Returns to charity, information to know before making a car donation

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Editor

A charity has a responsibility to best manage your donation. Before making a donation of any kind, ask how much of the gross proceeds will go to the charity. If the organization will only list the percentage of net, then your donation could be largely wasted. Several published reports have clearly established that most car donation programs return between 15 and 35% of the gross back to the charity, but they report it as 50 to 70% of the net. This could mean the difference between the charity of your choice receiving $1,000 or receiving $150. CarDonationWizard will return between 75% and 80% of the gross back to the charity of your choice. Learn more by calling our customer service team at 855-957-2277 or visit us online at cardonationwizard.com.

Making Vehicle Donation Easy

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Editor

If you’ve got questions on the vehicle donation process, we’ve got answers. Car donation is as simple as submitting a vehicle contribution form via the web OR over the phone (877-709-2277), whichever is convenient for you. It takes just a few minutes and some basic information about the vehicle you choose to donate. Before you know it your car donation will be one of the many reasons you bring a smile to a family in need.

Once your contribution form is complete you can simply return the required forms to our processing center. Your vehicle information is then assessed and we choose the best path in order to get your vehicle’s highest possible return. You will be contacted by one of our fast and courteous towing facilities closest to your area where arrangements are then made to schedule a pickup. We stay in contact with you, the donor, throughout this process. Once your vehicle is picked up and sold, you will receive a receipt stating your deduction amount. This receipt can be used in conjunction with your income tax. We strive to bring the best customer service and make this process as smooth as possible.

For more information on our charitable partners click here.

Car Donation Tax Deductions: Tax Day

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Editor

With the 2012 filing deadline today, we thought it might be helpful to describe how car donations and tax deductions work to your benefit.

For questions not answered here, please feel free to call us at: 877-957-2277.

If you donated a car in 2012 to a charity featured on Car Donation Wizard, such as: Habitat for Humanity, Car Talk, NPR, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, American Cancer Society or any of our other great partners, you were provided with a tax deductible receipt listing the gross selling price for your vehicle. Any 501(c)(3) charity (re: reputable charity), will provide you with a tax deducible receipt for your donation. Based on tax laws, the IRS states that you are eligible to deduct the fair market value of your donated vehicle.

It’s good practice to always consult a tax adviser or the IRS for more information about how you can claim charitable deductions for your vehicle donation. The IRS can answer your tax questions and can provide tax forms, publications, and other reading materials for further assistance. IRS materials are accessible through the Internet at www.irs.gov, through telephone ordering at (800) 829-3676, and at IRS walk-in offices in many areas across the country.

Tax Related Car Donation Help Links

If you have additional question about deductions and IRS Regulations the following links may be of assistance:

IRS Publication 4303, A Donor’s Guide to Car Donations (PDF)
Publication 526, Charitable Contributions (PDF)
Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property (PDF)
Form 8283 Non cash Charitable Contributions (PDF)
Instructions for Form 8283, Non cash Charitable Contributions (PDF)

Valentine’s Day Inspired Car Donations

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Editor

This Valentine’s Day, we thank all of our donors who have lovingly donated a vehicle to one of Car Donation Wizard’s amazing charities over the years.

We do not take it lightly that for some households, a car donation may be the single largest charitable gift made during the year, or ever. This is all the more reason to make sure that the donation you make is being used for the greatest charitable benefit. We strive to earn your charity the most money and you the largest tax deduction for your donation. Call us anytime (855-957-2277) to talk about the average proceeds we return (around 80% of every vehicle sold go back to the charity) and how that organization uses the proceeds (renovating or rebuilding homes with Habitat, cancer research with American Cancer Society, school-in-a-box kits for UNICEF, and more!). We hope you’ll share your experience donating with us and even consider volunteering with your charity to really see how your car donation dollars are being used.

Happy Valentines Day!

The First Affordable Automobile: 1926 Ford Model TT

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Editor

This generously donated Ford Model TT from the height of the Roaring ‘20s is a beautifully restored example of the legendary automobile.

There are so many historical and industrial milestones surrounding the Model TT that it’s hard to keep track of them all. Over 15 million units were produced by the end of the vehicle’s 19-year production run, a record that held for 45 years after. Perhaps only the Volkswagen Beetle comes close to the ubiquity and iconic status of the Model TT .

Perhaps the Model TT speaks most to visionary founder Henry Ford’s all-encompassing formula of making the highest possible quality product, in the most efficient manner possible, for sale at most competitive price possible, all the while compensating his employees with the highest wages possible. Ford pushed every boundary in making and selling the Model TT , and basically everyone won as a result. It was a chain reaction: innovative practices inspired competitors, competition drove prices down and wages up, employees were rewarded well, customers were continually given a quality product in exchange for affordable price, and Ford’s empire was solidified for the ages.

The Model TT was so accessible to the average American that the price actually dropped every year during the production run. This is unheard of, especially in today’s market when seemingly all prices – especially car prices – seem to tick up with the blink of an eye. In 1908 the Model T cost $850, or around $21,340 in today’s dollars when adjusted for inflation. In 1916, the prices had dropped to only $360 for the most basic Model T, or around $7,020 in today’s dollars. In 2012, the least expensive new car is $10,990. Henry Ford still has us beat.

Although earlier Model T cars were available in a variety of colors, by 1914 Ford insisted they all be painted black. By 1918, half the cars on the road in the U.S. were Model T’s.

The Model TT represents the best of American industry, when goods were still manufactured here and everybody benefited. The market took care of itself. Seeing this restored example is mindful of great ideas and innovations, despite the car itself being a relatively simple mechanism. The key was in the way it was produced and marketed. Now that it’s being donated, we’re also mindful of generosity and charity as well.

Other cool donated cars:

Animal Striped Miata

1958 Lyman Boat

1990 Buick Reatta