| Giving your vehicle to a vehicle | | | | be dealing with an authorized vehicle |
| donation center is a gesture of good | | | | donation center at all. |
| will and generosity that helps the | | | | Over 95% of transactions that take place |
| charity of your choice to make a | | | | at authorized vehicle donation centers, |
| difference in the life of people and | | | | are done as a "for-profit" business |
| families in need. A car donation center | | | | venture. The donation center must |
| usually does business through a 'middle' | | | | follow certain rules of conduct with |
| agent between you (the donor) and the | | | | regards to how you may be enticed into |
| charity you wish to help (the recipient | | | | vehicle donation. There also exists a |
| of your donation). Car Donations are | | | | register of organizations that are not |
| quick and easily handled utilizing | | | | allowed to do business in the state. |
| charity vehicle donation programs. You | | | | One very important function of an |
| can donate cars, trucks, vans, boats, | | | | authorized vehicle donation centers is |
| planes, even lots and real estate. | | | | helping you determine a fair donation |
| When one has a car that is a good | | | | value for your donated car, truck, boat |
| candidate for automotive donation, there | | | | or RV to be reported to the IRS. This |
| are very often time constraints that | | | | is not the so-called "blue book" value |
| don't allow for a great deal of shopping | | | | but, instead, its value on the market. |
| around for the most needy individuals in | | | | Bear in mind, this market may be |
| the community, much less, repairing and | | | | wholesale rather than retail. |
| making that vehicle a useful donation. | | | | Most often, the value you'll be given a |
| An authorized vehicle donation center, | | | | receipt for is the value the charity |
| that is recognized by charitable | | | | ultimately receives for the car. If you |
| organizations and the IRS, will be able | | | | don't receive a receipt suitable for tax |
| to take care of your vehicle, find the | | | | purposes right away, that's o.k., but if |
| best and most effective use for the | | | | you receive no word in a few months, you |
| vehicle and give you a verifiable | | | | should start making phone calls to the |
| receipt for your tax forms. | | | | authorized vehicle donation center's |
| But, how do you know your vehicle is | | | | offices in question. If the car is |
| being used for the charitable purposes | | | | being repaired before sale, it could |
| the supposedly authorized vehicle | | | | take some time. Even though authorized |
| donation center claims to support? | | | | vehicle donation centers very rarely do |
| There are several signs, especially when | | | | that, preferring the wholesale and scrap |
| you're looking online for such a service | | | | methods. |
| or responding to solicitation, that | | | | This is especially true in the case of |
| you're dealing with a non-authorized | | | | vehicles that are not currently running. |
| vehicle donation center. | | | | However, there is still money to be |
| A quick check with just a few, even as | | | | made, and most legitimate and authorized |
| little as one or two of the charitable | | | | vehicle donation centers will be happy |
| organizations (preferably ones you've | | | | to come and haul your old car, truck or |
| heard of before), should yield an | | | | boat away for free. You should be |
| acknowledgement of the authorized | | | | suspicious of any supposedly authorized |
| vehicle donation center's association as | | | | vehicle donation center that would |
| a qualified agent of that charity. Any | | | | require you to pay for towing services |
| legitimately authorized vehicle donation | | | | and ask. |
| center will be able to provide you with | | | | If the fair value of your car is less |
| a list of charities it brokers deals | | | | than $250, there is no reason to bother |
| for. | | | | with a form of donation from your chosen |
| Though very few authorized vehicle | | | | charity or a third-party organization |
| donation centers are registered with the | | | | such as an authorized vehicle donation |
| IRS as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit | | | | center. However, for anything over that |
| organization, the charity you donate to | | | | amount, you will need a receipt in |
| must be. Without this badge of approval | | | | writing. If you receive more than |
| from the tax authorities, you'll not be | | | | $5,000 for your vehicle, you will be |
| allowed to legally take the deduction. | | | | require to fill out an additional form |
| Even worse, this can set you up for an | | | | (Form 8283, section B) to be signed by a |
| audit and no one wants to mess with that | | | | representative of the authorized vehicle |
| kind of attention. A truly legitimate | | | | donation center in question AND an |
| authorized vehicle donation center will | | | | independent appraisal. |
| be able to provide you with their tax ID | | | | Though there are certainly charlatans |
| number so you may confirm it on the IRS | | | | out there who would take advantage of |
| website. | | | | charitable giving to line their own |
| Several states additionally certify | | | | pockets, the IRS and state governments |
| authorized vehicle donation centers on | | | | take this very seriously. The state |
| their own. If your state is one of | | | | Attorney General's office will have a |
| these, you can easily check with the | | | | list of known scammers to avoid. Once |
| state attorney general's office to see | | | | you know the authorized vehicle |
| if the donation center you're | | | | donation center you've chosen is on the |
| considering is listed on the state | | | | up and up, you can donate with peace of |
| non-profit rolls. If not, you may not | | | | mind. |