Donating your old car to charity allows you to deduct the full book value from your income for tax purposes. A lot of times these tax savings are more than the amount you would receive from a dealership if you traded it in. Most charities not only accept your used car, but also take boats, trucks, RVs, and trailers. Having the title helps, but even if you don’t have it, some charities are willing to work out something. The great thing about car donations is that your car does not have to be in good shape for them to accept it. Although you will have to give an assessment on the car’s interior and exterior condition, sometimes charities will take your car even if it doesn’t run. It simply must be able to be towed, and have all four wheels. The IRS allows you to determine the fair market value of your car. Check out Kelly Bluebook and take mileage and the overall condition of the vehicle and deduct these from the actual value of your car.
Car donations in NY are commonly accepted by most charities in the state of NY, NY City in particular. The American Lung Association is one such organization, and will accept car donations in NY and elsewhere. There is an ALA located in Albany, NY, but local chapters can be found throughout the United States. Founded in 1904, the ALA is the oldest voluntary health organization in the country. It specializes in funding clinical research on lung disease and spreading awareness on the causes of these illnesses such as smoking and pollution. For more information on how to donate to the American Lung Association, visit www.lungusa.org.
Queens Center for Progress is another non-profit health organization that accepts car donations in NY. When you donate your car to QCP, they sell the funds to a responsible broker who will then invest it to help developmentally disabled people. Although QCP is primarily funded through the government, there are many years when government funding does not fully cover the cost of providing services. Community support is shown in a wide array of donations, from clothes, to toys, to money, to cars. For more information on how to donate to the Queens Center for Progress, visit http://www.ucp-queens.org/donations.htm.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society has two locations in NY and is known for helping the needy in the New York area by any means necessary. They provide meals, clothing, children’s summer camps, education, and other services to the needy. They accept any form of contribution, whether it’s money, clothing, your coin collection or a used car. You can visit the Buffalo St. Vincent de Paul website at http://www.svdpwny.org/index.html for more information.
Other charitable organizations that accept car donations in NY include Volunteers of America, the Family Care Foundation, the Kidney and Urology Foundation of America and the Salvation Army. For a full list of respectable charities that accept car donations, check out America’s Car Donation Charity Center website: www.donateacar.com.
By Kelley Caner