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Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the questions we get asked all the time about car donation. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, call 1-888-969-4857 for more information.

What Kind Of Vehicles Can Be Donated?

We accept cars, vans, trucks, fleet vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, boats (with trailer), and RVs. If you have any questions about what you can donate, please give us a call at 1-888-969-4857.

What Paperwork Do I Need To Donate My Vehicle?

In most cases we will need your title to the vehicle. However, our title department can work through almost any title issue you may have, even a title replacement. You may contact us by calling us at 1-888-969-4857.

What Do I Need To Do With The Title For My Vehicle?

Animal Car Donation will tell you what is required in your state. Most states require that you have a clear title to your vehicle to be able to donate the vehicle. If you have other questions, visit our vehicle donation title FAQ. If you have any other questions, contact our vehicle Title Department at 1-888-969-4857. They will be able to answer any additional questions you might have.

Who Transfers My Vehicle Title And When Does My Liability For The Vehicle End?

Our insurance provides coverage on the day we receive your vehicle donation. We will handle all of the transfer documents according to your local state Department of Vehicle Services guidelines. Afterward, we will send you a vehicle donation receipt and provide you with the remaining information for your tax deduction.

If you have any other questions concerning your car donation, check out the rest of our FAQ page or give us a call at 1-888-969-4857. If you have more title-specific questions, visit our vehicle donation title FAQ page.

Who Picks Up And Tows The Car?

We will have your vehicle towed at no cost to you and arrange a time that works best for you.

Can I Donate My Vehicle If It Doesn’t Run?

Yes, we will take your vehicle even if it doesn’t run. To find out if we can accept your non-running vehicle, please call 1-888-969-4857.

Can I Get A Tax Deduction For My Car Donation?

Yes, vehicles donated on this site are tax-deductible and benefit animal charities local and national.

How Do You Determine The Worth Of My Donated Car?

Now you don’t have to because of the IRS Car Donation Tax Laws

Your car donation to an IRS approved 501(c)(3) charity is still tax deductible and will fall into one of these categories:

For vehicles sold for under $500, you can claim the fair market value up to $500.00 without any additional paperwork. The preliminary tax receipt will be mailed after vehicle has been confirmed picked up.

If the gross proceeds from the sale of your donated vehicle exceed $500.00, your deduction will be limited to the actual sale price. You will also be asked by the donee organization to provide your Social Security for the purposes of completing its IRS Form 1098-C form.

We will provide you with a receipt stating the final sales price of your vehicle within 30 days of its sale.

How Do I Schedule A Vehicle Donation Pickup?

Call 1-888-969-4857 any time, day or night, and our representatives will assist you. Our agents will send your donation order to the nearest towing partner to contact you directly to schedule the pickup.

If you would prefer to start online vs. making a phone call for your car donation, you can fill out a car donation form on our website. Your vehicle will be towed away for free at the time you arrange with one of our representatives.

How Much Of The Vehicle’s Sales Price Gets To The Animals In Need?

Car Donation Foundation (CDF), d/b/a (Animal Car Donation), is a federally registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You receive a tax deduction for the total amount that your car sells for. See here for tax information.

Animal Car Donation thanks you for your generosity and truly appreciates your donations. While the costs of turning donated vehicles into cash are high compared to other forms of charity fundraising, through your donations, Car Donation Foundation has donated over $167 million to local and national charities since 2010.

Proceeds from donated vehicles go to CDF, which in turn provides direct cash donations to other charities such as individual animal shelters and other animal charities. The amount that your vehicle ultimately sells for is based upon its make, year, mileage and condition. These are the sales proceeds from your vehicle. CDF also has normal expenses involved in directly promoting the car donation program (advertising) and costs involved in turning your donated vehicle into cash (towing fees, auction fees, administrative costs). CDF's cash donations to animal charities are based upon the sale proceeds of all donated vehicles during a given month, less deductions for normal monthly costs such as towing, advertising, auction fees and administrative fees. Because of the difference in sales proceeds from one vehicle to the next and because of the costs involved in turning your donated vehicle into cash, the donation that CDF makes to animal charities from the sale of your individual vehicle can be a larger percentage for a higher value vehicle, or much lower for an older low valued non-running vehicle that is recycled. The lower percentage is a result of there being minimum fixed costs incurred to obtain, tow and sell each car. These fixed costs can sometimes be a high percentage of the selling price of a low valued scrap vehicle. CDF does receive a large number of donated scrap vehicles, which can bring the estimated average donation per vehicle percentage down. For 2020, the average percentage donated to benefiting charities by Car Donation Foundation was approximately 39% based on Total Revenue compared to Grants and Similar Amounts Paid as reported on the annual IRS Form 990.

Car donation programs do have higher costs to promote and operate, compared to other forms of charity fundraising. If you are concerned about giving 100% of the value of your vehicle to a charity, the best way to do so is to sell your vehicle yourself and directly donate your sale proceeds to your favorite charity. We invite you to read more about the Overhead Myth published by the three leading guides in nonprofit information.

Who Benefits From My Car Donation?

Animal Car Donation benefits several animal charities throughout the U.S. The Animal Car Donation program donates proceeds to other tax-exempt charities that operate local animal rescues like:

Who Else Does Car Donation Foundation Benefit?

Animal Car Donation is a vehicle donation program that benefits local and national animal charities. Proceeds from car donations help animals from all around the country and right in your hometown.

Car Donation Foundation also runs Wheels For Wishes, Wheels for Wishes & Wellness, and Vehicles for Veterans.

Wheels For Wishes is a program that benefits local Make-A-Wish chapters and makes sure that Make-A-Wish kids get their wishes funded.

Wheels for Wishes & Wellness benefits local children’s hospitals and charities.

Vehicles for Veterans benefits disabled American veterans by raising money to provide funding for various programs to help support their needs.

CDF’s mission is to help these benefiting charities fulfill their missions with proceeds from CDF’s car donation programs. CDF and all benefiting charities are separate and unaffiliated 501(c)(3) organizations.