Your gift is 100% tax deductible
Rather than selling or trading in your used car or other vehicle, consider donating it to the American Cancer Society. We receive top ratings as a car donation charity. Our process is easy for you, and we responsibly manage your donation. Your donation can help improve the lives of people facing cancer and their families by funding lifesaving research, advocacy, and free patient support programs and services.
Your vehicle can be scheduled for pickup within 24-48 hours after your title has been received.
After a few weeks, you ll receive the tax deductible receipt you'll need for filing your taxes.
*Donation impact based on value average car donation.
“I am a childhood Cancer survivor! At the age of 8 I was diagnosed with wilms tumor, and underwent a right nephrectomy and 6 months of chemotherapy. Today I am a healthy adult and have a soft spot in my heart for people struggling with cancer!”
“Donating on behalf of my mother Danita who died from colon cancer.”
“This Chevy was previously owned by my mom's good friend Liz who passed away from cancer. We bought the car from her husband and the car was good to me for a long time. I am now donating the car to the American Cancer Society in memory of Liz.”
A: A local tow agent will contact you within two to three business days to arrange your car pick up. The vehicle will be picked up by a licensed tow company at no cost to you. If you have questions about your tow, please contact the local tow agent or call 1-888-227-5500.
A: Most states require that you have a clear title to the vehicle; some states also require a notarized signature to complete a donation. Any lien holder listed on the title must be cleared and or released by the bank. If you cannot locate or have lost the certificate of title, call us at 1-888-227-5500.
A: The amount that is tax deductible is the sale price of the car. We will produce and send a tax receipt via email once your vehicle has sold. If your car sells for more than $500, an IRS Form 1098-C, Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes will be mailed to you within 30 days of the sale stating the amount of gross proceeds received from your car. This will be your tax receipt for your charitable contribution.
A: Donating a car or other vehicle to charity can be a confusing decision. Many charity car donation programs promise to help the charities but are run by third-party processors that return very little to the charity. Our partners at Advanced Remarketing Services return 75-80% of the gross proceeds from the sale of each vehicle, the highest of any other vehicle donation program. View these car donation tips for more info on how to maximize your charitable car or other vehicle donation.
A: They handle the title transfer, towing and reporting of all vehicle donations, and are The American Cancer Society’s authorized national agent processing all of our vehicle donations. Vehicle donations may be made online through the donation page or by calling 1-888-227-5500.
A: Yes! The American Cancer Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations, including vehicles, may be claimed as a deduction on your tax return. We accept all vehicles, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, RV’s, boats and more. If you would like to donate your vehicle, please go to our donation page or call 1-888-227-5500
A: Once your vehicle is sold, the selling price becomes the amount of your donation. If your vehicle sells for more than $500, you may deduct the full selling price. If your vehicle sells for $500 or less, you can deduct the “fair market value” of your vehicle, up to $500.
A: The following websites can help you calculate your vehicle’s fair market value.
A: Within 30 days of the sale of your vehicle, you will receive a written acknowledgment, or receipt, of your gift. The receipt will include:
A: You can learn more by reviewing the IRS documents below or by consulting with your tax adviser.
Information in this section has been provided courtesy of our partner, Advanced Remarketing Services.
*Any links provided to websites of other companies are for convenience and are not an endorsement of a service or product.
There are hundreds of car donation programs on the internet making heartfelt appeals for vehicles, but only a small number of these programs actually make a difference to the charity. Car Donation Wizard wants you to know that we know that you have choices and we are happy to offer complete clarity on where your car donation is going, who it's helping, and how it's going to get there. Call us anytime at (877) 957-2277 for more information or to donate a car to one of our amazing nonprofit partners today.
*Car Donation Wizard returns between 75% and 80% of the GROSS from each auto donation back to the charity.
When you donate through our program you are eligible for a tax deduction. However, to claim your deduction you need to itemize on your income tax return.
In 2005, the IRS changed the laws related to tax deductibility of car donations because of exaggerated deductions based on inflated book values. Under the new rules, the deductible amount of your vehicle donation is directly related to the selling price of your vehicle.
Donate a car and if it sells for less than $500 you can take a tax deduction equal to the 'fair market value' of your donation up to $500. Fair Market Value is explained as the "Blue Book" or "Guide Book" value of your vehicle. The charity is legally prohibited from providing fair market value to the donor but you can access that information easily. See our car donation to charity help links below for Kelley Blue Book, NADA Guides or Edmunds.
The receiving charity is required by IRS to send the donor a receipt or "contemporaneous written acknowledgement" within 30 days of the vehicle sale. This receipt must include the following:
The gross selling price of the vehicle (if sold for greater than $500)
Year, Make, Model and VIN Information
A statement that the vehicle was sold at arm's length between two unrelated parties
And a statement that no goods or services were received in return for your contribution.*
*Keep in mind, companies promising goods or services in return for your car donation are legally cutting into the amount that you can claim for a tax deduction.
Car Donation Wizard wants donors to know that donating a car to charity not only helps the organization fund worthwhile research and activities, but you also may be eligible to claim a tax deduction for your charitable contribution. Here are some car donation tax tips:
If you have additional question about deductions and IRS Regulations the following links may be of assistance:
IRS Publication 4303, A Donor's Guide to Car Donations (PDF)
Publication 526, Charitable Contributions (PDF)
Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property (PDF)
Form 8283 Noncash Charitable Contributions (PDF)
Instructions for Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions (PDF)
We fund research breakthroughs that save lives. Your year-end gift helps find new treatments for cancer.