Donate your car in Orlando before 11:59 PM on December 31 and you may deduct it on your 2024 federal tax return. Here’s how it works: if your vehicle sells for over $500, Heritage for the Blind (a 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446) will mail you IRS Form 1098‑C after it sells, and your deduction is the actual gross sale price – not the Kelley Blue Book value. If the vehicle is valued at $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and you can generally deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. To claim the deduction, you must itemize on Schedule A. Always consult a tax professional for advice about your specific situation.
Orlando Auto Ally makes the year-end rush easy for donors across the Orlando Metro – from Winter Park, Lake Nona, and Baldwin Park to Ocoee, Kissimmee, and Altamonte Springs. We arrange free towing, usually within a few days, and you’ll get a pickup confirmation you should keep as proof of your donation date. No inspection, no repairs, non-running cars welcome. You help fund vital services for people who are blind or visually impaired through Heritage for the Blind, and we handle the paperwork. Donate now so your car counts for this tax year.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your donation in under 2 minutes
2 minutesSubmit our quick online form or call to donate from anywhere in the Orlando Metro – Downtown Orlando, Winter Garden, Lake Nona, Heathrow and beyond. Share basic vehicle details and contact info so we can lock in your donation request before December 31.
Confirm free pickup and lock in your donation date
5 minutesOur team contacts you to schedule free towing, usually Monday–Saturday. The key tax point is the donation date, not the tow date, so keep your confirmation as proof you donated by December 31, even if pickup happens in early January.
Prepare your title and hand off the vehicle
10–15 minutesBefore the tow truck arrives at your Orlando-area address, locate your title and remove license plates per Florida rules. We’ll guide you through the simple title transfer when the vehicle is picked up – no inspection or repairs needed, non-running vehicles are fine.
Receive your written acknowledgment and then Form 1098-C
Varies by sale dateAfter pickup, your vehicle is sold to benefit Heritage for the Blind. Within 30 days of the sale, you’ll receive the required IRS written acknowledgment or Form 1098‑C if the vehicle sells for more than $500. This document shows your deductible amount.
Claim your year-end deduction on Schedule A
At tax filingWhen you file your federal taxes, use your acknowledgment or 1098‑C to claim your charitable contribution on Schedule A if you itemize. Your deduction is generally the gross sale price for vehicles over $500. Talk with your tax professional for specific guidance.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals sale price, not book value
For vehicles that sell for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your deduction to the gross sale price listed on Form 1098‑C. You usually cannot deduct Kelley Blue Book or an estimated value if the charity sells the car.
Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500
When your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind will mail you IRS Form 1098‑C. This form lists the sale price, vehicle details, and charity information and is your primary tax document for claiming the deduction.
Written acknowledgment for $500 or less
If your donated vehicle is worth or sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098‑C. In that case, you may generally deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower, if you itemize.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a vehicle donation deduction, you need to file Schedule A and itemize your deductions. If you take the standard deduction, you typically cannot claim a separate car donation deduction. Ask a tax professional what’s best for your situation.
Dec 31 controls the tax year, not the sale date
For federal tax purposes, your deduction applies to the year in which you donate the vehicle, not when it sells. If you complete your donation by December 31, it generally counts for that tax year, even if the sale and 1098‑C arrive later.