Donate your car in Metro Detroit by December 31 and you may qualify for a 2024 charitable tax deduction. Here’s how it works: if MotorCity Wheels sells your vehicle for more than $500, your deduction generally equals the actual gross sale price, not Kelley Blue Book or an estimate. After the sale, Heritage for the Blind (a 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446) mails you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale, showing that sale price for your records. If your vehicle sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and you may generally deduct $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. To use the deduction, you must itemize on Schedule A. Always confirm your specific situation with a tax professional.
MotorCity Wheels is Detroit-local—serving Detroit, Dearborn, Southfield, Warren, Livonia, Troy, Royal Oak, and the entire Metro Detroit area. We know you’re racing the year-end clock, so we make it easy: a 2-minute online form or quick phone call, Monday–Saturday dispatch, and free towing across the region, even for non-running cars sitting in driveways in Ferndale, Grosse Pointe, or down by Southwest Detroit. You’ll get a pickup confirmation (your proof of donation date), then your official tax paperwork after the sale. You handle zero repairs, zero negotiation—just a simple, local way to clear your driveway and support services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your 2-minute donation form or call
2 minutesShare your vehicle details, Metro Detroit pickup address, and best contact info. This locks in your intent to donate for the year. Our team confirms basic eligibility and schedules your free tow—no inspection, no photos, and no repairs needed, even if the car hasn’t run in years.
Schedule your free Detroit-area pickup
5 minutesWe arrange a towing window that works for you, Monday–Saturday, at homes, workplaces, or garages from Midtown and Corktown to Sterling Heights and Novi. As long as you initiate the donation by December 31, you’re on track for a potential 2024 deduction, subject to IRS rules.
Hand over keys and title at pickup
10–15 minutesWhen the tow truck arrives, you sign the title and hand over the keys. The driver gives you a pickup confirmation—keep this as proof of your donation date. Your vehicle is then transported for sale on behalf of Heritage for the Blind, a qualified 501(c)(3).
We sell your vehicle and process paperwork
Varies by saleMotorCity Wheels manages the entire sale process. After the vehicle sells, the gross sale price is reported. If it’s over $500, Heritage for the Blind issues IRS Form 1098-C. If it’s $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment instead. No follow-up legwork is required from you.
Receive your tax documents and file
10 minutes at tax timeWithin 30 days after the sale, Heritage for the Blind mails your IRS Form 1098-C or written acknowledgment. You use this, along with Schedule A, when preparing your return. A tax professional can help you apply the deduction correctly for your 2024 federal taxes.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction is based on sale price
For vehicles MotorCity Wheels sells for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your deduction to the actual gross sale price—not Kelley Blue Book or what you think it’s worth. That sale price appears on Form 1098-C you receive from Heritage for the Blind.
Special rule for $500-or-less vehicles
If your donated vehicle sells for $500 or less, you’ll get a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098-C. In many cases, you may deduct up to $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower. Keep this acknowledgment with your tax records.
Form 1098-C mailed after sale
For vehicles sold above $500, Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale date. This form lists the gross proceeds and other required details. You use it to substantiate your charitable deduction for the IRS.
You must itemize on Schedule A
Car donations are charitable contributions. To claim a deduction, you must choose to itemize on Schedule A of your federal tax return instead of taking the standard deduction. A tax professional can help you decide which option benefits you most.
Donate by Dec 31 for this year’s return
Your deduction is tied to the donation date, not the sale date. If you complete your donation by December 31, it generally counts for that tax year, even if the car sells later. Keep your pickup confirmation as proof of the donation date for your records.