How to Donate Cars for Cats

• Step 1

  Choose a charity that accepts vehicle donations. If you have a favorite cat rescue organization, call or e-mail to ask about donating your car. Most organizations will accept your donation and either keep the vehicle for their use or sell it to raise money for their work.

• Step 2

  Ask if you can donate your vehicle directly rather than through an intermediary, even if you located the organization through a listing of groups that accept cars through a middleman organization. Some intermediaries will keep as much as 90 percent of your vehicle's sale price instead of donating the full amount to your chosen charity.

• Step 3

  Find out whether you'll qualify for a tax deduction for donating your car. Only registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations can accept tax-deductible donations.

• Step 4

  R-title your vehicle to the charity. Report the title transfer according to state law. If you skip this step, you could wind up receiving parking tickets or other citations for your vehicle long after it's been sold on.

• Step 5

  Report your donation correctly if you intend to take an income tax deduction. If you donated a vehicle worth $500 or less, you don't need to fill out any additional tax forms. If your vehicle was worth between $500 and $5,000, you'll need to complete Section A of IRS Form 8283 and attach it to your tax return, along with documentation showing how much the charity sold your car for if it was sold. If the car was worth more than $5,000, you must also attach an independent appraisal. Remember: You can't take a deduction for more than the price at which your car was sold after being donated.

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• Vehicle Telephone Computer Internet connection Printer Pen
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• If possible, drop the vehicle off yourself. That saves your chosen charity time and money, as they'd otherwise have to use volunteer time or pay someone to pick up your donation. To maximize your tax deduction, look for a charity that will keep your car and use it in its work. If your car is kept by the charity for its use, you can deduct its full value rather than the sales price. You'll need a receipt from the charity.
• If possible, drop the vehicle off yourself. That saves your chosen charity time and money, as they'd otherwise have to use volunteer time or pay someone to pick up your donation.
• To maximize your tax deduction, look for a charity that will keep your car and use it in its work. If your car is kept by the charity for its use, you can deduct its full value rather than the sales price. You'll need a receipt from the charity.
• Check up on your charity of choice before making a large donation. Make sure that you approve of how the group would use the vehicle or funds raised from its sale. Once you've made a donation, there's no going back. Remember, it's your job to make sure that you have received the correct documentation for your donation. You, not the charity, will face penalties if you are found to have taken an inappropriate deduction on your income tax return.
• Check up on your charity of choice before making a large donation. Make sure that you approve of how the group would use the vehicle or funds raised from its sale. Once you've made a donation, there's no going back.
• Remember, it's your job to make sure that you have received the correct documentation for your donation. You, not the charity, will face penalties if you are found to have taken an inappropriate deduction on your income tax return.

References & Resources

• Tips For Donating a Car to Charity
• 10 Tips: How to Donate a Car to Charity
• One List of Animal Rescues that Accept Car Donations
• A Donor's Guide to Car Donation