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Donate Junk Car - Yes or No?

Have you decided that enough is enough, you are sick of seeing your front yard resemble a used car sales lot with junk cars just taking up space? It may be time to consider making a donation to a used car charity. Used car donation charities may not be the first thing you think of when you are wondering how to get rid of your junk cars, most people will consider selling it themselves or taking it to the scrap yard and selling it on for parts. But car donation charities are definitely a quick and easy way of disposing of those pesky used cars, so when deciding whether or not to donate used cars to charity consider these pros and cons:

The Pros:

  • Free collection of your used or unwanted vehicle directly from your property at no cost to you.
  • Charities will accept all used cars and vehicles whether or not they are in running condition.
  • No difficult and time consuming paperwork from the motor vehicles department to worry about.
  • A quick and easy way to dispose of your unwanted vehicles and parts.
  • Eliminate the time and money you would spend placing sales advertisements, organising viewing times and trying to decide on the right price to sell.
  • No untrustworthy car sales people to deal with.
  • No wasted money keeping your vehicle registration up to date and car running while you wait for a buyer.
  • To donate used cars the vehicle does not have to undergo any state inspections or require any paperwork accept for a certificate of title to qualify.
  • You even get money back, by being eligible for tax deductions to the value of the vehicle you donate.
  • The feeling of knowing you are helping others who really need the use of a vehicle or money from proceeds of the vehicle.

The Cons:

  • You may loose out on making a profit from the vehicle by donating it to charity.
  • The charity you choose may not be a registered or legitimate charity, meaning your donation will not directly benefit a charity and you may not be able to receive a tax deduction.
  • The car donation charity may sell the car onto the dealer for a flat fee, meaning both the charity and you loose out.
  • Beware of car donation charity scams where used car sales lots and agencies claim to act on behalf of charities but never actually pass on the proceeds on to your chosen charity.

It is evident here that the pros do outweigh the cons, but if you are considering donating your junk car to charity you need to do your research first to ensure you are not being scammed.

Donation for Tax

One of the biggest incentives to donate junk car or unwanted vehicle to a charity is the tax deduction you will be eligible for. Making a donation for tax purposes means you will be able to claim the value that the charity sells your vehicle for as a tax deduction with your next tax return. Yep that's right, when you donate used cars you will not only be receiving the free removal of your vehicle but will also be getting some money back from it, all without having to through the lengthy and sometimes expensive sales process.

A Family Heirloom

If car donation for tax purposes is one of the biggest drawcards for car donation charities then sentimental value of vehicles is one of the biggest deterrents. For families the initial investment in the family vehicle is a major one. It may be that the children have grown up in this vehicle, spent their summer holidays travelling in the car, or sailing around on the family boat. However, as time passes and children go away to college the family vehicle becomes more of a liability than an asset. Repairs and maintenance costs will continue to rise and it may be that you no longer need an eight seater van and are looking to downsize. Eventually these family vehicles will become unused and end up sitting in the driveway. It may be a difficult decision to make but by donating a car to charity you are making sure your family vehicle is put to good use, and in some cases may be donated on to another family that can use it to teach their children to drive. Deciding what to do with your unwanted vehicles is a big decision, but for some spending the time and money to sell these used cars privately is not an option. If you are looking for a more convenient and faster way donate junk car to charity and help to make a contribution to a charitable program or service in your community.