People decide to donate their cars to charity for several reasons. Some people have had personal experiences with specific charities, and want to help out in return. Other people may have friends or acquaintances who have benefited from the services of a charity, and want to be a part of the cause. Helping others is contagious, and when you see people helping each other out of a selfless desire, then you may want to join in. Since oftentimes volunteers run the charity, the only economic resources the charity has come from donors. Many charities rely on gifts from individuals, and as you know, every little bit counts. Remember that when you donate your car to a charity, you’re not only helping the individuals who see the car directly, but you’re helping society as a whole, too.
When choosing the charity to which you’d like to donate your car, you should keep several factors in mind. Maybe you already know which charity you’d like to help out. If not, then you should look for a charity whose mission matches your own interests. You can find religious organizations, hospitals, schools, government-run organizations and large organizations such as the Red Cross and Good Will that can put your car to good use. Whether you want to find a local charity in your community, or if you want to go on the Internet to find a charity which serves people all over the world, you should try to learn a little about the organization you will help. Doing so will make you feel more comfortable and confident about your decision to donate your car – you’re not donating to a stranger, but to people who appreciate you personally.
If you decide to donate your car using the Internet to help you choose a charity, then you might want to call the company and talk to someone if you have specific questions. When donating to a charity that is mediated by a for-profit business, you should find out exactly how much (percentage or dollar amount) the charity will actually receive, and how much the business will charge for mediating. Make sure the business gives a specific charity name, and doesn’t just say that it’s donating “to charity.” Knowing the exact charity to which you give your car will help you know it’s legitimate as well as help you when you write up your tax returns.
You may find that you’re limited to the charities to which you can donate because of the condition your car is in. Some charities can only take cars of a certain standard, although for most, the standard just requires that the car runs. These charities may use your car for transporting equipment or for low-income families. Some charities only take cars that are 15 years old or newer. Other charities take pretty much anything, even if the car doesn’t work. These charities may sell the parts to an automobile parts recycler or to a general recycling company, and use the profits to finance their work. Some charities – such as many youth charities – also use cars in bad shape as teaching tools for training young mechanics.
By Lisa Zyga