Donate your car through SacraCar Share in the Sacramento Metro by 11:59 pm on December 31 and your donation counts toward this year’s taxes. For vehicles that sell for over $500, your federal tax deduction generally equals the actual gross sale price of your car, not the Kelley Blue Book value. After it sells, Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. For vehicles at $500 or below, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and may usually deduct up to $500 or your car’s fair market value, whichever is lower. To claim any deduction, you must itemize on Schedule A. Always confirm details with a tax professional.
SacraCar Share makes the process fast and local for donors across Sacramento — from Midtown, East Sacramento, Land Park, Oak Park, and Curtis Park to Arden-Arcade, Natomas, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, Folsom, and Roseville. We arrange free pickup (running or not), usually Monday through Saturday, with no inspection or repairs required. Your pickup confirmation is your proof of donation date, so once you schedule before year-end, you’ve locked in this tax year. The proceeds support Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) serving people who are blind or visually impaired. Start now and finish your donation before the year-end rush.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute donation form or call now
2 minutesEnter your contact info, basic vehicle details, and Sacramento-area pickup location (home, work, or shop in places like Midtown, Elk Grove, or Roseville). This time-stamps your intent and gets your free towing and year-end deduction process started immediately.
Lock in your year-end pickup date
5 minutesOur towing partner contacts you (usually within one business day, often same day) to schedule a convenient pickup Monday–Saturday anywhere in the Sacramento Metro. Choose the earliest available slot before or after Dec 31; your deduction year is based on donation date, not pickup date.
Sign the title and hand over the keys at pickup
10 minutesWhen the driver arrives in areas like Natomas, Arden-Arcade, Rancho Cordova, or Folsom, you sign the title and provide keys. The driver gives you a towing receipt or pickup confirmation; keep this as proof of your donation date for your records and your tax preparer.
We sell the vehicle and Heritage for the Blind mails your tax paperwork
No time for youYour vehicle is sold. If it sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind mails IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. If it’s $500 or under, they send a written acknowledgment with the info you need for your return. You don’t handle any sale paperwork.
Claim your deduction when you file your tax return
15 minutes with your preparerGive your tax pro your Form 1098-C or acknowledgment and your pickup confirmation. If you itemize on Schedule A, you generally deduct the gross sale price (over $500) or up to $500/fair market value (at or under $500). Always confirm your specific deduction with a tax professional.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals sale price, not book value
For most donated cars that sell for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your deduction to the actual gross sale price shown on Form 1098-C, even if Kelley Blue Book lists a higher value.
IRS 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 after the sale. This form shows the gross sale price you normally use as your deduction amount.
Written acknowledgment for $500 or less
If your vehicle is $500 or below, you receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098-C. You may usually deduct up to $500 or the car’s fair market value, whichever is lower; confirm with your tax advisor.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To use a car donation deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal tax return. If you take the standard deduction, you generally can’t claim an additional car donation deduction.
Dec 31 controls which tax year it counts for
Your deduction applies to the year in which you legally donate the car, not when it sells. Keep your pickup confirmation showing the date; donating by December 31 means it typically counts for this tax year.