If your Michigan registration has lapsed, you can still donate your car in Metro Detroit. Expired tags usually do NOT stop your donation. MotorCity Wheels partners with Heritage for the Blind so you can donate that sitting, non‑drivable, or ticket‑risk car without renewing the plate or paying back registration fees. What matters most is that you have a valid title in your name—not current stickers on the plate.
Here’s how it works in Michigan: when you donate, we transfer ownership using your Michigan title, whether you’re in the city, the Grosse Pointes, Southfield, Dearborn, or out in Macomb County. Once you sign the title over, the vehicle becomes the charity’s responsibility. Our towing partner comes to you—driveway on the east side, alley off Grand River, apartment lot in Warren, or a garage in Royal Oak—and picks it up for free. You should notify the Michigan Secretary of State about the transfer so future tickets or fees don’t land on you. You’ll then receive a tax receipt from Heritage for the Blind that you can use when you file your federal return.
How to get your free pickup scheduled
1. Check that you have a valid Michigan title in your name
Grab your Michigan title and make sure your name matches the person donating. The registration can be expired; that’s okay. If there’s a lien listed, confirm it’s released. No need to visit a Secretary of State branch in Detroit or the suburbs just to renew tags—the title is what allows MotorCity Wheels and Heritage for the Blind to complete the donation.
2. Tell us about your car and expired registration
Call or submit our online form with the basics: year, make, model, location, whether it runs, and that the registration is expired. Whether the car’s on blocks in Southwest Detroit, non‑running in a Ferndale driveway, or ticket‑prone on a Hamtramck street, we’ll confirm it’s eligible and schedule your free tow, usually within a few days.
3. Schedule your free Metro Detroit pickup
We arrange a professional tow at no cost to you—anywhere in Metro Detroit and nationwide. The vehicle doesn’t have to start or be safe to drive. The driver will meet you at your home, workplace, or storage lot, load the vehicle, and collect your signed title. Once it’s on the truck, it’s no longer your responsibility.
4. Sign over the title and hand off the keys (if you have them)
At pickup, the tow driver or our team will show you exactly where to sign on your Michigan title. If you’ve lost the keys, you can still donate in most cases. Current plates and registration cards can be removed; they are not required for the donation transfer. Keep a copy of the donation paperwork for your records.
5. Notify the Michigan Secretary of State of the transfer
After the tow, report the sale/transfer to the Michigan Secretary of State. This helps protect you from future tickets, taxes, or liability tied to the vehicle. You can do this online or at a local branch around Detroit, like Livernois, Fort Street, or in nearby suburbs. Once reported, any new issues follow the charity, not you.
6. Receive your tax receipt from Heritage for the Blind
After MotorCity Wheels processes the vehicle, Heritage for the Blind mails you a donation receipt. In many cases you can claim up to $500 without extra IRS forms; for amounts over $500, you’ll use IRS Form 1098‑C. The expired registration doesn’t reduce your deduction—the value is based on the vehicle, not the tags.
Potential complications to watch for
The title is missing, but the registration is expired
Tip: You can donate with expired registration, but you generally cannot donate without a title. If your Michigan title is lost, visit a Secretary of State branch to request a duplicate before scheduling pickup. Once you have that replacement title in your name, MotorCity Wheels can move forward with the donation.
There’s still a lienholder listed on the Michigan title
Tip: Even with expired plates, an active lien can slow things down. Check the front of your title for a bank or finance company. If one is listed, confirm there’s a signed lien release or updated title showing the lien cleared. Without proof that the lien is satisfied, we may not be able to complete the transfer to the charity.
Your name has changed since the title was issued
Tip: If your driver’s license name doesn’t match the title exactly due to marriage, divorce, or a legal name change, have documents handy (like a marriage certificate). In many cases, you can still sign as printed on the title, then show ID at pickup. If the title is in someone else’s name entirely, they must sign or assign power of attorney.
The car is on a public street getting tickets
Tip: Expired tags can draw tickets in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park. We can usually tow from the street, but you are responsible for any tickets issued before pickup. Move the car to private property if possible and schedule pickup quickly. Once the charity takes ownership, it’s no longer your responsibility for future citations.