Workforce & Jobs
Goodwill
Goodwill Car Donation accepts vehicles in any condition — proceeds fund job training and employment placement programs in your community.
location_on7919 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048call(323) 556-0060
location_on Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Vehicles Can Do More Than Trade In
Owners across Los Angeles County are finding that donating a car is simpler than selling one. A direct gift to a vetted 501(c)(3) includes free towing, costs nothing out of pocket, and produces an IRS Form 1098-C documenting the deduction at tax time.
Los Angeles County
County
11,885,717
Residents
bolt Just want it gone?
Just Come and Get It arrow_forward Skip the listings. Get the tax write-off and free towing — our charity of the week handles the rest.
Why Donate a Car in Los Angeles?
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Free Towing, Anywhere in Los Angeles
Vetted charities cover towing at no cost to the donor. Running or not, the vehicle is picked up at a scheduled time — the donor does not move it.
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Done in Days, Not Months
A Los Angeles private sale can drag on for weeks. A vehicle donation moves quickly: a short form, a scheduled tow, and a signed title at pickup.
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End Insurance and Registration Costs
An unused Los Angeles vehicle keeps generating insurance premiums and registration fees. Donating it ends those bills the moment the title transfers.
star Featured Initiative
Donate your car. Help save a life waiting for a transplant.
Vehicle donations routed to MatchingDonors.com receive prioritized handling — free towing, title transfer, and IRS Form 1098-C after the vehicle sells. Proceeds fund the matching platform that has connected over 15,000 registered donors with patients in need.
10,000+ patients helped finding a living donor since 2004
Start Your Car Donation
See how much your car could impact a charity.
Choose a Cause Serving Los Angeles County
Well-known 501(c)(3) charities serving Los Angeles — local branches plus national organizations that accept car donations.
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Health & ResearchAmerican Cancer Society
Their Cars for a Cure program accepts vehicle donations with free towing — proceeds fund cancer research, patient transportation, and lodging programs.
location_on844 S Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035call(310) 360-4894
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Housing & Urban DevelopmentHabitat for Humanity
Their Cars for Homes program accepts donated vehicles in any condition — proceeds fund home builds and repairs for families working toward stable homeownership.
location_on1071 South La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019call(323) 421-3700
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Disaster ReliefAmerican Red Cross
Accepts car, truck, motorcycle, RV, and boat donations — proceeds fund disaster response, blood services, and emergency aid nationwide.
location_on1450 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401call(310) 394-3773
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Human ServicesThe Salvation Army
Accepts donated vehicles nationwide with free towing — proceeds fund adult rehabilitation centers, shelters, and disaster relief.
location_on1662 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404call(310) 450-7235
Inherited a Vehicle in Los Angeles? Here Is a Cleaner Path
An inherited car often arrives with paperwork the heir did not expect — registration to update, insurance to keep current, and a title that may take time to clear through probate. Selling it can mean those costs continue for weeks.
Donating an inherited Los Angeles vehicle, once the title is clear, converts it into a charitable deduction and ends the upkeep in a single appointment — often the simplest resolution for a vehicle the heir does not plan to drive.
From Los Angeles Vehicle to Charitable Impact
A transparent, four-step process ensures a smooth transition from vehicle to impact. (The exact process may differ between organizations, these are the general phases)
1
Vehicle Valuation
Your charity will conduct a preliminary assessment of your vehicle's market value and suitability for donation.
2
Title & Documentation Review
Their team verifies clear title, runs the vehicle history, and prepares all necessary transfer paperwork.
3
Title Transfer
The title is officially transferred to the charity. You receive IRS Form 1098-C for tax deduction purposes.
4
Fund Distribution
The vehicle is sold or put to use by the charity, and proceeds fund their mission.
Why Los Angeles Owners Choose Donation Over a Private Sale
A used-car sale in Los Angeles is a project: a listing, photos, fielding messages from strangers, scheduling test drives, and absorbing whatever the eventual buyer talks the price down to. For a non-running or low-value vehicle, the work rarely lines up with the payout.
A charitable donation collapses that timeline. The receiving charity schedules a free tow at the donor's convenience and accepts the vehicle as-is — there is nothing to fix and nothing to show.
Car Donation in Los Angeles: Your Questions Answered
Straight answers on donating your car, the tax treatment, and what to expect.
How long does a Los Angeles car donation take? expand_more
Pickup is often scheduled within a few days of the initial contact. The IRS Form 1098-C documenting the deduction is generally mailed within 30 days of the vehicle being sold, or within 30 days of the donation if the charity intends to use the car directly.
What is IRS Form 1098-C and is it needed? expand_more
Form 1098-C is the IRS document a charity sends to a donor after a vehicle donation. For a deduction over $500, the donor attaches Copy B of Form 1098-C (or a Form 1098-C substitute) to the tax return. For a deduction of $500 or less, the form is not required.
How large a tax deduction will donating a Los Angeles car produce? expand_more
For most vehicles, the deduction equals the amount the charity nets at sale, reported on Form 1098-C. Cars sold for $500 or less generally support a deduction of the lesser of $500 or fair market value. Actual tax savings depend on the donor's income, filing status, and itemized total.
If pickup is requested for a Los Angeles car, is the donor committed to donate? expand_more
No. A pickup request is informational and carries no cost or obligation. The donor can review the details and decline at any point before the title is signed over.
Will charities accept a junk car or a vehicle valued only for parts? expand_more
Often, yes. Junk cars, non-running vehicles, and cars with major mechanical issues are accepted by many charities and sold at auction or to salvage buyers. Free towing still applies.
How does someone start donating a Los Angeles car? expand_more
Begin with the form on this page: provide a few basic details about the Los Angeles vehicle and request a free pickup. From there the donor is connected with a qualified 501(c)(3) that schedules the tow, accepts the signed title, and mails the IRS Form 1098-C.
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