Donate your car in West Virginia by December 31 and you may be able to deduct it on this year’s federal tax return. With Appalachian Autos, vehicles that sell for over $500 generate an official IRS Form 1098‑C after sale, and your allowable deduction is usually the gross sale price of the vehicle, not the Kelley Blue Book value. If your donated vehicle sells for $500 or less, we send you a written acknowledgment and you may generally deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. You must itemize deductions on Schedule A, and your donation date is the date we accept your vehicle—so keep your pickup confirmation.
Appalachian Autos partners with Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) supporting people who are blind or visually impaired, and provides free towing statewide—from Charleston, Huntington, and Parkersburg to Morgantown, Beckley, Wheeling, Martinsburg, and the Eastern Panhandle. No inspection, emissions, or repairs are needed; non‑running cars are welcome. Our dispatch operates Monday–Saturday in most areas, and the online form takes about two minutes. If you want your donation to count for this tax year, donate now and we’ll help you cross the December 31 IRS deadline off your list.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your 2‑minute West Virginia donation form
2 minutesEnter your contact details, vehicle info, and West Virginia pickup location—whether you’re in Charleston, Morgantown, Huntington, Beckley, or a rural county. Once you submit, your intended donation date is set, subject to our acceptance of the vehicle.
Confirm pickup and lock in your donation date
5 minutesOur team calls or emails (usually within one business day) to schedule free towing. Your deduction year is based on when we accept the vehicle—typically the pickup date. Save your confirmation as proof of donating before December 31.
Free towing anywhere in West Virginia
FlexibleOur tow partner meets you in your driveway, workplace, or storage lot in areas like Wheeling, Parkersburg, or the Eastern Panhandle. Hand over the keys and signed title; no repairs or inspection needed, and non‑running vehicles are fine.
We sell your vehicle and report the sale
VariesAfter pickup, Appalachian Autos arranges the sale. The actual gross sale price—not guidebook value—determines your allowable deduction if it’s over $500. Once sold, we prepare the IRS‑required paperwork for you.
Receive your tax paperwork and claim your deduction
Within IRS deadlinesIf the vehicle sells for more than $500, we mail IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of sale. If it’s $500 or under, we send a written acknowledgment. You use this, plus your pickup confirmation, to itemize on Schedule A. Consult a tax professional for your return.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction is based on sale price, not book value
For vehicles that sell for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your charitable deduction to the actual gross sale proceeds, even if Kelley Blue Book or other guides show a higher value.
Form 1098‑C for vehicles over $500
If Heritage for the Blind sells your donated vehicle for more than $500, Appalachian Autos sends you IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. You use this form to substantiate your deduction on your federal tax return.
Written acknowledgment for $500 or less
If your car sells for $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098‑C. You may generally deduct up to $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower, subject to IRS rules and your specific situation.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation tax deduction, you must forgo the standard deduction and itemize on Schedule A of your federal return. A tax professional can help you determine if itemizing makes sense for you this year.
Donate by Dec 31 to count for this year
The IRS bases the deduction year on when your vehicle is donated—typically the date we accept and pick it up—not when it’s sold. Complete your donation before December 31 for it to apply to this tax year.