Illinois Car Donation Benefits U.S. Veterans

Skyline of Downtown Chicago, Illinois

Route 66 begins in Chicago, which says something about this state and cars. If one of yours is parked for good, you can donate a car in Illinois to Vehicles For Veterans and send it on one last good trip.

When you donate, our vehicle donation program supports veterans charities, including charities with programs such as those for disabled veterans and their families. A vehicle donation is an easy, convenient way to skip the hassle of selling it yourself or trading it in.

An unwanted vehicle taking up space in your driveway, shed, or garage doesn't have to stay there. Donating gives it a second life and a chance to help veterans in need. Call 1-855-811-4838 this week to donate your car and get free pickup or towing anywhere in Illinois, plus a receipt you may be able to use for a tax deduction.

Illinois Car Donation Starts With A Single Call

Call 1-855-811-4838 toll free with questions, or use the online vehicle donation form from home to begin. Our representatives, available anytime, keep the donation process easy and convenient.

Questions about the donation process, our vehicle donation program, or donating a car, truck, boat, motorcycle, SUV, RV, motor home, or farm equipment are welcome. Contact us directly by phone about your vehicle donation, and a representative will answer.

Pick Up From Chicago To Cicero And Beyond

We pick up any vehicle we accept anywhere in the state, running or not, for free.

Donate A Car In Chicago And The Suburbs

In Chicago, Cicero, Aurora, Joliet, and Naperville, a car or truck leaves its garage, alley, or driveway without you lifting a finger. Your Chicago vehicle donation needs one easy call and ends the cost of storing a car you never drive.

Donate Your Car In Rockford And Elgin

Rockford donors, close to the Wisconsin border, and Elgin donors get the same free pick up as Chicago donors. Donate your car before the snow flies this year.

Vehicle Donation In Springfield And Peoria

Springfield, the state capital and Lincoln's hometown, and Peoria are covered too. Whether it is a farm-country truck, a city commuter car, or any other vehicle we accept, we pick it up, running or not.

East St. Louis And Nearby Towns

East St. Louis donors, just across the Mississippi, get free pick up as well, along with every small town and community from there to Chicago.

Which Types Of Vehicles Make The Cut

Our vehicle donation program welcomes cars, trucks, motorcycles, SUVs, RVs, motor homes, and boats, running or not. RVs and boats are accepted case by case.

Have farm equipment or any other vehicle not listed above? Ask whether we accept it. A used vehicle doesn't need to be pristine: most vehicles in rough shape, including a motorcycle, boat, or truck, can still work for a good cause.

Vehicle Donation Taxes, Plainly Stated

We can't give tax advice, but your own tax advisor can help.

Questions about your taxes, fair market value, or what you can claim as a tax deduction belong with a tax advisor or the IRS.

Six facts about your taxes:

  • Because we are a 501(c)(3), your donation is tax deductible if you itemize deductions.
  • You'll never need an appraisal.
  • We send your tax form within 30 days of your vehicle selling.
  • Your deduction belongs to the year you donate, even if your vehicle sells the following year.
  • You receive your tax receipt in the mail.
  • Send your receipt with your tax return when you claim the deduction.

Where The Money From Your Donated Vehicle Goes

Your donated vehicle goes to auction or recycling through our processing partners, and the sale proceeds move along to our charity partners.

That funding helps provide services and support that veterans and their families lean on in hard stretches of life. As a nonprofit registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3), keeping that support going is our mission.

Donors like you are the engine behind our mission. Every vehicle you donate provides funding that makes a difference, and the proceeds put strength behind a community across the country working on behalf of those who served.

Donating Your Car In Three Easy Moves

Save yourself the hassle of selling: no haggling, test drives, or listing time. The donation process takes three easy moves, and none involves selling it yourself.

  1. Call 1-855-811-4838 to begin, or click through to the online vehicle donation form.
  2. A representative will notify you within 24 hours of the next business day, in order to confirm details and schedule your free pick up.
  3. A tow arrives whether the vehicle is running or not, and most vehicles are auctioned to someone who can use them, or recycled if too broken to auction.

Our representatives assist from your first call through free towing and pick up. Once your donation is complete, the space at home where your donated vehicle was stored is yours again, and you receive your donation receipt by mail.

From the Chicago lakefront to the Mississippi, vehicles are waiting for a second life, and generous people live in every community. Whether you donate a car in Chicago or a town downstate, it goes to a good cause, and you get free pickup anywhere in the state.

Vehicles For Veterans is part of Car Donation Foundation, which has donated more than $202 million to veterans and other charities across the United States. For a fast way to learn more about the impact of your donation, ask questions, or donate your car this week, call 1-855-811-4838. We're happy to support you as you donate.

Answers To Common Questions

  • What should I know about my title? Keep the title handy, and tell us if the title is missing or you need help finding it. If the registered owner isn't you alone, say so when you call, so we can keep the title information and ownership straight on pick up day. Titles and registration paperwork go through the Secretary of State's Vehicle Services Department, so raise title transfer questions on your call, and a representative can help complete it.
  • Does my vehicle have to run? No. We pick up any vehicle we accept, running or not, and a tow arrives directly at your home, so there's no transportation to arrange.
  • What happens after I call to donate or send my details online? A representative reaches out within 24 hours of the next business day to confirm details, answer questions and schedule your free pick up.

Donate Your Vehicle And Give Back To Disabled Veterans

Of the 19.6 million veterans in the U.S., many require support that comes from your vehicle donation. To donate your vehicle call or fill out the form below.