What Actually Happens to Your Car After You Donate It
What actually happens to your car after you donate it? We tow it for free, sell it at auction or recycle it, and send the proceeds to benefit local Make-A-Wish chapters. This page walks through that standard path, what can happen differently for a rare vehicle, and what it means for your deduction.
Most donated vehicles follow one straightforward path, and every one of them gets real effort: we work to get the most for every vehicle, from an everyday car to a rare find.
The Standard Path
Here is the path almost every donated vehicle follows, from your first call to your tax form.
Step One: You Donate
Call 1-855-278-9474 or fill out our online donation form. Every donation is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and we accept most vehicles, running or not.
Step Two: We Schedule Free Pickup
If you donate by phone, we schedule your pickup on the call. If you use the online form, we call you the same or next business day, and a towing partner contacts you directly to set a time. Pickup is free, whether or not the vehicle runs.
Step Three: You Sign The Title
You sign the title as your state requires, and our team guides you through the paperwork. Most states require a clear title, so any lien must be cleared and released first, and license plate rules vary by state.
Step Four: Our Insurance Covers The Vehicle
On the day we receive your vehicle, our insurance provides coverage. We follow your state's guidelines for transferring the title.
Step Five: Your Vehicle Is Sold Or Recycled
After pickup, your vehicle enters our remarketing process, where our team, working with our processing partners, looks at the best sales option for that specific vehicle. Vehicles are either sold at auction to new owners or recycled, depending on condition, and most non-running vehicles are recycled.
Step Six: The Proceeds Benefit Make-A-Wish
Car Donation Foundation, which does business as Wheels For Wishes, sends the proceeds to benefit your local Make-A-Wish chapter, or another chapter you choose. We do not give donated vehicles directly to Make-A-Wish. Around 39 percent of the average vehicle's value goes to charity after the towing, auction, recycling, and processing costs we absorb, and the share is larger for higher-value vehicles because those costs are fixed.
Those proceeds add up. Since 2010, Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Wheels For Wishes has donated over $125 million, and we have helped grant over 14,673 wishes.
Step Seven: You Receive Your Tax Form
We send your tax form within 30 days of your vehicle selling. From pickup to your receipt, the process typically takes 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the vehicle.
Getting Ready For Pickup
A little preparation keeps pickup smooth:
- Remove your personal belongings and valuables
- Have your title ready, or call us if you don't have it
- Check whether there is a lien on the vehicle
- Ask us about license plates, since the rules depend on your state
Simple cleaning and having your paperwork ready are usually the best preparation. Removing major parts or paying for extensive repairs usually doesn't help.
When A Vehicle Is Something Special
This section applies to a small number of vehicles: rare, collectible, exotic, low-mileage, or otherwise unusually valuable ones. The overwhelming majority of donated vehicles go the standard route above. If you're donating an ordinary used car, this section isn't about your car, and nothing here means your car matters less: it gets the full effort described above.
When our team identifies a vehicle as special, it comes out of the normal flow and is handled individually by a specialist team. Depending on the vehicle, and where it's warranted, that may include:
- Calling the donor to learn what makes the vehicle special, such as its history, originality, and documentation
- Assessing whether repair work would raise the sale price enough to justify doing it
- Setting a reserve
- Running the vehicle through more than one auction instead of the first available one
- Relocating it to a specialty auction where the buyers for that specific vehicle are
These are possibilities for the right vehicle, never commitments to any donor. An ordinary donation will not involve them, and you should not expect a call or special handling for a standard vehicle.
If you have a classic or collector vehicle, see our page on classic and collector cars. Other vehicle types have their own pages: boats, RVs, motorcycles, trailers, and yachts and larger vessels.
The Green Day Tour Bus
In 2017, Green Day donated their original tour bus, nicknamed the Bookmobile, to Wheels For Wishes, along with the car featured in the music videos for "Holiday" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." The bus was restored, with West Coast Customs revamping its exterior to its original appearance, and it was displayed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, where the band was reunited with it in August 2017.
This was an exceptional donation, and a restoration like this is not part of the standard path above. Read more about the Green Day tour bus donation.
Why This Changes What You Deduct
Your deduction is what your vehicle sells for. If it sells for $500 or less, you can generally claim its fair market value up to $500.
That is why the work we do to get more for a vehicle matters to you, not just to us. Work that raises what a vehicle sells for raises the deduction by the same amount, because the deduction is the sale price, so when we're able to get more for a vehicle, that goes straight to your deduction, if you take one.
A reserve, a second auction, or a specialty sale can each be part of getting a better price for the right vehicle. You can claim this only if you itemize deductions, and we can't give tax advice, so talk to your own tax advisor. See what that means for your deduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the car donation process take?
From pickup to your receipt, the process typically takes 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the vehicle.
What happens to a car that doesn't run?
We pick it up for free, and most non-running cars are recycled. The proceeds still benefit your local Make-A-Wish chapter.
Do you give donated cars directly to Make-A-Wish kids?
No. We sell or recycle every donated vehicle and send the proceeds to benefit Make-A-Wish chapters.
Can I choose which Make-A-Wish chapter benefits?
By default, your donation benefits your local chapter, and you can choose a different Make-A-Wish chapter if you prefer. In some areas, we benefit other local children's wish and hospital charities.
Who sells my vehicle?
Our team sells it at auction, working with our processing partners, or recycles it, depending on condition.
Will I know when my vehicle sells?
Yes, you are notified through the tax form we send after your vehicle sells.
What if I don't have the title?
Call us anyway. In most cases, other arrangements can be worked out, and our team will tell you what your state requires.
What if there is a lien on my vehicle?
In most cases, any lienholder listed on the title must be cleared and released before we can accept the donation. Call 1-855-278-9474 to talk through your situation.
What if my title lists more than one owner?
It depends on how the names are listed and your state's laws. If the names are joined by "and," typically all owners need to sign, and if they are joined by "or," usually one signature is enough.
Do I need to remove the license plates?
Some states require you to remove and return the plates, while others allow them to stay with the vehicle. We'll give you clear instructions for your state when you call.
Can I donate a vehicle that is in another state?
Often, yes. As long as the title is in your name and the vehicle is accessible for towing, location typically isn't an issue, and we accept vehicles on a case-by-case basis. Pickup is free anywhere in the United States.
Can I donate an inherited vehicle?
You can donate a vehicle only if the title is in your name. If you inherited it, complete your state's legal transfer process first, and for an estate, the executor or legal owner on the title completes the donation.
Can I donate more than one vehicle?
Yes. We accept multiple vehicle donations, including fleets, and we coordinate pickup for all of them.
Can I donate a car to a person?
No. We accept vehicle donations, sell or recycle them, and donate the proceeds to benefit Make-A-Wish chapters.
Is Wheels For Wishes a division of Make-A-Wish?
No. Wheels For Wishes is a charity program of Car Donation Foundation, and since 2010 it has worked with Make-A-Wish to benefit participating local chapters across the country.
Ready to donate? Start your car donation online or call 1-855-278-9474.
