Car Talk / Cars A-Z / How to Donate a Car

How to Donate a Car

Wondering how to donate a car? Good news. We’ve helped people donate cars, motorcycles, boats, planes and even the odd snowcat for going on 20 years.

Donating a car is a great way to support your NPR station, and give your old car the sendoff it deserves.

How Do I Donate My Car?

It’s super easy. You can do it online or by calling the Car Talk helpline. We’ll talk you through the whole process. Just have your vehicle information ready (registration and title if you have it) and we’ll get things started.

Car Talk makes it easy to donate your car to your favorite NPR station. Just call one of our donation specialists at (877) 215-0227. Or if you don’t want to talk to one of our humans, start your donation online. And if you have a question at any time during the donation process, you can always call a donation specialist at (877) 215-0227 and ask.

You can watch this super helpful video about the Car Talk Vehicle Donation process here.

Will They Want My Car?

The Car Talk donation program supports public radio, donating funds to the NPR station of your choice. We accept donations of all types of vehicles; running, non-running, classics, lightly used and, yeah, even the ones that have corn stalks growing out of the engine compartment. If you’re thinking “I’ve got a plane that I’d like to donate, I wonder if I can donate it?” - good news, the answer is yes. Same story for motorcycles, boats, off-road vehicles, motor homes and RV’s. Unicycle? Well, try us!

How Does Car Donation Work With Car Talk?

First, you’ll tell us about your vehicle.

Try to be as thorough as possible, so we can identify the best way to sell your car and get the most money for your station. If you’re using a phone or tablet, follow the links to take photos of your car for us. We love pictures.

After you’ve entered your vehicle information, we’ll need some basic information about you, and the location of your car, so we can arrange to pick it up when you’re ready. So we’ll need your name, address, phone, and email.

Once you hit submit, you’ll get a link so you can track the progress of your donation in real time.

The donation tracker will include information about scheduling your vehicle’s pickup. It'll also explain how to sign the title over to our vehicle processing partner, Advanced Remarketing Services. If you can’t find your title, our specialists can help you get a new one. Call us at (877) 215-0227.

Once the vehicle is sold you’ll receive information about a tax receipt.

Remember, at any time during the donation process, or after, you can call us with questions. We’re happy to help resolve any title issues and handle any special requests or pickup instructions.

Your car has probably been a loyal friend to you and your family. Give it a chance to do one more good deed in the world by donating it to your favorite NPR station.

FAQ

Is donating a car a good idea?

OK, we’re a little biased… but it’s a fantastic idea! We know your car has been important to you. It has carried you and your family to important events, and probably been a trusty friend for years. That's why we have a group of donation specialists who are experts in maximizing the value of every car donated to NPR stations. Alongside this, you’ll get a receipt you can use to deduct from your taxes. It’s a very simple process.

How much of a tax write off do you get when you donate a car?

You may be eligible for a tax deduction when you donate your car to your local NPR station. You will receive a donation receipt, and you are entitled to deduct the sale price of the vehicle if it sells for more than $500. If it sells for less than $500, you may deduct the fair market value of the car, not to exceed $500. We recommend you consult a site like kbb.com if you need help estimating the fair market value of a sub-$500 donation for tax purposes.

How do you get rid of a car that doesn't run?

You can even donate a vehicle that doesn't run to your NPR station. Don't worry! As long as we know it's a non-running vehicle, we'll send the appropriate tow truck to haul it away. Even non-running vehicles can be donated to help NPR and its stations.

How do I donate a car for a family member?

In the case of donating someone else’s vehicle, the key piece of information we need is the vehicle title. If you don’t have this and are in rightful possession, we can help you get a replacement. Just call our vehicle donation specialists at 1-877-215-0227. They're great at solving these types of problems for NPR car donors, and will be happy to help.

How much does it cost to donate a car?

Absolutely nothing! In fact, it's even better than that, as you may be eligible for a tax deduction when you donate your car to your local NPR station.

Do you have to pay taxes on a donated vehicle?

The exact opposite - you may be eligible for a tax deduction when you donate your car to your local NPR station. You’ll receive a donation receipt, and you’re entitled to deduct the sale price of the vehicle if it sells for more than $500 when itemizing taxes. If it sells for less than $500, you may deduct the fair market value of the car, up to $499. We recommend you consult a site like kbb.com if you need help estimating the fair market value of a sub-$500 donation for tax purposes.

Once your NPR-station car donation is complete, we'll provide you with a sales receipt or IRS Form 1098C. We are not able to provide specific tax advice as each individual tax situation is different. We suggest you consult your tax advisor for more info.