Car Recycling Benefits: Why Donating Your Car Is the Best Way to Recycle It

If your car has reached the end of the road, donating it to Wheels For Wishes is one of the best things you can do with it. We arrange free towing from wherever the vehicle is located, get it to auction or recycling, and send you a tax-deductible receipt reflecting what it sells for. Call 1-855-278-9474 or fill out our online donation form to get started.

One of the most common questions we hear from donors is what actually happens to a vehicle after it is picked up. The answer depends on the condition of the car. Whether it goes to auction or to a recycling facility, every step of the process generates proceeds for Make-A-Wish kids in your community.

What Happens to Your Donated Car

When your donated vehicle arrives at our processing facility, our team evaluates it to determine the best path to maximize its value. Vehicles in reasonable condition go to auction, where competitive bidding from buyers drives the strongest possible return. Vehicles that have reached the end of their mechanical life are sent to a licensed auto recycler, where every usable component is recovered before the remaining materials are processed.

Here is what the recycling process looks like for a donated vehicle:

• The recycler starts the engine if possible to identify any leaks and document the vehicle's condition before dismantling begins.
• All fluids are drained and stored properly, including motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze, and any other fluids the vehicle contains. These are handled according to environmental regulations and disposed of or recycled responsibly.
• Remaining hazardous materials are removed, including the battery and airbag propellant. These require special handling and are processed separately from the rest of the vehicle.
• Reusable parts are catalogued and removed. Working components such as engines, transmissions, body panels, and interior parts are pulled for resale to repair shops and individual buyers, extending the useful life of those components in other vehicles.
• Once everything of value has been recovered, the remaining shell is crushed and sent to a metal recycling facility. The steel, aluminum, and other metals are processed and re-enter the supply chain as raw material for new manufacturing.

Almost any vehicle can be recycled, which is why we accept most donated vehicles in most conditions on a case-by-case basis, running or not. A car that has not started in years, has significant body damage, or has a blown engine can still go through this process and still generate proceeds that benefit your local Make-A-Wish chapter.

It is worth knowing that recycled automotive parts carry real value. Used parts typically cost buyers about half of what a new equivalent part would cost, which means working components from your donated vehicle can save money for repair shops and vehicle owners across the country. That value translates directly into proceeds for Make-A-Wish, which is why even a vehicle with no resale value as a whole car can still make a meaningful contribution.

The metals recovered from your vehicle also carry real scrap market value. Steel and aluminum from end-of-life vehicles are processed and sold to manufacturers, and those proceeds flow back into the donation before we send the final total to your local Make-A-Wish chapter. Nothing from your donated vehicle goes to waste if we can help it.

Donate Your Vehicle for Recycling in Three Steps

The donation process is straightforward whether your vehicle runs or not.

1. Call 1-855-278-9474 or fill out our easy online donation form. Our team will answer any questions about your vehicle and confirm whether we can accept it. Most vehicles in most conditions qualify on a case-by-case basis.
2. We arrange free towing at a time that works for you, anywhere in the United States. You do not need to deliver the vehicle or get it running. We come to you.
3. After your vehicle is processed and sold, we mail your tax-deductible receipt reflecting the final sale value. If your vehicle sells for more than $500 at auction, your deduction is the sale price, and you will need to itemize to claim it. If it sells for $500 or less, you can generally claim its fair market value up to $500.

A vehicle that has reached the end of its useful life still has real value in its parts, its materials, and the proceeds it generates for Make-A-Wish kids in your community. Donating it costs you nothing and takes minutes to arrange. Call 1-855-278-9474 or donate online today and let your old car do something good on its way out.