Vehicle Donation

Home > Vehicle Donation

Donate Your Car to DAV

Help the brave men and women who have served by donating any car, truck, RV or boat—and you could qualify for a tax deduction at the same time.

Donating is a great way to get rid of an old or extra vehicle. The process is easy and we provide free and convenient pick-up. Turn your vehicle into resources that help ensure our nation’s heroes have the opportunity to enjoy the freedoms their sacrifices have made possible.

 To donate your vehicle or for more information, please call 833-CAR-4DAV (833-227-4328) or click here.

How it works

Call or Submit the Online Form

Call us toll free at 833-CAR-4DAV (833-227-4328) seven days a week or submit the secure online form. All vehicles are considered! We accept cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles, trailers, boats, campers, off-road vehicles, heavy equipment, and most other motorized vehicles— whether they’re running or not.

Schedule Your Free Pick-up

Choose the best time that works for you! Our Donor Support Representatives will arrange to have a licensed tow company pick up your vehicle. We can pick up your vehicle just about anywhere in the U.S. within 72 hours of completing the donation.

Tax Benefits

Most vehicle donations qualify for a tax deduction. When your vehicle is picked up, the driver will provide you with an initial donation receipt. You may claim as a tax deduction the fair market value of your vehicle up to $500 on your donation even if your vehicle sells for less.  If your vehicle sells for over $500, we will provide a 1098-C IRS form which will allow you to claim the full sale price.


DONATE NOW

or call

833-227-4328

Frequently Asked Questions

  What are the benefits of donating my vehicle to DAV?
It’s easy, fun, free, and secure! We convert the car into cash, which becomes a welcome donation to DAV. Your gift qualifies for a tax deduction, and you avoid the cost and hassle of repairing or selling a car you no longer want.
  Do you accept all vehicles?
All vehicles are considered! We strive to accept any vehicle, anywhere, running or not – cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, boats, airplanes, heavy equipment, farm machinery, and most other motorized vehicles. Call us toll free at 833-CAR-4DAV (833-227-4328) seven days a week or submit a form online to find out if we can accept your vehicle.
  My car doesn’t run or hasn’t been used in years. Can I still donate it?

Yes! We can accept most vehicles, running or not. However, it must be in one piece, have an engine, be tow truck accessible and towable. No smog certificate is necessary. To find out if we can accept your vehicle, please complete our secure online donation form or call us toll-free at 833-CAR-4DAV (833-227-4328) seven days a week during regular hours of operation

  What do I need to donate my vehicle?

In most states, you will need the clear title to the vehicle— but if you do not have it, or have problems with your title, please call us anyway. It is possible that other arrangements may be made. Any lien holder listed on the title must be cleared and or released by the bank. Please refer to the Motor Vehicle Division in your state for clear instructions. We are also available seven days a week during regular hours of operation. Please call us toll-free at 833-CAR-4DAV (833-227-4328).

  Are there any costs?
No. There is no cost to the donor. All expenses are deducted from the gross sales price and, if the costs ever exceed the price, CARS, the nonprofit that operates the program, covers those costs.
  How quickly can I have my vehicle picked up?
In most cases, once the donation record has been created, we can schedule the vehicle to be picked up on the initial call. In other cases, we will contact you within two to three business days to schedule a convenient appointment time with one of our preferred vendors. If you need your car picked up sooner, please let one of our Donor Support Representatives know during your initial call. We will do our best to accommodate your time frame.
  How long is the entire process from the pick-up to when DAV receives its funds?

We have multiple sales outlets and we work hard to find the best buyer for each vehicle. The entire sale process may take up to 4-12 weeks. The net cash proceeds from your generous vehicle donation are sent to DAV within 5 business days upon the receipt of the sale proceeds from CARS auction or direct buyer providers.

  What will happen to my car?
Donated vehicles are sold through the used car markets and provide crucial funding for DAV programs.  We work with a very large network of nationwide and independent suppliers, as well as analyze vendor pricing and performance on a regular basis to improve the process, ensure the best possible return for DAV, and maximize the donor’s tax benefit. For unique or specialty items that have been donated, we may use other means to sell the vehicle to help ensure the maximum funds are received for each donation.
  How do I check on the status of my car or get other answers?
We are available seven days a week! Please call 833-CAR-4DAV (833-227-4328) or email donorsupport@careasy.org to get the answers to your questions.
  Hours of Operation:

8:00am – 10:00pm (EST), Mon – Fri

9:00am – 8:00pm (EST), Saturday

11:00am – 7:30pm (EST), Sunday

  How much money goes to DAV?
The amount of money the DAV receives will depend on the age and condition of the vehicle. The actual costs of towing, title transfer and handling will be deducted with the net proceeds being sent to DAV.
  Who operates the DAV Vehicle Donation Program?
CARS, Inc. (Charitable Adult Rides & Services) runs the DAV Vehicle Donation Program. CARS is an ISO 9001 certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Diego, California, that operates under the governance of an independent Board of Directors and specializes in vehicle donation services for other nonprofits. CARS follows governmental compliance with all IRS and state regulations concerning vehicle donation programs, fundraising registrations, and charitable receipting requirements throughout all 50 states and Canada as required. CARS has also maintained an A+ Better Business Bureau rating for 10+ years.

Tax Benefits of Vehicle Donation

  Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes! Your vehicle donation is tax-deductible.  Individual tax situations vary, so please check with a tax professional to determine how you may benefit.
  How is the value of my tax deduction determined?

Most vehicles are sold through local auctions and we work to get the highest return per vehicle for you and DAV. According to the IRS Guidelines, you may claim fair market value for your donation: “Fair market value is the price a willing buyer would pay and a willing seller would accept…” However, if your vehicle is sold for more than $500, the maximum amount of your deduction will be the sales price of the vehicle.

  Defining Fair Market Value
The “fair market value” of a vehicle is the price that you could sell it for in its current condition to another individual, willing seller and willing buyer, and it represents the cash that you give up to make the donation. A convenient source of this information is the private party sale value as shown in online valuation guides such as Kelley Blue Book  (https://www.kbb.com/company/faq/used-cars/#whatIsFairMarketRange).
  Filing Requirements
DAV’s Vehicle Donation Program must file Form 1098C with the IRS for all vehicle donations, including your Social Security Number and the vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). DAV’s Vehicle Donation Program gives no tax advice. It is solely your responsibility to report vehicle value and tax status. For more information about tax deduction for vehicle donation please refer to the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov.
  What tax forms will I receive?

You will receive an initial donation receipt from the tow driver at the time of your vehicle pick-up. This initial acknowledgement will indicate your name as well as the year, make, model and condition of the vehicle you are donating. You will then be mailed a tax receipt within 30 days of the sale of the vehicle. This will be your only receipt if your vehicle sells for less than $500.

 

If your vehicle sells for more than $500 and your tax identification number has been provided, an IRS Form 1098-C, ‘Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes’, will be mailed to you within 30 days of the sale stating the amount of gross proceeds received from your donation. Individual tax situations vary. For specific tax-related questions, please consult your tax advisor or refer to IRS Publication 4303.

  How do I request a donation receipt or 1098-C?

You will receive a donation receipt from the driver during your pick-up. If your vehicle sells over $500, you’ll receive a 1098-C. If you never received your receipt or would like a replacement, please call us at 833-CAR-4DAV (833-227-4328) during regular hours of operation and we would be happy to help you.

  Privacy Policy
This vehicle donation program protects the privacy of donors. Donor information is not given to any organization except the IRS as required by law and DAV. Donor names, addresses, excluding Social Security Numbers, are shared with the donor designated organization. Social Security Numbers required under the current tax law for vehicle donations are only shared with the IRS. Social Security Numbers are maintained away from other data on a special high-security server not connected to the Internet.
  Liability

The steps needed to complete a release a donor’s liability for their donated vehicle vary by state. Each Donor Service Representative is equipped with a 50-state guide for the steps necessary in each state and will advise the donor of these steps during the donation process.

 

Charitable Adult Rides & Services, Inc (CARS) is licensed and bonded as required to meet all legal qualifications to operate in all states, The District of Columbia, and in Canada as required. CARS follows governmental compliance with all IRS and state regulations concerning vehicle donation programs, fundraising registrations, and charitable receipting requirements.

 

The CARS program protects donors and fully indemnifies organizations. The logos, names, and indices of the DAV Vehicle Donation Program (CARS) and other companies used on the site are protected by the copyright and trademark laws of the United States.

 

To ensure compliance with all registration requirements, CARS works with a nationally recognized law firm that represents nonprofit organizations, professional fundraisers, and commercial telemarketers—in the areas of nonprofit registration, regulation, charitable solicitation, commercial telemarketing, and fundraising. CARS headquarter office is located at 4669 Murphy Canyon Road Suite #200, San Diego, California 92123.