Donate Boat or Car

Having an unwanted boat or car in your possession can be costly and take up valuable space in your driveway or yard.  An easy solution is to donate boat or car to a vehicle donation charity like the one at http://www.rawhide.org/boat-donation/.

Acceptable vehicle donations

Many vehicle donation charities accept all types of vehicles including cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, RVs, and boats.  If the vehicle donation is a car, condition usually doesn’t matter.  If the vehicle donation is something more difficult to sell, like a boat donation, they will be more selective about accepting the donation.

How to donate boat or car

To make your vehicle donation, you first choose and contact a vehicle donation charity that accepts the type of vehicle that you wish to donate.  They will need to know your basic information such as name and address and some information about the vehicle donation such as year, make, model, VIN (or HIN), and condition.  Most vehicle donation charities will have your car or boat donation towed for free.  When they come for your vehicle donation, you will need to sign the title over to the vehicle donation charity.  If you do not do this, you may be held liable for future fees such as parking tickets.  You should receive a receipt when you donate your vehicle listing your name and address, the name and contact information for the charity, and details about the donation.  Keep this receipt in a safe place because it is proof of your car or boat donation.

What happens to vehicle donations?

Vehicle donations are usually sold.  Charities benefit from vehicle donations by using the money from the sale for their programs.  What these programs aim to do depends on the vehicle donation charity that you chose.

Car or boat donation tax deduction

When you donate a boat or car, the donation can be claimed as a tax deduction.  If the estimated value of your car or boat donation is less than $500, you can claim the fair market value of your vehicle donation.  If your car or boat donation is valued at more than $500, you can claim the amount that the charity receives for the vehicle when they sell it.  When you first contact your vehicle donation charity, they may give you an estimated selling price, but you do not know the exact amount that you can deduct until they sell the vehicle donation.