HomeWays to GiveReal Estate and Car Donations for Veterans
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Donate Your Car to DAV
Help the brave men and women who served our country by donating any car, truck, RV or boat— plus you could even 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. We strive to accept any vehicle – cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, boats, airplanes, heavy equipment, farm machinery, and most other motorized vehicles – in all fifty states, running or not.
Get Started
or call 833-227-4328
Donate Real Estate
Donating real estate to support DAV and veterans is fast and easy! The proceeds from your property donation allow DAV to continue providing lifetime support for veterans of all generations and their families.
Our program takes any property type (land, homes, commercial) in any location so long as there is equity. Even if you owe back taxes, have a mortgage balance or have deferred maintenance, it’s no problem. We will pay off all loans, liens, commissions owed and all closing costs.
Get Started
or call 844-277-HOME (4663)
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 – cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, boats, airplanes, heavy equipment, farm machinery, and most other motorized vehicles – anywhere, running or not. 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, those costs are covered.
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 vehicle 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 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, 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 [email protected] 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 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 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 over 10 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of real estate can we accept?
Any type of property may be donated that has positive equity, a clear title, and no environmental issues. Common property types are land, second homes, rental properties, commercial real estate and estates. Timeshares and mobile homes may not be accepted.
Is it easy to donate real estate?
Yes! Through a national real estate auction platform and a national title company partnership, real estate donations are quickly vetted and converted to cash to support DAV. DAV does not own or operate the property as part of the process. Donors do not pay for anything and only need to fill out a seller disclosure and sign the deed at closing. We take care of everything else.
Can I donate real estate with a mortgage balance?
Yes, you can donate real estate with a mortgage balance. The proceeds of the auction sale will be used first to pay off any mortgage balance. Prior to the auction, our real estate partner will determine if the likely value exceeds the mortgage balance. In cases where an asset doesn’t have enough equity to result in a surplus, we’ll unfortunately be unable to accept it.
Can I give a portion of the equity to DAV, or do I have to donate it all?
Yes. If the donated property has a high enough value, the donor may elect to donate a portion of the equity (falling under a Bargain Sale-IRS Section 170).
How will the tax deduction be determined?
Real estate donations are based on the full appraised value, not the sale price. In most cases, donors may deduct the difference between the cash received and the fair market value based on an appraisal specifically completed to assess the value based on IRS gift appraisal guidelines. Donors may not deduct proceeds that were applied to pay off mortgages or back real estate taxes. The deduction can be carried forward up to five years following the year of sale.
How long does it take to complete a real estate donation?
Most property donations will be completed within 90 days, and some as quickly as 14 days. Our goal is to maximize the value of the property.
Who pays commissions and/or closing costs?
Donors do not have to pay any commissions. If the property is currently listed with a broker, the DAV Real Estate Donation Program provider will pay the commission owed based on either the list price or the tax assessor value if there is no list price. All unpaid liens will be paid off at closing. The donor is generally not asked to pay anything out of pocket, and there are no closing costs to the donor. Prepaid property taxes and assessments will be remitted back to the donor at closing.
Can either party cancel the donation agreement?
In short, it depends on the transaction. If we can’t achieve a sales price that results in a surplus, or if there are title or serious repair issues found, we may have to terminate the donation agreement.
What if a property has environmental issues?
The DAV Real Estate Donation Program provider has the ability to process properties with environmental issues, however, only high-value assets would be considered due to the risk and complexity. We have investors specializing in environmental clean-up and often issue indemnities to sellers via complex insurance placements.
