You might have some questions when it comes to donating your vehicle.
- What does the charity do with the cars?
- Do they deal with them effectively?
- Is the money really going to charity?
You’ve heard the ads and you’ve seen the commercials, but you still don’t understand exactly how donated vehicles turn into proceeds for the charity.
Well, fair enough.
In this post, we’re going to dive into these questions head-on so you know the whens, whys, wheres, and hows of your vehicle donation.
You remembered the old car taking up space in your garage.
A tax deduction and vacation voucher did sound pretty nice.
So you called up Kars4Kids.
Now what?
Determining the value of your donated car and how will this affect where your car goes
After you fill out a quick online form or speak to a Kars4Kids rep, your car goes straight to our Assignment specialists.
They’ll take a look at the stats you provided for your vehicle to determine where to send the car.
Analysts take into account:
- The year
- Make
- Model
- Mileage
- Whether or not the vehicle runs
But the main thing we consider is the overall condition.
Using years of data, we evaluate market conditions and geographical considerations to see what makes the most sense for your car.
A team of experts works to make sure the highest price valuation is stamped on your car.
It’s a win-win situation
We want to ensure that you get the highest tax deduction possible and that the kids get the most help possible.
Does the type of car or its condition impact where it goes?
The type of car will not directly impact where it’s headed.
After noting the make and model of the car, our analysts will then look at factors like its condition and mileage to determine what the most sensible option is for this particular vehicle.
Where does the donated car go after being picked up?
Once determining the approximate value of your vehicle, our Assignment specialists will usually send your vehicle one of two places:
Auction
Auto auctions are a method of selling vehicles based on an auction-like system.
They are usually exclusive to licensed automobile dealers and are a very popular method for selling used vehicles.
Scrap
Selling cars for parts
In some cases, the most beneficial option is to sell the vehicle to a car parts shop scrap yard.
Instead of immediately crushing the car for scrap, yards like these will dismantle the vehicle and sell its parts individually.
Repairing the car
Kars4Kids does not repair any vehicles.
Should repairs be necessary, they would be handled by the automobile dealer who purchases the car at auction.
Charities using the cars for themselves
Depending on a charity’s need, they may choose to use the vehicle for themselves.
If the vehicle is in good working condition and needs few repairs, then an organization like Meals on Wheels may decide that it will benefit the charity more directly if they use it for their own programs.
Selling cars 'as is'
While the cars are assessed for worth and damage, there is a clear as-is policy when it comes to selling the vehicle.
Who would the cars be sold to?
Depending on several factors including vehicle and market conditions, they may be sold at auction or to a scrapyard.
In some cases, the donated vehicle will be used by Kars4Kids for a charity program, such as to transport volunteers.
In any event, Kars4Kids assesses each donated car carefully to ensure it is getting maximum value for each donation.
What happens with the proceeds?
Most cars that are donated to Kars4Kids are sold in order to generate funds for the charity.
In all cases, the proceeds from each sale are then used for Kars4Kids’ charity programs.
You’ll be informed of where we’re sending your car, and then we’ll arrange a pickup at a time that’s convenient for you.
About 2-4 weeks after donation, donors receive a tax receipt for the fair market value of their vehicle.
About us
Kars4Kids is an IRS-recognized 510(c)3 charity that has earned the Gold Seal of Transparency from Guidestar and been rated a top nonprofit by GreatNonprofits.
The thousands of kids and families who have benefited from the support of Kars4Kids can all attest to the important work Kars4Kids does in their communities.
(And over 500,000 donors can attest that Kars4Kids makes donating to their work easy, convenient, and hassle-free.)
