Why Donate?
Here are Some Common Reasons to Donate a Car, Boat or RV:
Repairs
Repairing and older car, boat or RV can be very expensive, and it may not be worth the investment. In many cases the value does not increase even after spending a large sum on repairs. Donating your car, boat or RV is often a better option. Not only will you save money on the regular maintenance and repairs, you will no longer need to pay for expensive insurance.
Trading In an Older Car Isn’t Worth It
Car dealers want to make as much money as possible on a trade-in, especially if your vehicle is in good running condition. They typically offer 80 percent of the Kelly Blue Book value, and sometimes it can be as low as 60 percent. Trade-ins rarely give you a fair market value.
Junk Car
If you have a car with severe rust damage and it doesn’t run or it cannot pass an emissions test, donating the vehicle can be a good option. In most cases, you can donate a car regardless of its condition, even if it is a pile of junk and non-operational. If you decide to have the car towed to a junk yard, you will pay a towing fee and sometimes even a fee to the junk yard. However, if you donate the vehicle, you not only get free towing, you get a tax deduction and you are helping a charity.
No Title
Some charities will accept a car that does not have a title. In most cases the vehicle will only be auctioned for scrap or parts; thus reducing the value of your deduction, but at least you can get it off your property or out of your driveway and can avoid the expense of replacing the title.
The Car, Boat or RV was Owned by a Deceased Relative
When a spouse or family member passes away, it is a difficult task to decide what to keep and what to discard. There are usually heirlooms that cannot be parted with, but vehicles are normally not a sentimental item. Dealing with an old or late model car can be a burden.
There are issues like the vehicle title that is in a deceased person’s name, and this can be confusing. However, donating your car gives you the benefit of having our experienced staff walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have.
Seasonal Cars, Boats and RVs
Cars, boats, and especially RVs take up a lot of storage space. If you have an extra vehicle that you are not using on a regular basis, you’re paying for space that you could be using more efficiently. And if you have an RV in storage that you only use for that summer vacation, you could save a lot of money on upkeep, insurance and storage fees if you donated it to charity and rented an RV when you need it. The same goes for a boat. Why deal with the maintenance and yearly depreciation when you can rent a recent model RV or boat.
Tax Deduction
One of the biggest benefits of donating a car, boat or RV to a registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization is the tax deduction. The charity will issue you a tax receipt after your donation is accepted. This allows you to claim a deduction on the following year’s taxes.
Helping Charities
Probably the best reason for donating a car, boat or RV is that it helps a charity. Your old car might not seem that important to you, but the proceeds from the sale can provide continued services to the charity you wish to support.
