Your Tax Advantages

Volunteers of America is tax-exempt charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. If the claimed value of your vehicle donation is $500 or less, or the vehicle is sold for less than $500, you may deduct the fair market value up to $500. Deductions for vehicles with a claimed value of more than $500 may not exceed the selling price of the vehicle and Internal Revenue Service requires Volunteers of America to obtain your tax identification number/social security number. Upon the sale of your vehicle, you will receive receipt information informing you of the sales price so you may receive the greatest tax deduction allowed.

Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions. Please call Volunteers of America at 1-800-407-2600 if you have a question that isn’t answered below:

Answers to Your Questions

What type of vehicles do you accept as donations?

We accept most cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, and RV's. If you have any questions about what you can donate, please call us at 1-800-407-2600 or submit the online form and we will contact you.

What paperwork do I need to donate my vehicle?

We will need the title to the vehicle and the lien release if applicable.

My car hasn't run in years. Can I still donate it?

Yes, we will accept most vehicles whether they run or not (exceptions include older or damaged vehicles whose value would not offset the cost of towing). To find out if we can accept your vehicle, please call us at 1-800-407-2600 or submit the online form and we will contact you.

How do I calculate the value of my donated vehicle?

Internal Revenue Service tax laws changed of January 1, 2005 for donating your vehicle. Volunteers of America is a tax-exempt charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. If the claimed value of your vehicle donation is $500 or less, or the vehicle is sold for less than $500, you may deduct the fair market value up to $500. Deductions for vehicles with a claimed value of more than $500 may not exceed the selling price of the vehicle. These IRS forms and publications can assist you:

• Donor's Guide to Vehicle Donations: A little booklet that helps walk you through each step of the donation process. Process.
• IRS Publication 561: Determining the Value of Donated Property: This publication is designed to help donors and appraisers determine the value of property (other than cash) that is given to qualified organizations. It also explains what kind of information you must have to support the charitable contribution deduction you claim on your return.
• IRS Publication 561: Appraisals: Generally, if the claimed deduction for an item or group of similar items of donated property is more than $5,000, other than money and publicly traded securities, you must get a qualified appraisal made by a qualified appraiser, and you must attach an appraisal summary (Section B of Form 8283) to your tax return.
• IRS Form 8283: IRS form for non-cash charitable contributions.

How will my car be picked up and how long will this process take?

We will arrange to have your vehicle towed away at a scheduled time. We can normally pick up your car within a few days. If you need your car picked up sooner, please call and we will try to make arrangements to fit your schedule.