Donate a Car or Vehicle Safely by Avoiding Scams!

Brent Pourciau — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 03:45:14 +0000

If you’re looking to donate a car or other vehicle, be aware that there are many scams out there! In this day and age it’s hard to know who to trust when it comes to charity. Many online and even door-to-door schemes will promise you extravagant rewards and tell amazing stories about the people they help but without a sure-fire plan for avoiding cons, you could very well end up as a victim of foul play. In order to protect your interests, you’ve got to become an informed donor. Most donors do not have the opportunity to become experienced at donating cars simply because it’s usually a one-time transaction, so don’t let inexperience lead you into the hands of a phony charity.

Tips for Avoiding Scams When Donating a Car or other Vehicle:

When donating a car or other vehicle such as a truck, motorcycle, RV or boat, the most important thing to know is that you should never make your donation through a third party. Anyone can claim to be collecting vehicles on behalf of a reputable organization and may even go so far as to offer rewards, tax vouchers or other benefits for your donation. Reputable charities do not send representatives on foot to canvass neighborhoods for unwanted vehicles. The process of donating securely is quite simple but, it is not standard practice to utilize door-to-door solicitors!

Before donating anything at all, you should always be prepared to do some basic research on your chosen organization. Legitimate charities have web sites with lots of evidence of the work they do. You should be able to tell within a few minutes which populations are receiving the benefits of the organization, which programs they offer, where their office is located, and some easily-verifiable history of their accomplishments. Remember, a real charity seeks to promote their achievements, not hide them. Beware of an organization that isn’t boasting about their success!

Another red flag to look for is how easy or difficult it is to find out what percentage of donations collected actually goes directly to people in need. The law does not stipulate just how much of amounts collected must be given to the organization’s recipients. That means that a group who call themselves a charity can actually give as little as 1% of their donations to people in need of assistance. In order to know for certain that your gift reaches the people who need it, remember that a legitimate and reputable charity will want to advertise their good work. You should be able to discern quite easily what percentage of donations reaches their targeted populations. Also keep in mind that this information should appear in a public format and not just something their representative said or other word-of-mouth claim.

Finally, any organization accepting donations and claiming to provide charitable assistance to people in need should be officially recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) charity. Again, charities that are reputable and secure will want to advertise this information in order to assure newcomers that their work is honest. You should not have to search very hard in order to find this verification and it should be presented in a public format. Look for charities that operate locally so that you can follow up on their activities and campaigns more easily. Most cities and smaller rural areas have at least a few good charities from which to choose. If you know what to look for and how to spot any suspicious claims or lack of information, you should be able to find an organization to whom you can donate your car or other vehicle securely.

Donating a Car or Other Vehicle in the New Orleans Area:

If you live in the New Orleans area and would like to donate your car or vehicle, look no further than Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans. Donating a car can be handled in a couple of easy steps and your donation will be fully tax deductible, with the receipt being mailed within 24 hours. Whether the car or vehicle still runs or not, pickup is free of charge. Volunteers of America is also an Official IRS 501 (c) (3) Charity that gives an average of .88 cents of every dollar collected to those in need, so you never need to worry about scams. All you need is the keys and title of ownership to make your secure donation today. Visit www.voagno.org or call (504) 525-2179.

Ways To Donate A Vehicle To Charity

Brent Pourciau — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:48:12 +0000

Are you thinking about donating your car or truck to a local charity, but a little confused on what steps to take? Giving a vehicle to a charitable organization is quite popular in the U.S., but it can be a tedious process if you don’t know what steps to take and what pitfalls to watch out for. Here are some tips to help you donate a car by fax, donate a car by phone, or donate a car by mail, as well as a few guidelines for making that both you and the charity benefit from your generous gift.

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