Wheels to Those In Need: Making a Sensible Auto Donation to Charity?

Answer 1

In these tough economic times, charities are being stretched thin with both the demand for services and the shortage of contributions. It’s both ironic and predictable that at a time of greatest need the resources are often at the lowest point. So often they have to do the best that they can with fundraising, and that may include methods that are beyond the direct cash transfer route. One way that people can help out worthwhile organizations is by making an auto donation to a charity. Donations of vehicles of all sorts, whether they are cars, RVs, or even motorcycles and snowmobiles can net a charity some much-needed funding and provide a tax deduction for those interested in this route.

What does a charity do with my car?

At first glance an auto donation to charity doesn’t add up. Even if a car is in perfect working order, some may wonder if the charities really have that many people to drive around. The answer is that they don’t use the vehicles for their own use. Most of the time in the case of cars that are running the charity turns around and sells the vehicle to a used car salesman who then refurnishes the vehicle and sells it back to the general population. With cars that are not drivable, some charities are able to break down the cars and sell the usable parts (either directly or, like the case for usable cars, through another person). Both of which will provide a much needed boost in income to these worthwhile charities without an individual donor having to put out cash that they may not have at that particular time.

Where to donate?

Thanks to the internet finding a reputable place to make an auto donation to charity is easy. Sites can be found with a quick search and then checked against the IRS web site. There are also charity checkers online that can assure you that your charity is authentic, a point of concern for many even if they are not necessarily concerned about the tax deductions. If you cannot locate a charity though that way, you can often find a group, temporary or permanent, through larger organizations such as the Salvation Army and Goodwill. Even if they are not currently accepting donations they can sometimes point you to another group who is more than willing to accept your auto donation to charity.