Donate a Car to Charity

Are you looking to do something wonderful this year? Do you want to give in a way that will make a major difference in someone else's life? If volunteering, donating money, or participating in clothes drives has not satisfied your desire to do something truly charitable, then why not donate a car to charity?

Maybe you're not Mother Teresa. Maybe you've just got an old car you're sick and tired of seeing in your garage. Even if you don't consider yourself a huge proponent of charitable goodness; even if you're woefully undereducated about the state of the world today, the opportunity to donate a car to charity offers you many benefits beyond the gratification of doing something good.

Charitable car donations are gaining in popularity, and it's not just because they're a wonderful way to give back to your community. They offer a wealth of benefits above and beyond putting a quarter in the collection jar at your local supermarket.

There are literally dozens of articles out there that will encourage you to donate a car to charity. They all make excellent points?usually about how your donation could transform someone's life. They're wonderful points to consider, but not everyone gives for the sake of giving. There's nothing wrong with expecting something in return. Heck, even good etiquette tells us every good deed should be met with at least a "Thank you."

So what kind of thanks can you expect when you donate a car to charity?

Well to start with, the charities accepting car donations have refined the process to the point that it takes little to no effort on the part of the donor. All you'll have to do is contact the charity, tell them about your car, approve the donation, and hand over the keys and title. They'll arrange a time for picking it up?you don't even have to be there if you don't want to be.

Donating a car to charity even has monetary benefits. Choose your charity wisely, and you may be able to use the full market value of the car as a tax deduction. We all know in the current economy that it can be hard to sell your car for what it's truly worth, especially if it's older and needs some work. That makes giving it to a charity a smart choice on all accounts. You can use free resources like Kelley Blue Book online to get an estimate of your car's value, and when the charity comes to pick it up they'll give you a receipt to use when claiming your deduction

Certainly you've heard the phrase, "Waste not, want not." If you've got a car you don't want, why let that valuable asset waste away? When you donate a car to charity, you can solve your unwanted car problem without investing time, hassle, or money. You can also turn a burden into a tax deduction. And most importantly, you can help someone else as you help yourself.