Giving You The Power Of Choice
Supporting charitable organizations is a valued and respected part of our Canadian society. We are drawn to specific charities and causes for personal reasons, and Donate a Car Canada gives you the power of choice in making your generous donation. With many charities to choose from, you can feel satisfied in knowing that you are contributing to the charity that is closest to your heart.
If you wish to donate your vehicle to a registered charity that is not on our list, simply add your request during your vehicle submission process.
We will contact the charity and make them aware of their pending vehicle donation. Please note that you will need to select an alternative organization in the event that your requested charity does not wish to participate in the vehicle donation program.
Q: Ok So Should I Donate My Car Or Junk It
A: As cheapskates who do everything ourselves , we prefer to maximize our return on investment, especially if the returns are going to a good cause. Some people dont have the time or resources, though, and donating the car can be convenient. Plus, it can help a lot of people who desperately need assistance, especially given the circumstances of the past few years.
Where Does Your Car End Up
Once a charity hauls off your car, it typically has one of these fates:
Always feel free to ask what happens to your car. If youre not satisfied or get a vague response, look elsewhere.
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Beware Of Car Donation Scams
The car donation business attracts scammers. Sometimes the charitable organization itself is fake. Sometimes the people selling the cars are fraudulent. Sometimes, it’s even the towing company that is taking people for a ride.
Even otherwise trustworthy citizens were getting in on the action until a few years ago. Before 2005, anyone donating a car could subtract the “fair market value” of their car on their taxes. Unfortunately, in many cases, the fair market value was hopelessly out of sync with reality. The true market value of the vehicle wasn’t near the “book value” of the car, so some donors were getting an artificially high break on their taxes.
But the laws have since changed. We’ll get to that in a bit.
The car donation business is bigand growing. Donating a car is a great way to help fund charities. Today, most charities are in greater need than ever. Recent tragedies, like Hurricane Katrina, mean that people who usually donate to their local charity are donating to help these folks instead. There are only so many donations to go around.
Most charities contract someone else to run the car donation programs.
Transferring Your Title To A Charity
The title of a car is its proof of ownership, and it will have to be transferred to the charity as part of the gift. If the charity you select regularly receives cars as donations, they will have a process set up to make the transfer of ownership of the car as easy as possible. Depending on where you live, you can usually transfer the title of the car without a trip to the local DMV.
Bring the vehicle title with you. You will need to sign it over to the charity, by filling all applicable fields on the title certificate. This often includes providing an odometer reading.
Several state DMVs also require you and the representative of the charity to complete a title transfer application. These are typically available through the DMV.
NOTE: Your state may require that all signatures on the title certificate and application forms be notarized.
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The Organization Might Be Schemin
In many cases, at least part of the money squeezed out of a donated vehicle goes toward administrative costs for the company, not toward the people the organization is intended to help. Furthermore, some companies might play games with the paperwork. Always make sure you fill out every part of the title, and always make sure you get a receipt.
Donate Now And Make A Difference
Your used car donations make a difference to the charity that matters most to you. With hundreds of charities partnered with our program, you can choose almost any registered Canadian charity to gift. We will ensure their receiving process is easy as well.
There are no fees charged to the charities at any time, so they can put each of your donation dollars to the good work they are doing on behalf of Canadians like you.
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Ask The Organization These Questions
You deserve to know what happens to your donated car and where the money goes. So ask, and go with the organization that works toward a mutual charitable goal.
- What Happens To the Donated Car?
- What Is the Money Used For?
- What Percentage Of the Money Goes To the Actual Charity?
Once youve settled on a charity, it should be pretty simple from there. The charity will collect information about you and your car, and a few days later, a tow truck should swing by to grab your ride. Once again, just make sure you get that receipt for the donation. Youll need it for your taxes, as non-cash donations tend to draw more attention from the IRS.
Enhance The Life Of A Veteran Today
Giving back to the people who have fought to keep our country safe has never been easier an unwanted vehicle can become so much more when you donate it to Vehicles For Veterans. Donate your car, truck, boat, RV, SUV, motorcycle, or camper to Vehicles For Veterans in California to benefit veterans everywhere, and receive a great tax deduction for your car donation.
Vehicle donations are 100 percent tax-deductible and help to build better lives for our nations veterans. Donate a vehicle today by completing three easy steps:
- Call 1-855-811-4838 or fill out an online donation form.
- A member of our staff will contact you within 24 hours of the next business day.
- Receive free pick up or towing of your vehicle, whether the vehicle runs or not.
Who knew that an unwanted vehicle could truly make a difference in the life of a veteran? Call us today and help to enrich the lives of veterans who have spent their lives protecting the country that they love.
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Dmv Requirements For Donations
From the perspective of the DMV, donating your car is similar to selling your car. All the paperwork for a title transfer plus canceling your registration still applies. The exact steps you’ll need to take will vary from state to state. Contact your local DMV office for specific requirements and details.
Navigating Charitable Vehicle Donations
Do you have a car thats not worth trading towards the purchase of a new car? Perhaps you have a vehicle that you rarely drive and is taking up space in your driveway and youd just like it to go away without a hassle?
You could place a classified ad and try to sell it, but do you really have the time and patience for that? And dont forgot the time wasted waiting on strangers to arrive for a test drive, not to mention the need to spruce up Ole Betsy with a wash and wax. Next thing you know, youre breaking out the touch up paint and Armor All. At that rate, you might as well just hang on to the darn thing!
Theres a better option donate that vehicle to charity! After all, charitable car donations are Americas favorite way of disposing of old vehicles. Youre helping a worthy cause while doing yourself a big favor by taking the hassle and expense out of disposing of your unwanted vehicle.
The steps to donating your vehicle to charity actually begin with a series of questions. From there its usually a very easy three-step process at least with the one offered by the Humane Society of the United States vehicle donation program. But first, onto those burning questions we know you have about how to donate your car to charity!
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What Donors Have To Say
It was really hard to part with my Acura Legend. After 21 years of faithful service, it needed more mechanical work than I could afford, so I decided to donate it to charity. I went to the Donate a Car website and with a couple easy steps, I was able to choose the charity of my choice and arrange pickup of my vehicle. Donate a car contacted me right away and answered all my questions promptly. Within 24 hours, the towing agent contacted me as well and my car was off to auction by the weekend. The process was so easy, I felt like Donate a Car took care of everything for me, and was also, very sympathetic to the loss of my car. I highly recommend Donate a Car. Thanks!Donna L
How To Donate Your Vehicle
We try to make donating your car as quick and easy as possible for you. The process will be complete after just four easy steps:
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Charitable Adult Rides & Services
Charitable Adult Rides & Services is a nonprofit vehicle donation service that serves other charities. That makes it a unique hybrid of car sales service mixed with charitable organization. It also provides meals and transportation to seniors through a program called On the Go.
The service allows you to donate your vehicle to any charity you choose, whether or not your charity of choice is listed as a partner organization CARS already works with. They also accept any type of vehicle.
Once you donate your vehicle, CARS works with more than 400 vendors throughout the U.S. to sell it. These include auctions, private buyers, and salvage yards. The organization chooses the outlet it thinks will get the highest selling price, thereby maximizing your chosen charitys donation and your tax deduction.
To donate your vehicle, complete the online donation form or call the nonprofit at 855-500-RIDE and schedule a free pickup time convenient for you. In some cases, it can pick up your vehicle as soon as the day you call.
You receive a donation receipt from the representative who picks up your vehicle. Within 30 days of the vehicles sale, youll receive a thank you letter from the receiving charity if your vehicle sells for less than $500. If it sells for more than $500, CARS will also send you a 1098C.
How To Donate Your Car To Charity
If you plan on donating your car to charity, make sure you do the necessary research first. Begin by selecting a non-profit organization to receive your vehicle. Double-check that the organization is a 501 to ensure you do not accidentally donate to a for-profit organization disguising itself as a charity. Then, double-check that you are donating directly to the charity, and not an organization that operates as a middleman. This reduces profits both for the charity and for you. Therefore, contact the non-profit about car donations directly to minimize the chances of using a middleman or donating to a for-profit organization.
Once you have found a suitable charity, prepare your car for donation. This means removing all personal items, vacuuming and washing the vehicle. Additionally, prepare the vehicles title. If you do not transfer the car title in preparation for donation, the vehicles registration may remain unchanged even after it is sold. You may be held responsible for parking tickets, unpaid registration and other charges associated with the vehicle. If an organization tells you not to worry about a title or leave it blank, reconsider your donation.
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Identifying Charities For Car Donation
If youre planning on donating your car to charity, begin by doing research on where you want to donate it. You may have seen donation signs on highway billboards in the past. Do not call the first number you see requesting your donated vehicle decide where you want your car to go first. If your car is still functional, consider reputable car donation charities that supplies families in need. For example, organizations like Vehicles for Veterans, 1-800-Charity Cars and Vehicles for Change make a direct donation. That means they do not sell the car for profit, but provide it directly to people who need cars.
If youre planning a car donation for tax write-off purposes, this method may allow you to write off the full fair market value of the car. This is because the organization is dedicated to ensuring the vehicle is in good condition for use. As a result, that charity may even put in effort to refurbish the car before issuing it. Your vehicles value is maximized, and so is the write-off on your taxes.
On the other hand, car donation charities that sell or auction vehicles may only allow you to write off the revenue earned. In some cases, this can be less than $50. That means a vehicle worth several hundred dollars may turn into a small write-off of under $100 on your taxes.
Featured Partner: The Conrad Prebys Foundation
Since 1996, Father Joes Villages Village Health Center has partnered with the University of California, San Diego through the UCSD Combined Family Medicine & Psychiatry Residency Program to offer physicians an unparalleled clinical training opportunity and to deliver critical health services to patients in need. This program provides individuals who have complex physical and mental health needs with integrated primary care and psychiatric serviceswhereby improving medical care and access.
The Conrad Prebys Foundations generous grant of $80,000 contributes to the financial sustainability of this unique program, which expands the VHCs critical health care services and invests in the professional development of physicians in medically underserved communities. The grant will ensure that patients experiencing homelessness have access to quality care that will help them overcome health barriers on their journey out of homelessness.
Conrad donated generously to both healthcare and higher education during his lifetime, which makes Village Health Center a natural fit for the Foundations support, said Tony Cortes, Board Chair of The Conrad Prebys Foundation. VHCs multi-dimensional approach is making great strides in solving some of San Diegos most pressing challenges and the Foundation is proud to contribute to this important work.
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How Your Car Helps
When you donate a car to Charity Cars, running or not, 100% of your donation goes to our charity and helps us provide the gift of transportation to a family in need. Cars that do not qualify to be given to a family are sold and help fund repairs to program cars. This way, even if your car does not run, you are helping a family receive a reliable, working car.
Your Donation Changes the Lives Of:
- Military Veterans
- Victims of Natural Disasters
The Charity Must Qualify
Only donations to qualified charities can provide a tax deduction for you. A qualified charity is one that the IRS recognizes as a 501 organization. Religious organizations are a special case. They do count as qualified organizations, but they aren’t required to file for 501 status.
To help you determine whether a charity is qualified, the easiest thing to do is to use the IRS exempt organizations site, or call the IRS toll-free number: 877-829-5500.
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Best Places To Donate Your Car To Charity
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Date
Donating your used car to charity is a convenient way to dispose of an old vehicle while reaping tax benefits.
According to New York-based salvage company Cash Auto Salvage, charities recycle nonworking vehicles for their scrap metal and parts, potentially bringing in a few hundred dollars for a charity. But according to vehicle paint meter manufacturer FenderSplendor, working vehicles bring in even more. Charities sell them at auction for anywhere from $300 to $3,500 on average.
Plus, donating your vehicle lets you skip the hassle of trying to sell the car yourself while still allowing you the financial benefits of tax deduction. In fact, the most challenging part of car donations is finding the right charity to donate to.
Who Is Advanced Remarketing Services Inc
Advanced Remarketing Services is our authorized agent and attorney-in-fact for the purpose of selling vehicles and transferring titles. They handle the title transfer, towing and reporting of all vehicle donations.
Vehicle donations may be made online through the donation wizard or by calling 1-877-277-4344.
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The 2017 Tax Bill And Car Donations
Taxpayers who are considering a car donation might be wondering how the tax bill passed into law in December 2017 could affect their decision. To begin with, the bill, called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, lowered tax rates but also altered the previous income brackets. Beginning in 2018 you may find yourself in a new bracket, which might result in either lower or higher taxes, depending on your individual situation. And that means the tax benefit from a donation might be more or less advantageous.
Another important change is that the new law raises the standard deductions from $6,350 to $12,000 for individuals and married couples filing separately from $9,350 to $18,000 for the head of a household and from $12,700 to $24,000 for married couples filing jointly. This change likely means that fewer people will find it beneficial to itemize deductions.
“The vast majority of taxpayers are going to take the standard deduction,” says David L. Thompson, vice president of public policy for the National Council of Nonprofits. “That means most taxpayers have no incentive to give to charity. That’s a serious concern. We fully expect the doubling of the standard deduction to reduce giving by $13 to $20 billion a year.” With these and other changes resulting from the revised tax laws, it’s more important than ever for consumers to consult with their financial adviser or tax preparer before making a decision about donating to charity.
