Car Donation Process From Your Call to Veteran Impact

Ready to start? Call 1-855-811-4838 or complete our online donation form.

Free towing: Pickup costs you nothing, wherever your vehicle sits in the U.S.
Potential tax deduction: Car Donation Foundation is an IRS-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. You can claim this only if you itemize deductions. We can't give tax advice. Talk to your own tax advisor.
Convenient donation process: A donation representative guides you from your first call to your final receipt.
Most vehicles accepted: Cars, trucks, boats, RVs, motorcycles, and more, running or not, on a case-by-case basis.

Every vehicle donated to Vehicles For Veterans follows one clear path: a quick call, a free pickup, a sale or recycling, and funding that reaches veterans charities across the country. Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Vehicles For Veterans has donated over $202 million to charities through this process.

This guide connects all eight stages of the journey in order, with a deeper resource linked at each step. For a shorter overview, see our step-by-step donation guide, or browse every donor resource in our car donation hub.

1. Schedule Your Donation

Your donation starts with a short conversation, either by phone at 1-855-811-4838 or through our online form. We'll ask for the basics: year, make, model, approximate mileage, condition, and where the vehicle is located.

Have these ready: Your vehicle identification number (VIN), whether you have the title, and a note on any mechanical issues.
Donating by phone: We can schedule your pickup during the call.
Donating online: Expect a call within 24 hours of the next business day to set up pickup.
Business or trust vehicles: Donations can be made in the name of a business or trust.

Every donation is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and pictures or proof of ownership may be requested. Our vehicle acceptance guide covers what we take, and our article on donating a car that doesn't run explains how non-running vehicles still qualify.

Choosing where to donate matters, too. See what to look for in a car donation charity, and use our scam awareness guide to confirm any program is a legitimate 501(c)(3) before you share your information.

2. Prepare Your Vehicle

A few minutes of preparation keeps pickup day smooth. Most of it comes down to clearing out the vehicle and getting your paperwork in order.

Remove personal items: Check the glove box, center console, trunk, and under the seats.
Take off toll tags and permits: Remove toll transponders and parking permits before pickup.
Remove logos and wraps: We strongly encourage removing business logos or vehicle wraps before you donate.
Locate your title and keys: Find the title and every key you have. If a lender still appears on the title, request a lien release.
Check your state's rules: Some states require a notarized title signature, so confirm before you sign. License plate rules also vary by state.
Keep your insurance active: Cancel coverage only after the vehicle has been picked up.

Our vehicle donation preparation guide walks through each of these steps in more detail. You can also run through our donation paperwork checklist to confirm you have everything before pickup day.

3. Free Pickup

Once your donation is set, our processing partner contacts you to schedule a pickup time that fits your day. A local towing company then comes to your home, workplace, or wherever the vehicle is parked, at no cost to you.

Pickup typically happens within three business days, though busy seasons can take a little longer. In some states, you'll need a valid photo ID at pickup, and the name on it should match the name on the title.

Our insurance covers the vehicle starting on the day we receive it. Because the tow truck comes to you, you can donate a car right from home without visiting a lot or dealership.

4. Title Verification and Transfer

The title is the legal proof that lets ownership pass from you to Car Donation Foundation. Getting it right is the single most important piece of your paperwork.

Sign in the right place: Sign the seller or assignment section, and leave the buyer section blank.
Keep it clean: Cross-outs or correction fluid can void a title. If yours has an error, your DMV can issue a correction or duplicate.
Multiple owners: Names joined by "and" need both signatures, while "or" means either owner can sign.
Lost title: Request a duplicate from your state DMV, and call us in the meantime so we can schedule you in advance.
Liens: A lien must be released before the donation can be completed. With your written authorization, we can request releases from many lenders.

After pickup, some states require you to file a release of liability with the DMV, listing Car Donation Foundation, 5775 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 700, St. Louis Park, MN 55416, as the new owner. Complete that filing promptly, then cancel your insurance.

For state-by-state requirements, estates, and power of attorney situations, see our car donation documents guide. Our vehicle donation title FAQ and walkthrough on filling out a vehicle title answer the most common title questions.

5. Vehicle Processing

After pickup, our processing partners evaluate each vehicle's condition and value to find the route that raises the most for veterans charities. Vehicles with resale potential head to a licensed auction, while those no longer fit for the road go to a recycling facility.

Vehicles For Veterans takes on the costs at this stage and the next, including towing, auction, recycling, and processing. For a closer look behind the scenes, read how your donation travels from pickup to proceeds.

6. Sale or Recycling

At auction, competitive bidding works to drive up the final price of your vehicle. Vehicles that can't be sold whole are recycled, with usable parts sold separately and the remaining materials handled by certified recyclers.

Whichever path it takes, your vehicle becomes funding for veterans. Our guides on where to donate an old car and why a junk car is worth donating show how even well-worn vehicles still deliver value.

7. Your Tax Receipt

We mail your tax receipt once the vehicle donation process is complete. We send your tax form within 30 days of your vehicle selling.

You never need an appraisal.
Your deduction counts for the year you donate, even if your vehicle sells the following year.

Because Car Donation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, your donation may be tax deductible. You can claim this only if you itemize deductions.

We can't give tax advice. Talk to your own tax advisor. Our IRS car donation tax information page covers the rules in more depth.

8. Veteran Impact

This is where your donation goes to work. Every quarter, Car Donation Foundation distributes funds across the nationwide network of veterans charities Vehicles For Veterans supports, and those organizations turn that funding into housing, service dogs, mental health care, scholarships, and community programs.

Around 39 percent of the average vehicle's value reaches veterans charities after the towing, auction, recycling, and processing costs we absorb, and higher-value vehicles deliver an even bigger share. Multiplied across donations from every state, that adds up to millions of dollars for veterans organizations each year.

Housing: Homes For Our Troops builds specially adapted homes for severely injured veterans, and Operation Homefront helps military families with housing and financial support.
Recovery: The Travis Mills Foundation supports injured veterans and their families through adaptive programs.
Mental health and wellness: K9s For Warriors pairs veterans living with PTSD with trained service dogs, and Semper Fi & America's Fund supports wounded, ill, and injured service members.
Education: Folds of Honor Foundation awards scholarships to the families of fallen and disabled service members.
Community: Team Red, White & Blue and the Oscar Mike Foundation bring veterans together through fitness, sports, and recreation.

See every recipient on our partner organizations page, and explore real examples of this funding at work on our donation impact page. To understand the role Vehicles For Veterans plays behind it all, read how Vehicles For Veterans works.

Mental health is a major focus for many of these charities. Learn more about free mental health resources for veterans and treating subclinical PTSD, a challenge that affects many veterans who never receive a formal diagnosis.

Car Donation Process FAQs

Here are quick answers to the questions donors ask most about each stage. Our full vehicle donation FAQ covers even more.

How long does the car donation process take?

Pickup is usually scheduled within three business days of your donation, and busier seasons can add a little time. We send your tax form within 30 days of your vehicle selling.

What should I have ready on pickup day?

Have your title signed according to your state's rules, every key to the vehicle, and a photo ID if your state requires one. Personal items, toll tags, and parking permits should already be out of the vehicle.

When should I cancel my insurance?

Wait until after your vehicle has been picked up. If your state requires a release of liability, file that with the DMV first, then cancel your coverage.

What happens to my license plates?

That depends on your state, since some require removal before pickup and others require plates to stay on during transport. Call 1-855-811-4838 and we'll confirm what your state requires.

What if I can't find my title?

You can still donate by requesting a duplicate title from your state DMV. Call us while you wait so we can get your pickup on the schedule ahead of time.

What happens to my vehicle after it's picked up?

Our processing partners evaluate it and send it to auction or a recycling facility, depending on its condition and value. The funds it generates support veterans charities, rather than the vehicle going directly to a veteran.

How does my donation help veterans?

Car Donation Foundation distributes funds to veterans charities every quarter. Those charities provide housing, service dogs, mental health care, scholarships, and community programs for veterans and their families.

Start Your Donation Journey Today

From the first call to the check delivered to a veterans charity, every stage is built to make giving easy for you. Call 1-855-811-4838 or learn more about how to donate your car to veterans.

Car donation is one of many ways to give back. Explore more ways you can help veterans, and see how car donation changes veterans' lives in communities nationwide.