October 25, 2018
7 Steps to Ensure Trouble-Free Car Donation
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Donating a car can be tricky and difficult sometimes. Don’t worry though. We are here to help! Here are seven steps on how to get your car ready to donate:
- Know your charity’s requirements.
From your chosen charity, get a list of the required paperwork, repairs, and preparations. Requirements may vary from one charity to another. It is equally important as well to get to know their policies. This helps you get an idea what paperwork to expect, how your car will be transported and used.
- Secure the title and prepare the paperwork.
You will need to produce the title of your car before donating it. This holds true for all charity organizations offering car donation programs. Place the title in a folder together will other important documents such as a title transfer form and any accident history of the car you’re donating. Be careful in filling out the paperwork as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) rejects title forms with errors.
- Have a simple car checkup.
There are many charities out there that accept even inoperable vehicles, but there are also some that do not accept such vehicles and may ask you to perform simple maintenance tasks before you can donate one such car. To be able to donate to one of these charities, conduct a simple car checkup. Check the condition of your vehicle’s basic components such as the wipers, lights, windows, tires, and brakes. You can make repairs accordingly to meet the requirements of your chosen charity.
- Clean it up.
Know the purpose of your donation and see if you need to have your car washed before donating it. You can do some basic cleaning before turning your car over to a charity. You do not need to thoroughly clean your vehicle unless required by the charity.
- Remove all personal belongings.
You might have once considered your car as your second home, even putting some of your personal belongings there. You may have placed important documents, jewelry, and other personal items there. Before you donate your car, make sure to check under the seats, floor mats, trunk, storage compartments, and dashboard to get rid of any hidden personal stuff.
- Secure any and all keys together.
Make sure to hand over to the charity any keys you have for the vehicle, including a remote key or separate keys for the gas tank or trunk. Put them on a single key ring and keep it in the same place as your paperwork.
- Complete the transfer before canceling the insurance.
The final step when donating your car is canceling its insurance. However, you should only remove your license plates and cancel your insurance once the transfer is already complete when you drop your car off or have it picked up. It depends on your state of residency. Usually, you can go to your local DMV and surrender your license plates together with the required paperwork.
Your Old Car Can Uplift the Lives of Our Vets
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Now that you know how to get your car ready to donate, it’s time to pick a charity that will make it easy for you to part ways with your old car while making good use of it to support a worthy cause that you can easily relate to. Why not pick Veteran Car Donations?
Unlike other charities, we are not choosy in accepting vehicles being offered for donation. We accept even vehicles that are not in good running condition and tow them at zero cost to the donors. We also reward our donors with the highest possible tax deductions once their vehicles are sold at auction.
Moreover, we assure you that the proceeds from the sale of your donated vehicle will be used to provide assistance to the intended beneficiaries. The funds will be used to provide mortgage-free and specially adapted housing, physical and mental health care, job opportunities, education scholarships, and other benefits to needy veterans.
For more information about Veteran Car Donations, check out our About Us. To know how we conduct our donation process, how you can claim your tax deductions and other rewards, what types of vehicles you can donate, and other related matters, check out our FAQs page. For inquiries, you can call our toll-free hotline 877-594-5822 or send us a message online.
You can make your car donation by either calling us or filling out our online donation form. We accept vehicle donations wherever you are in the United States since we have car donation programs in all 50 states.
Every life matters. That’s why let’s make it count! Call us at 877-594-5822 and get started with your car donation.
Last Updated: August 24th, 2023