Donate Your Car
Charity Car Donation - Which Charity Should You Choose?
If you have done any research into the area of used car donation programs then you will know that there are many charities that are able to receive your car as a donation. Many are eager to take your vehicle from you but you cant decide which one is right charity to donate to. After all you only have one car to donate and you want it to make a difference. So how do you choose which charity is going to be the worthy recipient? There are a few different approaches you can take. You could:
The dartboard approach may be as good as any, especially if you believe that all charities are equally deserving of the money and will all put it to good use. Then your only choice is whether you would prefer to select a national charity or one that is solely focused on the state or city you live in.
If this strategy appeals then bring up a list of charities that accept car donations for the region youre interested in and settle on the first name that jumps out at you.
If your Aunty Betty died from cancer then you may feel that donating your car to a cancer research foundation to enable them to continue the ongoing search for a cure is a meaningful outcome for your used car donation. Or perhaps you have had a health scare yourself and would like to think that if you did happen to develop the disease that all available resources were being devoted to a cure or remedial medicine.
Or perhaps you have dabbled in drugs and know what a slippery slope that can be and so decide on a charity that runs drug rehabilitation programs.
Choose the used car charity donation program with the simplest conditions
If your vehicle is not running then that may limit the charities that you choose to donate your car to. You may want to check out their pickup service to see if it is going to be convenient to use the charity youve selected.
Most charities will sell your car and use the proceeds for their organizations programs but some will use the car to give to others that are unable to afford a motor vehicle. If you like the idea of your car being used by someone else that needs it to get to work then look for charities that handle car donations in this way.
Unless you have a firm choice in mind then you are best to read up as much as you can about car donation in general, then focus on charities that accept car donations and come up with a shortlist of say 3-4 charities. Next get on the websites for each of the charities on your shortlist and narrow down the field to one based on their car donation program conditionsBusiness Management Articles, how you feel about the work that they are doing and your overall feelings about the organisation.
If at any point in the first two years after you donate a car to charity, the car is subsequently sold, the charity will have to send you another receipt (actually a Form 8282) letting you know what happened to the vehicle. You don't have to change anything on your taxes, whether you've filed them yet or not. If it was legitimately used for any length of time, you may claim the fair market value of the car when you donated it.
In fact, to back up your claims and justify the fair market value of your car that you've chosen, it is often a good idea to take pictures of the vehicle, inside and out. If the vehicle in question, is valued at over $5,000 you will need a independent appraisal (in writing) in order to confirm your fair market value calculations.
If the vehicle is to be fixed up and sold, you may also claim the actual fair market value of your car, as it was when you owned it, only if the vehicle is repaired to such an extent that it may be sold for more money. One is still allowed to claim as much as you could have gotten if you had placed a classified ad.
Though the concept of fair market value does still allow you to claim values that assume perfect selling conditions. However, in the real world, many people price old cars in order to make them sell as quicklyas possibleFree Reprint Articles, so consider what you could actually gotten for it if you tried. You can assume a small advertising budget.
Depending on which car donation program you choose, there may be some preparation tasks that need to be taken care of. In some instances you are required to gather information about your vehicle such as the make, model, year, VIN, mileage, and title. In order to prevent delays in the donation process, make sure that you have all necessary paperwork required as outlined in the program details.
Once you have located your donation program of choice, have completed any donation requirements, and have gathered all necessary paperwork and information about your vehicleScience Articles, all that there is left to do is make the call to arrange your donation. You will find that almost all donation agencies or charities are very accommodating during this process. Once you make the call a shipment for your vehicle will be arranged and your vehicle will be picked up at no cost to you. When the donation process is complete you will be given all relevant paperwork that is needed in order to claim your car donation tax deduction at the end of the year.
Pick a random charity
The dartboard approach may be as good as any, especially if you believe that all charities are equally deserving of the money and will all put it to good use. Then your only choice is whether you would prefer to select a national charity or one that is solely focused on the state or city you live in.
If this strategy appeals then bring up a list of charities that accept car donations for the region youre interested in and settle on the first name that jumps out at you.
Select one you have an affinity with
If your Aunty Betty died from cancer then you may feel that donating your car to a cancer research foundation to enable them to continue the ongoing search for a cure is a meaningful outcome for your used car donation. Or perhaps you have had a health scare yourself and would like to think that if you did happen to develop the disease that all available resources were being devoted to a cure or remedial medicine.
Or perhaps you have dabbled in drugs and know what a slippery slope that can be and so decide on a charity that runs drug rehabilitation programs.
Choose the used car charity donation program with the simplest conditions
If your vehicle is not running then that may limit the charities that you choose to donate your car to. You may want to check out their pickup service to see if it is going to be convenient to use the charity youve selected.
You could pick the charity that will handle your car in a way you feel comfortable with
Most charities will sell your car and use the proceeds for their organizations programs but some will use the car to give to others that are unable to afford a motor vehicle. If you like the idea of your car being used by someone else that needs it to get to work then look for charities that handle car donations in this way.
Unless you have a firm choice in mind then you are best to read up as much as you can about car donation in general, then focus on charities that accept car donations and come up with a shortlist of say 3-4 charities. Next get on the websites for each of the charities on your shortlist and narrow down the field to one based on their car donation program conditionsBusiness Management Articles, how you feel about the work that they are doing and your overall feelings about the organisation.
If at any point in the first two years after you donate a car to charity, the car is subsequently sold, the charity will have to send you another receipt (actually a Form 8282) letting you know what happened to the vehicle. You don't have to change anything on your taxes, whether you've filed them yet or not. If it was legitimately used for any length of time, you may claim the fair market value of the car when you donated it.
In fact, to back up your claims and justify the fair market value of your car that you've chosen, it is often a good idea to take pictures of the vehicle, inside and out. If the vehicle in question, is valued at over $5,000 you will need a independent appraisal (in writing) in order to confirm your fair market value calculations.
If the vehicle is to be fixed up and sold, you may also claim the actual fair market value of your car, as it was when you owned it, only if the vehicle is repaired to such an extent that it may be sold for more money. One is still allowed to claim as much as you could have gotten if you had placed a classified ad.
Though the concept of fair market value does still allow you to claim values that assume perfect selling conditions. However, in the real world, many people price old cars in order to make them sell as quicklyas possibleFree Reprint Articles, so consider what you could actually gotten for it if you tried. You can assume a small advertising budget.
Depending on which car donation program you choose, there may be some preparation tasks that need to be taken care of. In some instances you are required to gather information about your vehicle such as the make, model, year, VIN, mileage, and title. In order to prevent delays in the donation process, make sure that you have all necessary paperwork required as outlined in the program details.
Making The Call
Once you have located your donation program of choice, have completed any donation requirements, and have gathered all necessary paperwork and information about your vehicleScience Articles, all that there is left to do is make the call to arrange your donation. You will find that almost all donation agencies or charities are very accommodating during this process. Once you make the call a shipment for your vehicle will be arranged and your vehicle will be picked up at no cost to you. When the donation process is complete you will be given all relevant paperwork that is needed in order to claim your car donation tax deduction at the end of the year.
