Car With a Blown Engine? Donate It for Free Towing and a Tax Receipt

Does your car have a blown engine? The engine doesn't need to run for you to donate your car with a blown engine to Wheels For Wishes.

We arrange free towing, sell your vehicle through auction or recycling, and mail you a tax-deductible receipt reflecting what it sells for.

What To Do When Your Car's Engine Blows

1. Bring it to a trusted mechanic to see the extent of the damage. If it's worth fixing, go ahead and repair it.
2. If it's not worth fixing, weigh your options: donate it, sell it, or recycle it for parts.
3. We've done the research for you. Read on to see what to do when your car's engine fails.

Donating Your Car With Engine Failure

Wheels For Wishes is a car donation charity that accepts most vehicles, even junk cars with blown engines. We provide free towing and guide you through the rest of the process.

Why choose donation for a car with a blown engine? As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we work to get the most value we can from every vehicle, and you receive a tax-deductible receipt in return.

Your tax-deductible receipt reflects what your vehicle actually sells for at auction or through recycling, not an estimate. Some scrap buyers may offer instant cash for a damaged car, but donating lets that value support Make-A-Wish kids instead. After you donate, our team recycles or auctions your vehicle to get the most value we can from it.

Your tax deduction matches exactly what we sell your car for. It's that simple.

If your vehicle sells for $500 or less, you can generally claim its fair market value up to $500.

Cars With Blown Engines Benefit Your Local Chapter Of Make-A-Wish

Wheels For Wishes is a car donation charity, and proceeds benefit your local Make-A-Wish kids. We accept most vehicles with engine trouble, whether it's a blown engine, a seized engine, or any other major mechanical failure.

The proceeds from your donation help fund life-changing wishes for local kids. Even a car with a seized engine can help fund a wish for a local child, and your tax deduction reflects exactly what it sells for.

Should You Sell, Fix Or Donate A Car With A Seized Engine?

You should donate your car with a blown engine. Here's why:

• Selling for an instant offer often means getting less than the car is worth, since junkyards and dealerships need to make their own profit. Not all dealerships will even consider buying a car with a blown engine.
• Selling through classified ads often means more hassle and cost than it's worth. Online junk car buyers know the value of these vehicles and are usually willing to buy them, but you'll do the legwork yourself.
• Most dealerships won't accept a car with a blown engine as a trade-in at all.
• Fixing your car can be expensive, since engine replacement often costs more than the car itself is worth. If repairs aren't practical, you may be looking at a new vehicle anyway.
• Donating your car to Wheels For Wishes benefits you too. You get free towing, a tax-deductible receipt, a simple process, and the knowledge that your donation benefits local kids.

What To Do With A Car With A Blown Engine?

If your car has a blown engine, the best option is to donate it. You get free towing and a tax-deductible receipt, and the proceeds benefit local Make-A-Wish kids.

What Tax Deduction Do I Get For A Car With A Blown Engine?

Your tax deduction is based on what Wheels For Wishes actually sells your vehicle for, whether through auction or recycling. It isn't an estimate of what the car might be worth on the open market.

If your vehicle sells for more than $500, your deduction is the full sale price, and you'll need to itemize to claim it. If it sells for $500 or less, you can generally claim its fair market value up to $500.

For an exact number, donate your car to Wheels For Wishes. We'll get the most value we can from it, whether at auction or through recycling.

Your tax-deductible receipt will reflect exactly what it sells for. See how our team handles vehicles that don't run.

Can I Donate A Car A Dealership Won't Take?

Yes. Wheels For Wishes accepts most vehicles with a blown engine, even ones a dealership would turn away for trade-in or purchase.

Dealerships buy and trade cars to resell for profit, so a vehicle with major engine damage is often not worth their while. That doesn't mean your car has no value: donating it still gets you free towing and a tax-deductible receipt for what it sells at auction or through recycling.

Does A Blown Engine Mean The Car Is Totaled?

Bad engines could be due to:

• Cracked block
• Poor cooling
• Extremely low compression
• Compression segment failure
• Damaged cylinder head
• Damaged exhaust valves
• Damaged connecting rods
• Low oil pressure
• Blue smoke
• Cooling system problems
• Catastrophic internal mechanical damage
• Damaged cylinder head gasket
• Other damaged engine components

Typically, an experienced mechanic can diagnose the extent of the damage and let you know whether it's fixable, or if you're looking at a full engine replacement.

That same mechanic can also tell you if the damage is severe enough to total your vehicle.

Donate Your Car Today In 3 Easy Steps

1. Call us at 1-855-278-9474 or fill out an online donation form, and we'll confirm whether we can accept your vehicle.
2. We'll contact you within 24 hours of the next business day to schedule your free towing. We come to you, wherever your vehicle is located.
3. After your donation is complete, we mail your tax-deductible receipt. Use it with IRS Form 1098-C at tax time to claim your deduction.