Used Car Donation
The conversation below was overheard between a jaded car donor guru (hereby known as The Guru) and a car donor wannabe (hereby known as The Newbie)…
The Guru: So you wanna know the right way to donate car, eh?
The Newbie: Uh-huh, I heard this is a great way to get rid of old cars easily while obtaining a federal income tax deduction.
The Guru: Yes it is. What made you think of vehicle donation in the first place?
The Newbie: Well, I’ve been trying to get rid of my old car and get some cash in return but I’m not having any luck with the auto classifieds. Ad after ad, I hope that someone would actually be calling me up and buying my old Ford but no such luck. Of course, there were interested people but they weren’t genuine buyers. You can’t imagine how long I’ve sat next to phone in the daytime hoping a serious buyer would actually call but come midnight, the prank calls start pouring in. GAH!
The Guru: Okay, okay. Stop pulling your hair. Now, what do you want to know about goodwill car donation?
The Newbie: I’d like to donate auto but I don’t know which charities I should donate to. I mean, man, there are SO many charitable organizations here and there – the Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Society of Abandoned Old Folks, the Malnourished Babies Organization… MAN, I can’t even begin to name all the organizations that need my help!
The Guru: Well, the important thing is to find a worthy charity – one that campaigns for a cause you believe in. If you’ve lost a loved one to breast cancer, you’d see it fit to support the Breast Cancer Society. You can also look at some of these location specific charities.
The Newbie: Awesome! That’s very helpful, thanks!
The Guru: Next question?
The Newbie: Yes please! Okay, I’m quite curious to know if my car has to be running in order to be accepted for donation.
The Guru: Well, it does not have to be in immaculate condition so you don’t need to worry if your car can run well, if it’s even possible, at all. Regardless the condition, most car donation organization will usually take them in gladly. Of course if it’s in better condition than say, cars found in the junkyard, then your favorite charities will probably be able to obtain more funds from the proceeds of the sale.
The Newbie: I see. Okay, last question on automobile donation: Can I donate abandoned cars on the road?
The Guru: You MUST obtain permission from the owner of the car. If the person is no longer alive then you should seek the go-ahead from his or her next of kin.
