Help A Local Child Through The Wheels For Wishes Boat Donation Program!
We accept cars and more when helping Make-A-Wish kids, and a boat donation is a great way to help. That old boat sitting in your yard can make life better for a local child, and you can save money on insuring a boat that hardly ever gets used. The one requirement to know up front is a trailer, since we accept boats on a case-by-case basis and can't take a boat we can't tow.
How To Donate A Boat?
Boats are great when you're out on the water, but they can be stressful to tow around, store and take care of. Most of us don't have enough storage room for a big boat, which means paying for space at a marina or leaving your boat outside exposed to the elements. With growing concern over transferring invasive species from lake to lake, it's also more difficult to take your boat anywhere you want these days.
- Step One: Call us at 1-855-278-9474, or fill out our online donation form.
- Step Two: If you filled out our online donation form you will receive a call from us within 24 hours to schedule the pickup.
- Step Three: After your boat sells, we send your tax form within 30 days. You can claim this only if you itemize deductions, and we can't give tax advice, so talk to your own tax advisor.
Click here to see which states Wheels For Wishes operates in.
What We Can And Can't Accept
Boats must have a trailer, and both the boat and the trailer need titles. We can't take a boat we can't tow, so this is the first thing to check before you call. Every donation is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Other factors we look at include the boat's condition, its location and how easily it can be reached for towing, and whether the title is clear. If you're unsure, call 1-855-278-9474 and we'll let you know right away whether we can accept your boat.
Do you have a yacht or a larger vessel that can't be towed on a trailer? That is a different conversation, so see our page on donating a yacht or larger vessel. Being clear about these requirements helps us focus on the boats we can take and saves you time.
What You Need To Donate A Boat
Have these details ready when you call or fill out the form:
- The title to your boat, in your name
- A trailer, and the trailer's title
- The boat's location and how it can be reached for towing
- The boat's condition, including anything that doesn't work
- Any lien information, since a lien must be cleared and released before we can accept a donation
Each state has its own title requirements, so call us and we'll tell you what yours requires.
Eight Reasons To Donate A Boat To Our Charity Boat Donation Program
- We are a 501(c)(3) charity: Car Donation Foundation, which does business as Wheels For Wishes, is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your boat donation may qualify for a tax deduction if you itemize. We can't give tax advice, so talk to your own tax advisor.
- We are a reputable and well-known charity: The funds generated from your boat donation are used to help children from your own community by benefiting children's charities.
- We guide you through the paperwork: Our team guides you through the title transfer and the paperwork for your boat donation.
- Fast, free pick-up and towing: We pick up most vehicles for free, even trucks that don't run, on a case-by-case basis. A boat must have a trailer, so feel free to contact us to verify.
- We accept most vehicles: including cars, trucks, vans, fleet vehicles, trailers, boats, RVs, SUVs, and motorcycles, on a case-by-case basis.
- It's green: you are recycling your boat.
- You eliminate the hassle of selling or trading in your boat.
- Best of all, boat donation is easy and stress free!
Your boat brought you and your family good memories of fishing, tubing and cruising along the shoreline. When it's time to move on, put your boat to good use by donating it to Wheels For Wishes! See exactly how your donated boat is processed.
How We Sell A Boat
After pickup, our team looks at your boat's condition and the best sales option for it. Depending on condition, a boat is either sold to a new owner or recycled, and the proceeds benefit local children's charities.
Boats appeal to a narrower group of buyers than cars do, so a clear title and complete paperwork for both the boat and its trailer matter. We can't promise a particular sale price or timeline, since every boat is different. For more on what happens after pickup, see how we handle higher-value vehicles.
What To Know About Taxes When You Donate A Boat
Car Donation Foundation, which does business as Wheels For Wishes, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your boat donation may qualify for a tax deduction. You can claim this only if you itemize deductions, and we can't give tax advice, so talk to your own tax advisor.
You never need an appraisal, and we send your tax form within 30 days of your boat selling. Your deduction counts for the year you donate, even if your boat sells the following year. To learn more, see what you can deduct, or read about boats worth more than $5,000.
We'll help get your boat donation started
Donate your boat to Wheels For Wishes for a hassle-free process that provides you with great benefits. Not only does our boat donation help a local child, but your donation may also qualify for a tax deduction if you itemize. We can't give tax advice, so talk to your own tax advisor.
If you have questions, our vehicle donation FAQs can help explain the process. We make donating your boat easy, and we'll guide you through each step, including arranging pickup for boats we can accept. See the real impact your boat donation makes for children with critical illnesses.
We make sure the funds from your boat donation go to a good cause. When you donate a boat, it's a whole lot easier than putting an expensive ad in the paper, taking repeated phone calls, showing your boat off to multiple people, and haggling over the sales price. Once we've confirmed we can accept your boat, we pick it up free of charge and use the proceeds to benefit local children's charities. Donate a boat today to make a difference in the life of a local child who has a critical illness or is facing long hospital stays! Have a vehicle that doesn't run? Learn about junk car donations.
Donate your boat now by calling 1-855-278-9474, or using our online boat donation form.
