Donate your car in Greater Los Angeles by December 31 and, in most cases, you can deduct the gross sale price on your 2024 federal tax return. AutoLift LA processes vehicle donations for Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) charity. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098‑C after the car is sold; that form shows the actual sale price, which is the amount you may generally claim as a charitable deduction if you itemize on Schedule A. For vehicles that sell for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and may typically deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. Always confirm your deduction with a tax professional for your specific situation.
We make year‑end donating simple for drivers across Greater Los Angeles—from Santa Monica, Venice, and Westwood to Echo Park, Silver Lake, Hollywood, the Valley, Pasadena, Inglewood, and Long Beach. There’s no inspection, no repairs, and non‑running cars are welcome. Our dispatch operates Monday through Saturday in most areas, with free pickup from driveways, apartment garages, and office lots. Once your pickup is scheduled, your donation date is locked in for this tax year as long as it’s on or before December 31. You keep the tow driver’s pickup confirmation as proof of the donation date, and we handle the rest of the paperwork with Heritage for the Blind and the IRS.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2‑minute donation form or call AutoLift LA
2 minutesShare your contact info, Los Angeles pickup location, and basic vehicle details. This quick step gets your donation started before the December 31 cutoff. You’ll choose a convenient day and time window for free towing—no smog check, no prep, non‑running cars welcome.
Lock in your pickup date on or before December 31
5 minutesOur dispatch team confirms your Greater Los Angeles pickup—whether you’re in Downtown, the Valley, the South Bay, or the Eastside. As long as the vehicle is collected by December 31, your donation counts for this tax year. We email or text you a confirmation.
Hand over keys, title, and get pickup confirmation
10 minutesOn pickup day, the tow driver meets you at home, work, or a storage lot. You sign over the title (we guide you), hand over the keys, and receive a pickup slip or electronic confirmation. Keep this as proof of your donation date for your tax records.
AutoLift LA sells the vehicle for Heritage for the Blind
VariesYour car is sold, and the net proceeds support services for people who are blind or visually impaired through Heritage for the Blind. The final gross sale price is what typically determines the deduction amount if the vehicle sells for more than $500.
Receive your tax paperwork by mail
Within weeks of saleIf your vehicle sells for more than $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098‑C from Heritage for the Blind within 30 days of the sale. If it is $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment letter. Keep these with your records for filing Schedule A.
Claim your deduction when you file your return
At tax timeWhen you file your federal return for this year, itemize on Schedule A to claim your charitable deduction. Use your 1098‑C or acknowledgment and your pickup confirmation to document the donation. Consult a tax professional to apply the rules to your situation.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction is based on the sale price
For vehicles that sell for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your deduction to the actual gross sale price—not Kelley Blue Book or a guess. Your Form 1098‑C from Heritage for the Blind shows this amount.
Form 1098‑C for vehicles over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. You use this form to support your charitable deduction when you itemize.
Written acknowledgment for $500 or less
If your vehicle sells for $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098‑C. In that case, you may generally deduct up to $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower, subject to IRS rules.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To claim a car donation deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal Form 1040. If you take the standard deduction, you typically cannot claim an additional deduction for the donated vehicle.
Dec 31 controls the tax year, not the sale date
Your deduction applies to the year in which you donate the vehicle—meaning the date it’s picked up or transferred—if that happens on or before December 31. The car can sell later; the donation year does not change.