December 18, 2018
What to Do with Your Old Car: Choose from These 4 Options
Photo by Erik Mclean under Pexels License
Just like other consumer goods, cars have their expiration dates. Once you see signs of your car’s imminent demise—like when its major parts start to break down and no amount of repairs or replacement of parts would suffice to make it run smoothly again—it tells you to let go of it for good.
If you believe it’s time to finally part ways with your road buddy, go for it! There’s no point in keeping it when you have no use for it anymore. Apart from hurting your wallet, a run-down vehicle will only serve as an eyesore on your property.
There are four options to choose from if you’re planning to get rid of your automobile, each having to do with your preferences:
- Sell it yourself.
If you’re hoping to get a good chunk of cash from your clunker, selling it would be the best choice. However, before you advertise it, make sure to check out Kelley Blue Book’s online valuation tool to get an idea of how much your car model usually sells for.
While there’s a chance that you can get a good amount from your old vehicle depending on its make and model, selling it can be a lengthy and troublesome process. Apart from racking your brains on how to entice buyers, you might need to deal with stubborn hagglers. Plus, you might have to spend a few bucks first to get your car physically and functionally ready for sale.
If you’re not bothered by the downsides of selling at all, then go ahead! Use newspaper classifieds or list your car into popular online classifieds such as Craigslist, Edmunds or Cars.com. Don’t forget to show photos and highlight all of its best features.
- Trade it to a trusted dealer.
Planning to get a new car after retiring your current one? Trading it sounds like the most viable option. It’s important that you know your car’s fair market value first, so be sure to do your research on its make and model as well as the trade-in value for its mileage and running condition.
To guarantee a high trade-in price, have your car undergo basic maintenance and a few touch-ups at your local auto shop. It’s also a good idea to visit several dealerships in your area and compare quotes. To make it even more convenient, you can just do your trade-in at the same dealership where you plan to purchase your new car.
- Donate it to charity.
If a hefty tax write-off sounds good to you, donating your clunker to a qualified charity is the option you’d want to go for. Since many car donation programs accept damaged or barely operating cars, there’s no reason for you to shell out cash for car repairs anymore. Plus, they’ll be the ones to pick up your automobile, and you don’t have to pay a single dime for it.
In donating a vehicle to charity, choose a certified 501(c)3 nonprofit charity if you want to receive a tax deduction in return. See to it that you donate your vehicle to a legitimate organization and not one that’s operated by scammers. Charity Watch and Charity Navigator will help you determine the authenticity of your selected nonprofit.
- Take it to the salvage yard.
If your ancient car is way too worn-out to attract buyers, scrapping it is your last resort. Call your local junkyard first and ask them if they’re interested to take your beater. Some national chains include Pick-n-Pull, JunkACar, and College Hunks Hauling Junk.
For auto parts that are still working properly, you can sell them for a good enough price. Make sure you dismantle them before sending your car to the junkyard.
Veteran Car Donations Would Love to Have Your Vehicle!
Photo by Francois Van Vuuren under Pexels License
Do you want to give away your car for a meaningful purpose—one that will provide substantial benefits to people who truly deserve them? Are you looking for a quick, simple, and convenient donation process where you don’t have to bother with paperwork or pay for your car’s towing?
Looks like you’ve found your perfect solution in us!
At Veteran Car Donations, we can assure you that your vehicle will be in good hands. Not only will we provide you with free and fast professional towing service, but we’ll also handle all the necessary donation documents and promptly deliver to you your 100% tax-deductible receipt right after we sell your donated vehicle at auction. This receipt will enable you to claim the highest possible tax deduction for your donated vehicle when you file your itemized federal income tax return for the upcoming tax-filing season.
Most important of all, your charitable contribution will improve the living conditions of those needy veterans and their families in your area. These are the former members of our armed forces who are regarded as our nation’s heroes for risking their lives and making enormous sacrifices to defend our freedoms and protect our security. Sadly, many of them are living miserable lives as they continue to carry the burdens of their service-connected disabilities, physical and mental health problems, inability to find jobs, and homelessness due to poverty and lack of support.
Your donation will greatly ease their suffering. We will auction off your donated vehicle and use the proceeds to support our nonprofit partners in providing them with mortgage-free and specially adapted homes, free physical and mental health care services, educational scholarships, career development, employment opportunities, financial assistance, and many other benefits.
If you want to know more about our car donation program, check out our FAQs page. For inquiries, you can call our toll-free 24/7 hotline 877-594-5822 or send us a message online.
You can donate to Veteran Car Donations 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.
Join Us in Uplifting the Lives of Our Nation’s Heroes
Do you want to join our mission to uplift the lives of our struggling heroes together with their families? We’ll be glad to welcome you today! Call Veteran Car Donations now at 877-594-5822 and get started with your car donation!
Last Updated: August 24th, 2023