| So you have made the decision to donate your | | | | Of course if your car doesn't operate the |
| old car to charity. Once donated, your car | | | | charity will send a tow truck to the location |
| can have several things happen to it. The | | | | and remove the vehicle. Most of the time the |
| charity that you donate it to will decide how | | | | charity will send a registered tow truck |
| to process the donation based on the general | | | | company over to the location to haul the car |
| condition of the car and operating order. | | | | away. In other instances the charity itself |
| Each charity will have different procedures | | | | will have their own towing service. In either |
| they use to get the most value from your | | | | case you may need to provide the driver with |
| donated vehicle. You can check with the | | | | the car title before they haul it away. This |
| charity you are considering to determine what | | | | will also limit you from any liability since |
| they plan to do with your donation. | | | | you are no longer the registered owner. |
| | | | Discuss this with the charity when you |
| Despite the condition of your donation you | | | | arrange for the pick up. |
| will have a bit of planning to do before | | | | |
| donating your car. First, you are responsible | | | | After your car is hauled away a number of |
| for determining the fair market value of your | | | | things can happen depending on the condition |
| donation. In 2005, in the USA, the law | | | | of the vehicle. If the vehicle is in good |
| changed so now it is up to the vehicle owner | | | | shape the charity will have a mechanic |
| to determine what it is worth. The owner must | | | | inspect the donation and give it a pass if it |
| also have written documentation for the | | | | meets safety standards. Any vehicle that |
| appraisal to justify the value when asking | | | | passes inspection will either be sold at |
| for a tax receipt from the charity. | | | | auction with the proceeds being used to |
| | | | support their organization. It may also be |
| If you are interested in claiming the car | | | | donated to a family in need that the charity |
| donation on your taxes you will need to know | | | | supports. If it fails the inspection the |
| if the donation is valued at more than $500 | | | | mechanic will provide details of what need |
| or less. You will need to obtain additional | | | | fixing. The charity will decide if is worth |
| information from the charity if the value of | | | | fixing the vehicle. |
| the car is more than $500. You must determine | | | | |
| if the vehicle qualifies as a tax deductible | | | | Those vehicles that are not road worthy or |
| donation. Most vehicles legal for public | | | | cost too much to repair will be striped for |
| roads qualify to be tax exempt when donated. | | | | any valuable parts and the remainder will be |
| Also determine if the charity you are | | | | send to the scrape yard. The parts of the |
| donating to has tax exempt status. Most | | | | vehicle will be separated and recycled. The |
| educational and religious organizations will | | | | steel from the frame and body panels will be |
| be tax exempt. Calling the charity and asking | | | | sold off as scrap iron. The charity receives |
| is often the best way to determine this. | | | | the proceeds from the recycling facility less |
| | | | the fee for processing the donation. |
| Now that you have all the pre pick up paper | | | | |
| work complete you are able to arrange for | | | | If you are donating a car that has |
| your donation to be picked up. Depending | | | | sentimental value and you don't want it to |
| where you live this can be handled in a few | | | | end up as scrap you can talk with the charity |
| ways. If the charity is near your home and | | | | in advance. The vehicle will either need to |
| your car operates you can drive it to the | | | | be in good working order before the charity |
| local charity and save them the cost of | | | | gets the donation or be cost effective for |
| having it removed by a towing company. | | | | them to fix it. |
| | | | |
| Again, if the car you donated runs the | | | | Donating a car is simple and goes a long way |
| charity may send a driver to the vehicle | | | | to helping charities in need. Knowing the |
| location and drive it away. This also saves | | | | steps involved to get rid of your old junker |
| them the cost of having it towed. | | | | can help make the process go smoothly. |
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