In Greater Los Angeles, the IRS rule is simple: the donation date is the day your vehicle is actually picked up. If you want your car donation to count for this tax year, it must be physically picked up on or before December 31—not just scheduled. That’s why AutoLift LA, benefiting Heritage for the Blind, urges donors to book at least 3–5 business days before December 31 so we can lock in your pickup slot under the IRS deadline.
We know the year-end rush in LA is real—traffic on the 405, last-minute shopping in Glendale, family plans from Santa Monica to Pasadena. AutoLift LA keeps it simple: a 2-minute online form or quick phone call, then our professional tow partners pick up your car anywhere in Greater Los Angeles—from the San Fernando Valley and Westside to South LA, the South Bay, the San Gabriel Valley, and the Inland Empire. We operate Monday–Saturday through the holiday season, and we accept most vehicles, running or not, at no cost to you. Donate locally, help Heritage for the Blind, and secure this year’s tax deduction before time runs out.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesSubmit our secure online form or call AutoLift LA with your basic vehicle and contact info. No smog check, no repairs, no inspection needed. Just tell us where the car is in Greater Los Angeles and how to reach you quickly.
Choose a pickup window before Dec 31
5 minutesOur scheduling team confirms your details and offers the earliest available pickup. For a same-year deduction, choose a slot on or before December 31. To be safe, contact us 3–5 business days before year-end to secure your preferred time.
Confirm your locked-in pickup date
5 minutesWe email or text your pickup confirmation with the exact date and location. This date must be on or before December 31 for the donation to count this tax year. You do not need to be present if we have access to the keys and title.
Free towing anywhere in Greater Los Angeles
30–60 minutes (pickup day)Our professional tow driver arrives at your LA-area location—apartment in Koreatown, driveway in Torrance, office garage in Burbank, or curb in East LA. We tow your vehicle free, even if it does not run, and provide an initial pickup receipt.
Receive your tax acknowledgment by mail
After vehicle saleOnce Heritage for the Blind sells your vehicle, we mail your written acknowledgment. For vehicles over $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C. The tax year of your deduction is based on the pickup date, not when the form arrives.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Dec 31 pickup = this year’s deduction
For IRS purposes, your car donation date is when the charity takes possession—your pickup date. If your vehicle is picked up on or before December 31, it counts as a donation for that tax year, even if it sells later.
Form 1098-C for donations over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind will issue IRS Form 1098-C. You use this to substantiate your deduction and complete Schedule A when you itemize your federal income tax return.
Deduction generally equals sale price
In most cases, your allowable federal tax deduction is the gross sale price of the vehicle, not blue-book value. Your acknowledgment or Form 1098-C will show this amount so you can accurately report it to the IRS.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To claim a car donation deduction, you need to itemize charitable contributions on Schedule A of your federal return. If you claim the standard deduction, you generally cannot take an additional write-off for your donated vehicle.
Acknowledgment can arrive after year-end
The written acknowledgment and Form 1098-C are mailed after the vehicle is sold, which may be in the following year. Your deduction year is still the year of pickup—as long as the car was picked up by December 31.