How to Donate a Car in Illinois: A Complete Guide
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If you’re looking for an easy way to get rid of your used car, donating it may be the answer. Making a car donation in Illinois is simple. And it can benefit both you and those in need.
Use our guide below to learn more about how to donate a car in Illinois.
Understand the Benefits of Donating Your Car
There are multiple benefits to donating a car in Illinois, both for you and others. Some of them include:
- Helping others – Whether you donate to an individual, a family, or a nonprofit organization, you’ll be helping someone or multiple people in need of transportation.
- Tax deductions – You can likely claim your vehicle as a deductible donation, depending on how a charity uses the car.
- Helping the environment – Your car can be reused and repurposed by others, helping to reduce carbon emissions and resource usage.
- Avoiding the selling process – You don’t need to do repairs, advertise your car for sale, or be responsible for storing the vehicle until it sells. And you may be able to get help with some of the necessary paperwork.
Choose a Reputable Organization for Your Donation
Many nonprofit organizations can benefit from vehicle donations. If you plan to use your donation as a tax deduction, make sure to donate to an IRS tax-exempt organization.
Some organizations, such as Wheels for Wishes, will accept donations that go directly to families and individuals in need.
However, other organizations might accept vehicle donations for use. For example, local charities might use vehicles to help people get to medical appointments, perform home visits, or deliver meals to those in need. It may take a little bit of research to find a small organization in your area. Networking and social media can be useful.
Check Eligibility Requirements for Vehicle Donation
Charitable organizations will have differing eligibility requirements for vehicle donations, depending on how they plan to use the donation. Some may only accept specific types of vehicles or vehicles in a certain condition. The best way to learn more about a vehicle donation program is to check the organization’s website or contact them directly.
Determine the Value of Your Vehicle
You can check the value of your vehicle with a used car guide, such as Kelley Blue Book. Enter the make, model, year, and condition of your vehicle to determine its value.
Keep in mind that your tax deduction will be limited to the sale price of your vehicle if the organization sells it, even if it’s below value. If the charity keeps the vehicle, you can use the fair market value as your deduction. Cars valued over $5,000 must get a written appraisal before donation.
When you donate your car, make sure to get a tax receipt for your records.
Explore Acceptable Types of Vehicles for Donation
Many nonprofit organizations will accept a variety of vehicle types for donation. Most will accept cars, trucks, and SUVs. However, others will accept RVs, motorcycles, boats, jet skis, farm equipment, golf carts, and more.
It will likely depend on how the charity plans to use the vehicle. You can check the organization’s website or contact them directly to learn more.
Review the Donation Process Step-by-Step
Most organizations make it easy to donate a car in Illinois. Many will have an online vehicle donation form that helps you get started with the process. You will need to enter some basic contact and vehicle information.
Before your pickup or drop-off time, you must gather your paperwork. In most cases, you will only need a signed vehicle title that allows the charity to process a title transfer. There will be a specific section on your title to sign that transfers ownership of the vehicle. The charity will be responsible for bringing it to the DMV to submit.
After the car is picked up or dropped off with the signed title, there’s nothing left for you to handle!
Prepare Your Vehicle for Donation
Take a few minutes to check in storage compartments and under seats for any personal items.
If you want to be extra courteous, cleaning your vehicle will likely be appreciated. You may also go above and beyond to make sure any basic maintenance has been completed recently.
Gather all of your keys and key fobs. You can also remove your license plates and cancel your car registration upon donation. However, you should wait to cancel your car insurance until after the donation.
Arrange for Pickup or Drop-off
Fill out the online donation form with your chosen charity. The charity may allow you to automatically schedule a pickup or drop-off time, or you may need to wait for them to review your inquiry. Then, they will be responsible for reaching out to schedule an appointment.
Understand Emissions Testing Considerations
Illinois requires emissions testing every two years for cars that are four or more years old. However, most charities will not require this testing for charitable contributions.
With that in mind, you may consider other alternatives to donating if you know that your car cannot be driven due to poor emissions testing or safety inspections.
Get a Free Car Insurance Quote Today To Ensure You’re Covered Before Making the Donation!
If you’re getting rid of your car or replacing it with a new one, you’ll need to make some changes to your car insurance policy. Illinois car insurance rates vary based on ZIP code. Using a free online tool like EverQuote helps you get car insurance quotes quickly and easily.