How to Donate a Car in San Diego, California

You’ve had so many good memories in your car – trips across the border to Rosarito Beach, hauling the kids to sports events … it’s tough to let go, but maybe it’s a good time to upgrade. Not looking forward to the DMV paperwork you have to complete when you donate a car? Don’t worry! We take care of that part too!! We send you, the charity, and the IRS a 1098. You receive a confirmation letter and a temporary donation receipt, while we take care of the title transfer. A car donation in San Diego is that easy! The best part? When you donate your car in San Diego, your supporting the charity of your choice!

There are about 10,000 non-profits in San Diego and you get to choose which one you want the proceeds to benefit. Need help finding one? You can choose any 501(c)(3), from animal rescues to veterans charities.

Why should I donate my car to charity?

The simple reason people donate cars is because they don’t need them anymore. However, there are countless great reasons for giving your donating your car in San Diego . Some of the reasons we hear most often are:

-It’s a huge hassle to sell it yourself or the trade-in offer you got from CarMax or a dealer is laughably low. Your time may be more valuable than the energy needed to fix it up and sell it yourself — and just imagine the nightmare of finding the vehicle registration documents or title if it’s an old car, or something that’s in the family. When you donate your vehicle in San Diego through Cars2Charities, we handle the details and tow your car – whenever and from wherever it’s convenient.

-You need your vehicle off your property. Your neighborhood CC&Rs aren’t going to like an extra vehicle parked on the street or sitting in your driveway through multiple seasons. The easiest way to avoid that scenario is through a car, truck or SUV donation in San Diego .

-Your repair bills are too high. You may be handing yourself free money when you donate a vehicle in San Diego to benefit charity. You might as well have that repair money go toward a car loan and drive something newer and nicer.

The Donation Process

With more than 30 years of experience, Cars2Charities has the expertise in making vehicle donations easier than ever. Cars2Charities is designed to provide donors with a simple, fast, and secure way to donate their vehicles. 

In most cases, we accept donations of all types of vehicles, whether they are running or not. We process all makes and models of: cars, trucks, motorcycles, vans, RVs, boats, golf carts, and more!

Step 1: Preparing for the Process

You’ll start the process of donating your car to by collecting the vehicle’s cleared Certificate of Title and Registration.

If you have misplaced your title or registration, don’t worry! We can help. Please find your vehicle’s identification number (VIN) and together we can determine which supplementary paperwork you will need to complete at the time of pick up. 

At this time, you may want to look at the different charities we work with. Whether your passion is helping those in need or supporting animal rescues, you have the power to choose where your donation goes. Not seeing the charity you’re wanting to donate to? Just let us know the charity’s name, address, and phone number and we will contact them about your donation. 

Step 2: Scheduling Your Pickup 

Give us a call at (855) 520-2100, or complete an online donation request. Our friendly donation coordinators will gather your vehicles information, and together, we will decide the most convenient time, date, and location for the pickup. Then we will send you an email that gives you step by step instructions to prepare you for the pick-up.

Before arriving, our tow truck driver will call you one hour before to give you time to collect paperwork and prepare the vehicle for towing. At the time of the pick-up, make sure your title is signed and clear of any lien holdings. You will hand over the title and registration to the tow truck driver. 

Step 3: Maximizing the Donation

We take the reins at this point to maximize the donation for both our donors and charities. We do this by assessing the vehicle and adding value to increase the selling price of the car. 

It’s a situation many people dream about – a successful way to support a cause you care about without the work involved. 

The Best Vehicle Donation Tax Deduction in San Diego

When you call Cars2Charities at 855-520-2100 or donate online, we work to maximize the value of your donation in unique ways that most car donation programs in San Diego currently do.

We make necessary improvements to donation vehicles after picking them up. Our technicians assess your donation car to be sure it sells for as much as possible. Your tax write-off is based on the selling price, so it benefits you to make your car or truck donation in San Diego through us at Cars2Charities. Our car care and expertise typically result in a 25%-50% higher value for your donated vehicle when changes are made.

Charities are not the only ones who benefit. Your reward for being kind is a sweet tax deduction. By donating a car in San Diego , you’re part of a win/win proposition. Our value-enhancing service doesn’t cost you a thing and allows you to deduct the full sale price off your taxes as a charity donation. We operate with full transparency between donor and charity by making sure everyone has a copy of the IRS regulated paperwork — including the IRS Form 1098-C which you will receive within 30 days after the sale of your car.