Donating a used car is a great way to offload an unwanted vehicle and support a cause of your choice—not to mention it can qualify you for a tax credit. Here’s how and where you can donate your car in Virginia.

When it’s time to do away with an old car, finding a buyer can be tricky, and trading in your vehicle might not seem worth it. If you’re looking for a swift way to get rid of your dated car, a car donation program could be the option for you.

Donating your vehicle is one of the quickest, most convenient ways to get an unwanted vehicle off your driveway. Whether you’re based in

Norfolk

Alexandria

, or

Roanoke

, you’ll have access to numerous charities and organizations that accept car donations, and the process is typically very easy! Let’s take a look at how to donate a car in Virginia hassle-free, where to donate, and what your tax deduction will be.

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How to donate a car in Virginia

The convenience of the car donation process is one of the biggest advantages of donating a car in Virginia. Here’s how the process works:

Find the right organization to donate to. This may take a little consideration. If claiming a tax deduction for your car donation is important to you, you’ll want to make sure the charity you select is a qualified organization. Check the IRS

Donor’s Guide

and make sure the organization is labeled section 501(c)(3).

You can use the

tax-exempt organization search tool

on the IRS’ website to check Pub. 78 data, which shows whether an organization qualifies for a tax deduction.

Note that churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques are not required to apply for qualification through the IRS and are often not listed on the site, but they may still qualify for a tax deduction.

Collect your documents. In Virginia, charities and non-profits require a signed title for a car donation—you will need to transfer the title over to the organization to complete the donation. Charities may also require your vehicle’s

make and model

, vehicle identification number (VIN), current mileage, and whether the vehicle is operational.

Check your car’s fair market value.

Kelley Blue Book

is an excellent resource to estimate the amount of your tax deduction.

Schedule a complimentary pickup. When you decide which organization to donate to, call or apply online to arrange for a free pickup of your vehicle.

Keep your donation receipt/tax deductible receipt so you can accurately claim your tax deduction. If the charity you donate to decides to sell your car, ask them for the sale price—this is what you will claim for your taxes. More on that below.

How do taxes work with Virginia car donation?

Everyone wants lower taxes, right? Right. Let’s dig into the tax deduction component of a Virginia car donation.

If a charity decides to keep your car and doesn’t sell it, you will claim your car's cash value on your taxes. However, most donated cars are eventually sold by the charity in a fundraising effort or to support a family in need.

If your vehicle is sold after you donate it to your cause of choice, your tax deduction will be based on the amount the charity sells the car for—not the fair market value of your vehicle. This applies to vehicles sold for $500 or more.

Let’s say your car’s cash value is $1,200. If the organization does not sell the car, you can claim the car's cash value ($1,200) on your taxes for your charitable contribution. Now, let’s suppose the organization decides to sell your car to support a charitable effort, and the car sells for $950. You will be limited to claiming $950 on your tax return.

Now, suppose your car sells for $500 or less. You may claim either the fair market value or $500—whichever is less. This rule will benefit you if a charity decides to sell your car to a family in need at a very low price. You’ll be able to claim a larger deduction.

This applies to vehicles sold for more than $500. For example, if a charity sells your car for $800, you’ll be able to claim $800 in charitable donations—even if your car is valued higher.

That said, if your car sells for less than $500, you may claim either the fair market value or $500—it just must be the lesser of the two. This rule will benefit you if a charity decides to sell your car to a family in need at a very low price. You’ll be able to claim a larger deduction.

Keep in mind that these rules only apply to qualifying organizations. If you donate your vehicle to a charity or nonprofit, make sure it meets IRS specifications; otherwise, you may not qualify for a tax deduction.

Key Takeaway If a charity sells your donated car for more than $500, you’ll claim the sale price of the vehicle. If the charity sells your car for less than $500, you can claim the fair market price or $500, whichever is less.

MORE:

What to consider before donating a car

Where to donate a car in Virginia

Before receiving your tax deduction, you’ll need to choose an organization and follow through with the process of donating your car. There are tons of charities, nonprofits, and organized communities that accept vehicle donations in Virginia.

Whether you live in

Arlington

Virginia Beach

Richmond

, or elsewhere, here are seven of the best places to donate a car in the Old Dominion State.

Wheels For Wishes

operates nationwide through the Make-A-Wish® Foundation to collect proceeds from donated car sales. Wheels for Wishes collects cars, motorcycles, trucks, RVs, boats and watercraft, and more types of vehicles. Plus, they provide free towing throughout Virginia and they offer a 100% tax deduction for the sale value of your donated car!

To get started, you can fill out the

Wheels for Wishes online form

or call 1-855-278-9474 to make your car donation.

Vehicles for Veterans

Vehicles for Veterans supports disabled veterans with employment opportunities, medical care, disability and pension assistance, housing programs, and more. They offer free pickups for your motor vehicle (whether it’s running or not) plus the maximum possible tax deduction.

You can fill out the

Vehicles for Veterans online form

or call 1-855-811-4838 to begin the process of donating your car.

Cars for Prostate Cancer

supports the Prostate Cancer Awareness Project, which works to save lives by increasing the rate of early detection of prostate cancer. To donate to Cars For Prostate Cancer in Virginia, fill out an

online donation form

or call them at 888-885-6710.

Goodwill

Goodwill is a great source for nabbing those vintage steals, but that’s not where their benefits end. Virginia’s

Goodwill car donations

provide job opportunities for disadvantaged residents across the state. They accept multiple types of motorized vehicles and they offer free pickups and tax deductibles!

Use their online

donation form

or contact them toll-free at 1-800-433-3828 to schedule your free pickup.

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Kars4Kids

is a nonprofit with a mission to support and provide opportunities to children across the nation. They offer free towing within 24-48 hours after you sign up to donate your vehicle, and they also throw in a vacation voucher for a three-day two-night stay!

To donate your car to Kars4Kids, you can fill out their

online car donation form

or call them at 757-351-0701.

Car Talk

Virginia residents can support their favorite local music, news, and informational programs by donating a car to Car Talk. Car Talk’s

Vehicle Donation Program

returns 80% of the proceeds from your vehicle donation to a Virginia public radio station of your choice. All you have to do is fill out the

Car Talk online donation form

or inquire by calling 1-877-215-0227.

Animal Car Donation

Virginia residents can help a furry friend in need by donating a car to the

Animal Car Donation Charity

. This program supports nonprofit organizations across the country to aid with the rescue process. Animal Car Donation Charity offers funds from the sales of donated cars to support no-kill shelters, sufficient veterinary care, food sourcing, and adoption for animals in need.

You can fill out the

Animal Car Donation Charity online form

or call 1-888-969-4857 to start the donation process!

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