminate any unforseen traffic or parking violations on the car in the future. Make sure the title paperwork is complete and both signed and dated. Also be sure to take a copy of paperwork for your records. Do not leave the ownership space of any charitable donation papers blank. If a charity asks you to leave title paperwork blank, you may want to consider working with another charity.

4. Know the value of your car. If the car you are donating is worth more than five hundred dollars, the IRS will want to see what the charity got it for. Research the Kelly Blue Book value of your car ahead of time. Our Car Donation Tax Deduction page has more on this.

5. Keep a detailed paper trail. Donating your car to charity should be a rewarding experience. By taking the time to keep a detailed paper trail you’ll prevent it from becoming a headache. Ask for copies of all the paperwork. Keep proof of the donation of the car and all your tax information in one place for easy reference. In the end, you will be ensuring that the charity gets a real benefit, you get the best tax deduction possible, and the entire process is a smooth one.

For more helpful tips check out- How to Donate a Car.

Regardless of what car you donate, or which charity you choose, it’s in your best interest to fully understand all the steps involved when donating your car to charity.

Donating Your Car to Charity Can Help the Blind and Vision Impaired

Posted in Donating Your Car to Charity

Trying to decide on which charity to help when Donating Your Car to Charity? Here are a few charities that benefit the blind and vision impaired.

Without a doubt, one of the worst things that can happen to anyone is the loss of vision. It can be crippling for the individual, and can also be a huge challenge for their family. Those with blindness or vision problems can get assistance from a number of different charities throughout the world and throughout the US. You can help these charities by donating your car. An institution with a large car donation program is the American Foundation for the Blind. They help millions of people with vision problems across the nation.

Helen Keller International is another charity that provides valuable services for the blind. Their goal is to reduce malnutrition and prevent blindness throughout the world. American Institute of Philanthropy gave this institution an A rating. Macular degeneration is one principal cause of loss of vision among those older than 55. The American Macular Degeneration Foundation works on treatment and prevention of this disease. They also offer valuable support for the families of their patients. A large portion of the money for their activities comes from the income they generate through car donations. Another cause of blindness is neuromyelitis optica. This is an exceedingly rare disease. Plenty of research is what we need to find a cure for this illness. This is what the Guthy Jackson Charitable Foundation is doing right now. Choosing them is a great idea when donating your car to charity.

Two last charities you should consider when donating your car are the National Federation of the Blind and the Connecticut Radio Information System. The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois strives to help improve the lives of those who are blind. They help these people to achieve independence in the state of Illinois. The Connecticut Radio Information System is a radio reading service for people with vision impairment. They use data from popular magazines and local newspapers that the vision impaired might not otherwise be exposed to.

The charities I mentioned here are just a few that benefit the blind or vision impaired. There are many more charities both locally and nationally to choose from when donating you car to charity.