Donate your car to Drive to Give in the Charlotte Metro by December 31 and, in most cases, you can deduct the vehicle’s sale price on your federal return. Here’s how it works: if your vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind (a 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446) will mail you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. Your deduction is the car’s gross sale proceeds, not Kelley Blue Book. For vehicles worth $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and may generally deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. To claim the deduction, you must itemize on Schedule A.
Drive to Give makes year-end donating simple for Charlotte donors. We schedule free pickup across the Charlotte Metro—Uptown, South End, Plaza Midwood, NoDa, Ballantyne, University City, Matthews, Huntersville, Concord, Gastonia, Fort Mill, and more. Non-running cars are welcome, and no inspection or repairs are needed. You’ll receive a pickup confirmation that proves your donation date for the IRS. From there, Heritage for the Blind sells the vehicle, sends your tax paperwork, and uses the proceeds to support people who are blind or visually impaired. Lock in your 2024 deduction before the December 31 deadline—start your 2-minute donation now.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute form or call
2 minutesTell us about your vehicle and Charlotte pickup location (Uptown, Ballantyne, Northlake, Matthews, Gastonia, etc.). It takes about two minutes. Once you submit or call, your intent to donate is on record for year-end and our team gets to work.
Lock in your donation date
5 minutesChoose the earliest available pickup day, Monday–Saturday. The key IRS requirement is that you complete your donation before midnight December 31. Keep the instant email or text confirmation as proof of the date you made the donation commitment.
Free pickup anywhere in Charlotte Metro
1-3 daysA licensed tow partner comes to you—home, office, or shop—in South End, NoDa, Steele Creek, Lake Norman, Mint Hill, or nearby. Running or not, no inspection or repairs needed. The driver gives you a pickup confirmation for your records.
Vehicle sells and paperwork is issued
Within 30 days of saleHeritage for the Blind arranges the sale. If it sells for more than $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C by mail within 30 days of the sale; $500 or less, you’ll get a written acknowledgment. This document shows the amount you may generally deduct.
Claim your deduction on your tax return
At tax timeWhen you file, use Schedule A to itemize. Attach or keep Form 1098-C or the written acknowledgment with your records. Your deduction usually equals the gross sale proceeds reported on 1098-C. Always consult a tax professional about your situation.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals actual sale price
For vehicles that sell for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your deduction to the car’s gross sale proceeds—not Kelley Blue Book or your estimate. Heritage for the Blind documents this amount on IRS Form 1098-C for your records.
How IRS Form 1098-C works
Once your vehicle sells, Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. It lists the sale date and sale price, which is usually the amount you may claim as a charitable deduction if you itemize on Schedule A.
Cars at $500 or below
If your donated vehicle is valued at $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098-C. In many cases, you may deduct the lesser of $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value. Keep this acknowledgment with your tax records.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal return. If you take the standard deduction, you generally cannot also claim a separate charitable deduction for the donated vehicle.
Why December 31 matters
The IRS uses the donation date—not the sale date—to determine which tax year your deduction applies to. Complete your donation by December 31 to generally claim it on this year’s return, even if the vehicle sells and 1098-C arrives next year.