Goodwill Car Donations

Donating a car can be very rewarding - more than just the tax credit you may or may not get.  For one thing, it usually means that you are getting a new car yourself.  This can be a very exciting time for you! 

But that brings about an interesting conundrum:  Now you have to figure out what to do with your old car.

Have you considered a goodwill car donation?  Consider the following: 

Most people trade their cars in for the new one because they do not want to put a large cash down payment. But if your car is much older, you are not going to get much for it on a trade-in. So that leaves you with three options:

1. The first is to sell it yourself but that requires you to make sure it is in running condition so you do not find yourself selling a lemon.

2. The second is to simply keep it in case you need an extra vehicle but that requires you to keep insurance and maintenance up on it.

3. The third option and one you may not immediately think of is car donations. If you are trying to get rid of your old car and want to do something charitable, a goodwill car donation is perfect for you. 

In this article we will go over some of the basic questions and answers you may have about donating cars to charity.  Just think, you will be doing someone else a world of good and be benefiting yourself at the same time!

Does my car need to be running and in good condition in order to be donated?

There are going to be some organizations and charities that want your car to be in running condition when it is donated. Usually this is because they intend to give the car to a family in need. But for the most part, charitable organizations that seek out car donations do not care if the car is running or if it is a pile of junk sitting rusting in your front yard.

The cars that need minor work will get repaired and then sold or given to families in need. The cars that are completely beyond hope of repair (that would be too costly to repair) are usually sold off to salvage yards where the salvage company will get money for the metal.

Is it better to sell my old car or are car donations more beneficial?

This is a tricky question.  Of course it is better if you can afford to donate your car.  But that being said many people rely on their old cars to use as trade-ins on new vehicles. Some people just need the cash. A good rule of thumb is to take a look at the Kelly Blue Book value of your car. If it is less than $1000 you should not waste your time trading it in or selling it. It will mean far more to a charity that what you could possible receive. If you have a newer car that is paid off, you may want to sell the car and then split the proceeds with the charity of your choice. This is especially beneficial if the charity you support does not participate in car donations. They could always use a cash donation.

Are there other items I can donate besides cars?

You can donate practically anything. It does not have to be a car. If you have a boat, trailer, all terrain vehicle or even lawnmowers you can find an organization to donate them too. The Salvation Army will take furniture, clothing and even books if they are in good condition. And of course you can always donate the favored item of all charities: your money. So if you have items lying around your house collecting dust or rusting, consider donating them. You will be helping others out and be doing something for a worthwhile cause.

Where can I find out more information about goodwill car donations?

There are some great car donation organizations that are actually legitimate. You can call 1-800-Charity-Cars to find local charities in your area that accept old cars. You can also turn to the internet. There are tons of websites dedicated to car donations.

Some places you can find online offer you bonuses for donating you car. These bonuses could be vacation vouchers or Disney Theme Park passes as well as a tax deduction. The following web sites are worth checking out: www.kars4kids.org, www.habitat.org or www.carsforveterans.org.  A goodwill car donation will get your old car into the hands of someone who is truly in need.  You will have done a good thing, and maybe you can get a hefty tax deduction or some other bonus!

Goodwill Industries of San Francisco have a very active and supportive
community...
 

If you've donated your car to charity and now are in the market for a new car, get the best car deals by doing your homework first.  This "homework" merely entails doing some background research on your target car - the car you want to buy.  Because by having all the cost data for the car or truck you want, you'll be able to bargain with the dealer from a standpoint of knowledge rather than ignorance.

...After all, if you know (at least approximately - 'cause you'll never find out exactly) what the dealership paid the manufacturer for the car, you'll be able to make an offer that is likely to be accepted - especially when they discover that you cannot be oversold.

Do your homework:  It will put YOU in the driver's seat!