Car Donation Tips For Newbies and Beginners

Okay, so you've decided you want to get into the car donation business. Well, it's not really a business. It's more of a calling. People who get involved with car donation don't get the respect they deserve. Take our organization, for example: Donate A Car 2 Charity. We do what we do because we want to help the needy and provide a steady flow of good resources to the charities of our choice. This world is only going to get tougher and tougher, and people need to be looking out for one another. Our way of car donation is just another method for people to help other people. So, whether you're an organization looking into starting with car donation, or you're a regular citizen who just wants to help out and maybe get a tax break along the way, car donation with Donate A Car 2 Charity is the absolute best way to do it.

Car Donation Pointers

Once you decide to go ahead with the car donation, make sure you're actually in legal possession of the car! This might sound like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised at how many people don't actually have the deed or the pink slip to their car. Either their parents paid for it and never signed the car over, or their significant other left them and took the slip with them - it pays to be completely certain that you actually own the car you want to donate. Second, pick the right service. I don't mean to toot our own horn here, but we are the best car donation service, bar none. We make it easy and painless for you, and we come and pick up the car. There are no hidden payments, no hidden fees, and there's no reason not to do car donation with Donate A Car 2 Charity if you have the means and will. Good luck, and I hope to see you soon!

Will car donation take a back seat to Congress' new Cash For Clunkers bill?

The U.S. House of Representatives is working on a bill designed to provide a financial incentive for consumers to get rid of their gaz guzzlers and replace them with more economical, fuel-efficient cars. The bill, tacked onto a military spending bill, will give consumers who "trade down" a $4,500 stipend for use in the purchase of the new car. If you are buying a new car, and that new car gets better mileage than your old one, you could be eligible for the Cash For Clunkers financial incentive. Global warming and the greenhouse gas issue are obviously big problems that need addressing, and for that we applaud Congress, but what about the normal people who already drive fuel efficient cars? They already do their part for the environment, and because of that they aren't eligible for the $4,500 rebate.

Is that fair? Maybe not, but there is always another option for people with older, fuel efficient cars who want a little financial assistance for their next purchase: car donation! I know, I know - we talk about it a lot, but for good reason. Car donation is an incredibly viable way for anyone to take part in the charity process while still doing their part for environment. When you donate a car to charity, you may not be getting that big fat government check, but you will be receiving a tax break commensurate with the value of your car, and you will be helping a family in need of assistance. And besides, most cars coming out nowadays have better fuel economy than their predecessors, so your new car purchase will most likely be better for the environment. 

 Provided the bill passes - which it should - we don't foresee any potential for conflict between car donation and the Cash For Clunkers program. We're all committed to helping the greater good, whether it's through environmental action or charitable contributions, and both Cash For Clunkers and car donation can help achieve that.

Car Donation Can Be A Huge Hassle 

Even though we're in the car donation business, we understand better than anyone just how much of a hassle most car donation services can be. Simply put, many organizations dedicated to donating cars to charities aren't adequately prepared for the amount of work and dedication it takes to make the car donation go successfully. On our end, it can be a lot of extra work, with tons of paperwork, lots of phone calls, and a lot of red tape to get through. The mistake people in our industry make is that they let the extra work trickle down to the customer. They figure that since they're doing all the work, it wouldn't hurt to let the customer do some of the work, too. To that I say, "Okay, do what you want. Just don't act surprised when the customers stop donating cars to your service." If you allow the hard work of the job to filter through to the customer, constant car donation will be a thing of the past. People are far more likely to donate cars to a service that handles all the hard work for them.

That's Us! 

We are that service. We've been on the other side of the bargain, and we know just how annoying it can be to want to engage in car donation only to be hit with tons of paperwork to fill out, lots of red tape to wade through, and dozens of bureaucrats to talk to before we can donate to charity. It's insane! Because we want to encourage car donation, we've decided to handle all the busy work for our customers. All our customer has to do is call or email us, and we'll handle the rest. We'll show up with paperwork to be filled out or signed, and we'll come tow or drive away your car. It's incredibly simple, and all you have to do is sign a few papers. That way, you're more likely to try car donation, and we're more likely to help even more people with car donations. Everyone wins. 

Donating A Car Is Easy

You may not know this (although you should if you've been keeping up with our blog!), but donating a car has been made easier than ever thanks to the simple three step process we've laid out on our website. See, a common deterrent for some people was the hassle they envisioned when they imagined donating a car to charity. Even the tax benefits you get when you do donate a car aren't always enough motivation. People nowadays are busy; they have little to no free time, and the prospect of arranging a pickup for your car and waiting around for it to happen seems like it would take forever. Whether it's bad memories of waiting in line forever just to donate some clothes to a consignment shop or the knowledge that government red tape usually makes like this laborious and slow-moving, a lot of people assume that donating a car is more trouble than it's worth.

Car Donation Is No Trouble And It's Worth What Little It Is

It's really quite easy. If you want to go about donating a car, all you have to do to start the process is make a phone call. That's it. Either give us a call or contact us online and notify us that you're interested in donating a car to charity. Once you get the first step out of the way, the rest falls into place. After we receive your call or your online form, we come to you and pick up your car, free of charge. You do nothing but give us the keys and the permission to take your car. The last step is the best one... you get a tax deduction! Just make sure to review the current tax laws to ensure you're processing your claim correctly. Other than that, it's all easy! You get rid of a car you weren't even using and get a tax deduction in the process, while the car you just donated goes to benefit the charity of your choice.

Who ever thought donating a car could be so easy?

Choosing a Charity: Car Donation for Non-Working or Junk Cars

Which Charities Accept Car Donations for Junk Cars

A Guide to Car Donation Charities: The Basics about Charities that Accept Junk Cars

• Determine whether the Charity will even accept your car. Once you locate a charity that accepts donated non-working cars, you need to see if they will accept your. Sometimes a car is not valued high enough and will end up costing the charity money.
• Confirm with the Internal Revenue Service that the charity is registered with them as a charity, and that they are actually eligible to take donations of used cars. If they are registered with the IRS, then you will not be able to make a tax deduction.
• Get a written receipt. Make sure the receipt includes the charity's name, address and tax I.D. number. It's a good idea to take a photo of the car before it's donated.
• If the car is not drivable, make sure your charity of choice will pick it up for you. Many charities who work with car donations are contract with towing companies to get non-working cars delivered to them. Car donation shouldn’t cost you anything at all.

The Benefits of Car Donation

Free Vehicle Pickup and Good Karma!

• It's fast. Want to donate? It’s as easy as going online and visiting DonateACar2Charity.com. Think of all the time you will save by not having to list the car, answer countless phone calls, show the car or go on test drives! Plus organizations like DonateACar2Charity.com offer fast, free vehicle pickup and handle the annoying paperwork such as receipts and titles.
• Selling is a huge hassle. First, you'll need to advertise. You can put it on online, in your local paper or go old school and put a "for sale" in the windshield. No matter which route you take, you will have to deal with the public; which means dealing with flakes, low-ballers and window shoppers. Not-to-mention, this will take away at least one weekend of your life which you will never get back!
• You can get a nice tax deduction; making it a win-win situation for both you and the charity. Charities like DonateACar2Charity.com that accept vehicle donations know exactly how to handle the process, so there is minimal stress. They offer fast and free vehicle pickup anywhere in the country. They will also be able to appraise your car or offer a receipt that lists the blue book value as long as it's under $500.00. If we sell the car for more then $500.00, the deduction will be the sale price. If your car is valued at more than $5,000.00 and we use it for our charitable purposes you'll need an independent appraisal but we can also guide you in that process as well not to mention cover all expenses.

Let’s not forget that donating your car is a good thing. At the end of the day, you'll know that you're donating to a cause that is dedicated to helping others. Aside from good karma, donating a car saves you time and energy and who can put a value on that?

If you are looking to donate a vehicle or boat and would like to claim a tax deduction for 2008, the donation deadline is midnight, December 31st, 2008. If you donate via phone or by using our online form, so long as your donation submission is made before the clock strikes midnight and choruses of Auld Lang Syne can be heard in the background, your donation makes you eligible for a tax deduction for 2008.

Recap: Deadline to donate your vehicle and claim a tax deduction for 2008 is midnight, December 31st, 2008.

We at Donate A Car 2 Charity hope you were able to get your 2007 taxes filed on time (April 17th). If you are planning to claim a deduction for the 2008 fiscal year on a vehicle or boat you are planning to donate, you must donate the vehicle/boat before midnight December 31st 2008. But don’t wait till the last minute to get information about donating your car. Feel free to call and talk to one of our live operators at 877-505-5775 to find out all you need to know about donating your vehicle or boat.

As part our efforts to provide donors with the best car donation experience possible, we have added SSL security to all online forms that process your personal information including our easy car donation form.

We are continually improving our services and website features to make for a better overall donation experience. Another recent website addition is an easy site search to help you find the information you need quickly.

Once you have submited your donation you can be sure that we will have a professional tow company pickup your vehicle in the timeliest manner possible, and once your car is picked up we ensure your donation is processed so that you are able to claim the best deduction possible for your car, either by selling your vehicle or using it to further Activated Ministries' charitable projects.

Well, it's that time of year again! The holiday season with long shopping lists, cards to send out, vacations to plan -- and it's also time to think of your last-minute tax deductions for 2005. There is still time to claim a deduction for your donated car, boat, RV or motorcycle for this tax year! If you call our toll-free number 1 (877) 505-5775 before midnight on December 31st to donate your vehicle -- or better yet, donate online before midnight Dec 31st, 2005 -- then you can still claim your tax deduction for 2005, even though your vehicle will not be picked up until the new year. Have a Happy Holiday!