In West Virginia, your car donation only counts for this tax year if the vehicle is physically picked up on or before December 31. The IRS uses the pickup date – not the date you call or submit the form – as your official donation date. That means if you want a deduction on this year’s return, you should schedule your free pickup with Appalachian Autos at least 3–5 business days before December 31 so Heritage for the Blind can get your vehicle by the deadline.
Appalachian Autos coordinates free pickups for Heritage for the Blind across West Virginia – from Charleston, Huntington, and Beckley to Morgantown, Parkersburg, Wheeling, Martinsburg, and communities throughout the Kanawha Valley, the New River Gorge region, and the Eastern Panhandle. We accept most vehicles, running or not, with no inspection or repairs needed. Dispatch runs Monday through Saturday throughout the holiday season to help you meet the IRS cutoff. Once your car sells, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment (and IRS Form 1098-C if it’s worth over $500), but your deduction year is locked in by the pickup date. Start now so your donation – and your tax savings – stay in this year.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute form or call Appalachian Autos
2 minutesShare your contact info, vehicle details, and where it’s located in West Virginia – whether that’s in Charleston, Morgantown, Beckley, Huntington, or a rural driveway. This quick step lets us confirm eligibility, explain the year-end cutoff, and begin lining up the tow truck with Heritage for the Blind.
Choose a pickup window before December 31
5 minutesTo claim this year’s deduction, your car must be physically picked up by December 31. We recommend scheduling 3–5 business days before year-end. Our Monday–Saturday dispatch will help you find a time that works, even during the busy holiday season across West Virginia.
Prepare the title and clear access to the vehicle
10–15 minutesBefore your tow driver arrives, locate your West Virginia title, remove personal items, and make sure the vehicle is accessible (driveway, street, or farm lane). No inspection, emissions test, or repairs are needed. Non-running, damaged, or older cars are welcome and still qualify for free pickup.
Hand off keys and title on pickup day
15–20 minutesOn your scheduled day, the tow company arrives, confirms your paperwork, and loads your vehicle. The pickup date is what the IRS uses as your donation date. As long as the tow happens by December 31, you’re set for this tax year’s deduction, even if the vehicle sells later.
Receive your tax receipt after the vehicle sells
Varies by saleHeritage for the Blind will mail a written acknowledgment after your car sells. If it’s valued over $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C showing the sale price. Keep this with your records and use it when you file Schedule A for your federal tax return for the year of pickup.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Dec 31 pickup controls your deduction year
For the IRS, the donation date is the day your car is actually picked up, not the day you call or submit the form. If the tow truck collects your car by December 31, you may deduct it on that tax year’s return.
Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind will send you IRS Form 1098-C. It lists key details, including the gross sale price, which you generally use as the maximum deductible amount on your return.
Deduction usually equals the sale price
For most car donations, the IRS limits your charitable deduction to the amount the charity actually receives when your vehicle is sold. Your acknowledgment or Form 1098-C will show this sale price, which you use when claiming the deduction.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To claim a car donation to Heritage for the Blind, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal tax return. If you take the standard deduction instead, you generally cannot also claim a separate vehicle donation deduction.
Written receipt usually arrives within 30 days of sale
Federal rules require that the charity provide a written acknowledgment, typically within 30 days of selling your vehicle. Even if the sale and receipt arrive in the new year, your deduction year is still based on the actual pickup date.