FAQs
Frequently asked questions about donating your car!
Frequently Asked Questions
A car donation is a process by which a car, truck, van, or other type of vehicle is donated to a charity by an individual in exchange for a tax deduction.
The simplest explanation is that Cars2Charities picks up your vehicle, liquidates it by sending it to auction (or sells it via private party for maximum value), processes the sale through the Department of Motor Vehicles, and then sends the proceeds minus expenses to your favorite nonprofit organization. More on your tax deduction below!
Donating a car is the best way to get rid of an unused or unwanted vehicle. If your car is no longer running, has some body damage that is too expensive to fix, or perhaps doesn’t qualify for a trade-in, then donating your vehicle to charity is a great option for you! Of course, there are many other reasons to donate your old car, like supporting your favorite charity or just wanting to do something for your community. Maybe you just want the tax deduction! Donating your car to charity is a win-win for all involved whatever the reason.
You’ve probably noticed there are many charities competing for your car donation. Most actual charities are not able to process their own vehicle donations – so they hire a car donation servicing company, like Cars2Charities. So what should you look for in deciding where to donate your vehicle? (Since — whether you know it or not — 90% of the charities you love do use a service company.) Look for one that gets the highest value for your car. Our program does exactly that. We maximize the value of every donation we can. We’re also female and family-owned which is always a plus.
Your car donation is tax deductible! And the best part is, your vehicle donation helps contribute actual money to the charity you love. How, you ask? Simple. We sell all donated vehicles to create cash proceeds for the charities we represent. Once a donation sells, you receive a tax deduction receipt, and the charity gets the money raised by the sale of the vehicle, minus expenses. Everything is done in only a matter of weeks! Vehicle donations have never been easier, and if you have additional questions about how Cars2Charities vehicle donation program works, our friendly operators are here to guide you through the entire process!
Unfortunately, no. Cars2Charities does not give away or sell donations to the public. All of our donated vehicles are sent to auction or sold through pre-established, vetted partners ensuring anonymity and security through the proper legal channels. Our processes provide maximum value for our donors and charity affiliates without sacrificing any personal information or unsanctioned liabilities. Maybe try a local nonprofit that is better suited to help with your particular situation.
What are our donors saying?


1999 Subaru Legacy SUS
Angel Faces got more value
"I'm a nurse and so glad I can support Angel Faces!"
Mei-Ling W., Car Donation - San Francisco, CA

1990 Malibu Boat
National Alliance on Mental Illness got more value
"This charity is close to my heart and I'm glad I was able to help by donating my old boat."
Andrew P., Boat Donation - Fullerton, CA

2001 Ford Focus Wagon
Kitten Rescue got more value
"Wow, that's amazing! I'm grateful that this was a hassle-free process for us."
Tom L., Car Donation - Los Angeles, CA

2002 Saturn SL2
NPR got more value
"I cannot believe my old car sold for more than twice as much as I thought it would! I am genuinely surprised and very happy."
Matthew R., Car Donation - Monterey, CA

2000 GMC Yukon Denali
Hand-Up Financial got more value
"We loved our SUV, but it had 322,000 miles. You made it easy to donate."
Cynthia M., SUV Donation - Laguna Hills, CA

2001 Nissan Sentra GXE
Animal Friends Rescue Project got more value
"I love what AFRP does and I'm happy I could help with my car donation."
Sharon F., Car Donation - Salinas, CA

Children's Hospital got more value
"So happy to donate this van in the hope of
helping a child survive the disease."
Palisades Plumbing Inc., Van Donation - Pacific Palisades, CA

1998 Nissan Pathfinder
Ronald McDonald House got more value
"GREAT! GREAT! more than what I expected. "9". Very smooth. I can't see any fault anywhere."
Paul S., SUV Donation - Martinez, CA

2002 Mazda Protege
Saddleback Valley Community Church got more value
"Happy to know I could help Saddleback Church."
Jeff V., Car Donation - Riverside, CA
1994 Toyota Camry
SPCA - East Bay got more value
"Donating to SPCA was easier than writing a check, and I got rid of the
extra car on the side of the house. My wife was very happy."
Patrick C., Car Donation - Berkeley, CA