Charity That Accepts Junk Car Donations

Many charities solicit and accept car donations, either to fund their primary mission or as part of their primary mission to provide vehicles or services to their clients. While some organizations specify that they only accept cars in working order, there are many other charities that will also accept junk car donations under certain circumstances. If you've got a non-working car sitting in your driveway or yard, it could help provide important services for children in need. Charities that accept donations of cars usually do one of three things with the cars they collect. First, they may repair your non-working car and give or sell it at reduced cost to a needy family that needs a reliable form of transportation. A charity may also accept your car and use it to carry out their main business. For instance, the organization may accept a minivan and use it to transport its clients to and from events or doctors' appointments. Finally, the organization may accept the donation, sell it at auction and use the proceeds to fund their operations.
Any one of these types of charities may accept a non-working car if it can be repaired and pressed into use. Some charities, however, may accept even cars that are complete junkers, cars that can't be repaired for a reasonable cost. As long as the car is valued at, and likely to bring in, more than administrative costs and the cost of towing it away, there is likely to be a charity that will be happy to take it off your hands.
If you do donate a junk car to a charity that is going to sell it for scrap, be aware that the IRS allows you deduct a maximum amount of the amount that the charity received for the car at auction or at the scrap heap. Even with that restriction in mind, though, your car will do more good if you donate it to a children charity or a charity that benefits the disabled, and it will get you a tax deduction rather than you paying out of pocket for its disposal.
If you've decided to donate your non-working car to charity, these tips will help you find a charity that will accept your car donations.
Check with the charity to determine that they'll accept your car. While a charity may advertise that it accepts non-working cars, they still may turn down a particular donation if its value is not high enough. They'll want to recoup the costs of record keeping, administration and towing at least. The first step is to phone the charities you're considering and make sure that they'll accept your car donation.
Ask to see the organization's 501(c)3 letter from the IRS to prove that the charity is actually registered with the IRS as a 501(c)3 charity. Unless the charity is registered as a 501(c)3, you won't be able to take a tax deduction for your donation.
If the car is not drivable, make sure that the charity will pick the car up at its current location. Many charities that accept car donations have a standing contract with a towing company to pick up non-working cars and deliver them to the organization. It should not cost you anything to donate your car to charity.