Why Donate your Car or Vehicle this Spring?

Just imagine your daily driver safely stashed in the garage, protected from the elements and inclement weather of springtime. When the Weather Channel is issuing warnings for storms producing baseball-sized hail, you can just stay put on the couch, knowing that your vehicle is out of harms way. If you still had your other car sitting in the garage, you’d be frantically switching out one car for the other, or maybe trying to cover your car with a tarp, or even simply sitting and crossing your fingers in hope of avoiding any serious damage. By donating your car or vehicle, you can better take advantage of your precious garage space and also avoid costly repairs to a car or vehicle that you might use once in a blue moon anyway.

Here’s another scenario: you’re trying to fix a leaking pipe under the sink, but you need your crescent wrench. You walk out into the garage, and between yourself and the toolbox is an obstacle course consisting of that old motorcycle, your son’s old dirt bike, your riding lawnmower, and your boat with a rotting tarp on top. After contorting in ways you never thought possible simply to navigate the labyrinth of vehicles, you might realize that downsizing your stock through donation might be a pretty good idea this spring.

Logistics alone aren’t the only reason to donate your car or vehicle this spring. Donating can actually be quite lucrative—in the form of tax deductions. You could be free of your unused and/or unwanted vehicle in addition to saving money come tax time. And as if that weren’t enough, by donating your car or vehicle to charity you’ll be helping out those in need. It’s a win-win situation for all involved. Just be sure to look into the validity of your donation—there are lots of scams out there, so it’s best to donate to a trusted charitable organization.

How to Donate a car or Vehicle in the New Orleans Area:

The best way to donate your car or vehicle is through the Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans. This is a respected charity with firmly planted roots in Greater New Orleans, with 88 cents on each donated dollar going back to the needy right in your very own community. They are committed to providing donors with the maximum tax deduction and will mail a receipt for your donation within 24 hours, just in time for that other marker of springtime: tax day. The only requirements for donation are the keys and the title to your vehicle. For more information, you can visit voagno.org or call (504) 525-2179.

Vehicle Donation Made Easy

Charities realize that you’re a busy person, so they’re making it simpler than ever for you to give your car, truck, boat, RV or motorcycle to a good cause. Once you’ve decided to donate your vehicle, it’s time to decide which charity you would like to support with your gift. It will help to research how your charity plans to use your donation, in order to make sure the maximum amount of your gift is going to help people in need. Watch out for online scam sites that offer to collect your car for charity; sites like this donate a portion of the proceeds to good organizations, but keep most of the money for themselves.

After choosing a charity, it’s time to contact them and tell them about your wish to donate your vehicle. Different organizations offer a variety of ways to donate cars, including donating by fax, phone, mail, email and in person. A popular New Orleans’ based charity organization, the Greater New Orleans Volunteers of America, even offers donors the unique ability to donate a car online using a simple form.

There are several things you need to know in advance of giving your car to charity. First, how much is your car worth? This information is helpful for both you and the charity, as it will help give them an idea of how many people they can help with your donation, while allowing you to anticipate how much you can write off as a tax deduction. Second, what’s your preferred mode of communication? If you don’t have access to a fax machine, then donating a car by fax will obviously not be the best choice for donation method. No matter what method you choose, most charities will have a representative available by phone to help you through the donation process.

Once you’ve completed the initial donation paperwork, it’s time to get your car ready to go! Clean out any garbage or personal effects, making sure to check the glove compartment, ash tray, consoles, floorboards and trunk. Coordinate with the charity organization to decide on a time when they will come and collect your car, then leave the keys, owner’s manual and title information on the driver’s seat or in another place that the organization’s driver will easily find them. You might also want to check with the charity to find out if you should remove the license plates from the vehicle, as rules on this differ by state.

Where To Donate A Car In New Orleans

If you’re looking for a trustworthy organization that accepts car donations in New Orleans, the Greater New Orleans Volunteers of America is a great charity to choose. The VOA serves kids, families, recovering drug addicts, the homeless, disabled persons, veterans, and the elderly in communities across 16 Louisiana parishes. Visit www.voagno.org or call (504) 482-2130 to learn how to donate your vehicle.

Some organizations available to donate your car to are actually turning around and selling the vehicle for profit and donating a portion of the money to charity. To be sure your donated vehicle is going to someone in need, there are some things you can do.

5 Things to Do First Before Donating Your Car to Charity

1. You should check the Charity Navigator or Better Business Bureau web site to make sure you select a legitimate charity. Make sure your charity meets the Standards for Charity Accountability. These standards were developed to encourage fair and honest solicitation practices, to promote ethical conduct and advance support of philanthropy.
2. You should consider choosing a local charity, one you are somewhat familiar with or have donated to previously. Choosing a local charity will make it easier for everyone involved.
3. Talk to someone you know who has donated a vehicle and ask about their experience.
4. Before you choose an organization to donate your vehicle, you should first figure out the Fair Market Value of your vehicle for tax deduction purposes. You can search Publication 78 on the IRS website to find out the specific guidelines for calculating the Fair Market Value of your vehicle. You must also take into account any accessories, the car’s mileage and the physical condition of the vehicle. Tax Law Regulations change every few years and so do deduction specifications. It is important to check with the IRS for any changes in tax laws regarding donation deductions.
5. When donating your vehicle you should be certain to choose an eligible organization or your donation may not be tax deductible. Many taxpayers can’t take a deduction for their donated vehicle because they don’t itemize their deductions and choose to take the standard deduction instead. You should be given an IRS form 501c(3) to file with your taxes. There are also record keeping requirements that vary depending on the amount of deduction.

Although it may require a little homework on your part preparing to donate your used vehicle, there is another benefit besides tax deductions. For most people, knowing that you are helping someone in need makes you feel better about yourself and brings a sense of peace and happiness.

Donate your Vehicle to Volunteers of America

If you would like a recommendation for a charity organization that meets all of these requirement listed in this article than we highly recommend Volunteers of America New Orleans. Volunteers of America New Orleans services the Greater New Orleans area who can use all the help they can get post Katrina. If you have an old or new car that you would like to donate for a good cause then click this link here to Donate Your Vehicle to Volunteers of America New Orleans.