A title or similar certificate is needed to complete the donation process depending on your State. Click here to find out more about your State's title laws.
When your donation process is complete, request a receipt from the charity program. With Wheels For Wishes your receipt is automatically sent to you.
When you receive your car donation receipt hold onto it for next year's taxes.
When you are filing your taxes in 2026 for last year's car donation all you have to do is fill out a 1098-c form and attach it to your federal tax return.
Four Simple Categories For A Car Donation:
A tax write off for a car donation is a way that you can get money back from your taxes for the non-cash charitable donation of a motor vehicle.
In most cases, donated vehicles that sell for less than $500 are able to be claimed at the fair market value up to $500 without filling out any extra paperwork.
If your donated car sells for more than $500, you will be able to claim the exact amount for which your vehicle sold with a 1098-c form or a 8283 form. The 1098-c form is specifically for motor vehicles, the 8283 form is for general property. Both can be used to file for a car donation.
If you are looking for a car donation tax credit of over $500 but less than $5,000 you’ll have to fill out a 1098-c form or a 8283 IRS Form for a non-cash charitable contribution. A tax deduction for a donated car is a simple step within the document in section A of the 8283.
A car donation tax credit for over $5,000 will need a 1098-c form or a 8283 form with a written appraisal. You can find this simple step within section B of the 8283 IRS Form for non-cash charitable contributions.
Here is a chart to help you with the filing of your car donation tax write off:
Image Source: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4303.pdf
How Much Does Donating A Car Save On Taxes Specifically?
Are car donations tax deductible in 2026? Yes they are! All donated vehicles from the year 2026 can be deducted on next year's taxes. Your tax deduction for car donations is just an added bonus to the gift you are giving to a child dealing with critical illness!
Is Donating A Car Worth It?
Vehicle donation is a great alternative to selling or junking your vehicle.
Selling your vehicle can take time, effort, and you might have to pay for maintenance costs.
Junking your vehicle can mean that you are getting far less for your car than the actual value of your car.
When you donate your car to a non-profit organization you get to claim a tax deduction for the vehicles fair market value.
Donating cars to charities is easy and Wheels For Wishes does all of the work for you to make the decision even easier!
What Is Wheels For Wishes?
Wheels For Wishes is a car and vehicle donation program that works with local Make-A-Wish programs to get ‘wish’ kids’ wishes paid for. We believe that every child should have a great childhood, no matter their health situation. That is why we have donated over $125 Million to Make-A-Wish since 2010.
We are able to make a difference in children’s lives because of your car donations from across the United States. Not only are you helping children get a life-changing experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives but you are also getting tax deductions for car donations! Click here or call 1-855-278-9474 to start your car donation today!
How Exactly Is Wheels For Wishes A Legitimate Car Donation Program?
Wheels For Wishes is a 501(c)(3) organization with the IRS, which means that you get a tax write off for donating a car. Car donors can claim a tax deduction of the vehicle's fair market value under these following situations:
The non-profit charitable organization makes certain use of the car in charitable deeds. This is the category that Wheels For Wishes falls under.
The charitable organization increases the value of the vehicle significantly through repairs (not just cleaning or painting).
The charity donates or sells the vehicle to an individual in need for a very low (below market) price for the purpose of helping them with transportation.
Make sure to avoid scam car donation programs that are not a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. If you donate your car to a car donation program that is not registered as a charity with the IRS your car donation will not be tax deductible.
What Is The Best Organization To Donate A Car?
Wheels For Wishes has a great track record for donated vehicles! Trustpilot gives Wheels For Wishes an Excellent rating with over 4,100 reviews and counting. Plus, we are the easiest way to donate a car . Just check out some of these reviews:
“Excellent experience. Made the whole donation process a piece of cake. I am very thankful for that since I live nowhere near Memphis where the vehicle was donated.” “Smooth sailing from picking up the car to receiving receipt.” “This turn around in picking up my car was within 14 hours. They were on the ball and very efficient in sending us our donation receipt in the mail! A very smooth process! Highly recommend!!” “This is my family's 3rd donation to this organization and we have had no problems.” “Our car donation process was easy and went smoothly. The car was picked up as scheduled and later when the car was sold at auction we received notice on the price it sold at for tax purposes. Great experience.”
With Wheels For Wishes, you’ll be donating a vehicle for tax write off in no time. So, how much tax credit do you get for donating a car? If you are still confused about just how much of a tax deduction you can receive for donating your vehicle just check out our tax deduction calculator for donating a car or visit the IRS website for more answers to any questions you may have on deductions for car donations.
If you would like to learn more about how the IRS allows you to claim a tax deduction for your car donation visit our IRS Tax Information page or simply give us a call at 1-855-278-9474 .
Click Here To Start Your 2026 Vehicle Donation Today!
If your car is brand new, broken down, old, or just plain junky you can still receive a tax deduction when you donate your vehicle to Wheels For Wishes. To the “wish kids” of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, your car donation gives them a break from routine medical treatment and a life-changing experience that they can cherish for the rest of their lives.
Maximize your tax refund today by starting your online car donation form and make a difference in a child’s life. It will take less than a minute to fill out the donation form and a representative will get in touch with you in less than 24 hours of finishing the form. Your tax returns will thank you!
Proceeds from donated cars go to Wheels For Wishes, a tax-exempt charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code, benefiting your local Make-A-Wish Foundation®. Since 2010, Wheels For Wishes has donated over $125 million toward granting over 9,000 wishes for local children dealing with critical illness.
