For Los Angeles donors, the IRS rule is simple: to claim a car donation on this year’s taxes, your vehicle must be picked up by December 31. With AutoLift LA, working with Heritage for the Blind, pickups run Monday–Saturday all the way through New Year’s Eve. In most Greater Los Angeles neighborhoods, if you contact us on a weekday before early afternoon, we can often schedule same-day or next-day towing. To virtually guarantee a December 31 pickup window, call or submit the 2‑minute form by December 27. Your signed title is required, but no inspection or repairs are needed, and towing is always free.
AutoLift LA is built for how Angelenos really live and drive. We regularly pick up in Downtown LA, Hollywood, Koreatown, Echo Park, Silver Lake, the Valley (Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Burbank, North Hollywood), the Westside (Santa Monica, West LA, Culver City), South LA, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Long Beach, the San Gabriel Valley (Pasadena, Alhambra, Monterey Park), and throughout Greater Los Angeles. Even during Christmas week, our local dispatch keeps running so you can lock in this year’s deduction without a last‑minute scramble. Start now, choose the pickup time that works for your schedule, and support Heritage for the Blind while clearing your driveway.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your 2‑minute donation in Los Angeles
2 minutesCall AutoLift LA or complete the quick online form. It takes about two minutes to share your vehicle details, your Los Angeles pickup address, and your contact info. Have your title handy if possible so we can confirm ownership and get you queued for the earliest available tax‑year pickup slot.
Lock in your year‑end pickup date
5 minutesOur team checks Greater Los Angeles tow availability and offers the earliest time that works for you—often same‑day or next‑day on weekday calls before early afternoon. Call by December 27–28 to secure a December 31 pickup window and keep your donation squarely in this tax year.
Sign the title and prep for the tow
10–15 minutesBefore the truck arrives, sign your California title according to our simple instructions. Remove license plates if required, take out personal items, and have your keys ready. The vehicle can be non‑running, damaged, or not smogged—no repairs or inspection are needed for pickup anywhere in Greater Los Angeles.
Free pickup anywhere in Greater Los Angeles
30–60 minutesOn your scheduled day, the tow driver meets you at your home, office, or a safe street location in your LA neighborhood. Pickup is always free, Monday–Saturday, including Christmas week through December 31. You’ll receive a preliminary donation receipt at pickup to document the date for your tax records.
Receive your tax receipt from Heritage for the Blind
Within 30 days of saleHeritage for the Blind processes your donated vehicle and sells it. Within about 30 days of the sale, you receive an IRS‑compliant receipt (and Form 1098‑C when required) stating the gross sale price. That amount generally determines the deduction you can claim when you itemize on your federal return.
Year-end tax deduction facts
December 31 is the IRS cutoff
For this tax year, your donation counts only if your vehicle is legally donated and picked up by December 31. A January tow, even if you called in December, will normally fall into next year’s taxes, so schedule early to avoid missing the deadline.
How your deduction amount is set
For most car donations, the IRS says your charitable deduction is based on the charity’s actual gross sale price of your vehicle, not a price guide. Heritage for the Blind will document that sale price on your receipt so you can claim the appropriate amount when you file.
IRS Form 1098‑C for higher‑value cars
If your donated vehicle sells for more than the IRS threshold, Heritage for the Blind will issue Form 1098‑C. You attach this form to your federal return when you itemize deductions, so the IRS can match your claimed deduction to the charity’s reported sale price.
Itemizing on Schedule A
To use a car donation as a federal tax deduction, you generally must itemize deductions on Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. Talk with your tax professional or review IRS guidance to see whether itemizing makes sense for your situation this year.
Timing of your written receipt
After pickup, Heritage for the Blind processes and sells your vehicle. Once sold, they send you a written acknowledgment—typically within about 30 days of the sale—showing the sale price and key IRS‑required details that you’ll need for your tax records and filing.