Make a Martin County Vehicle Count for a Cause

A charitable deduction only lowers taxes for filers who itemize. A donor taking the standard deduction still ends the vehicle's carrying costs and supports the chosen cause, but the deduction itself would not apply to that return.

If the charity sells the vehicle, the deduction is generally the gross sale price reported on Form 1098-C. If the sale is $500 or less, the donor may deduct the lesser of $500 or fair market value (Kelley Blue Book private-party value is a common reference). If the charity uses the car directly or makes material improvements before selling, fair market value rules apply.

Cars, trucks, SUVs, minivans, motorcycles, RVs, boats on trailers, jet skis, ATVs, and snowmobiles are all commonly accepted. Acceptance of unusual vehicles is confirmed by the receiving charity when pickup is scheduled.

Most charities sell donated vehicles — at auction, through a partner dealer, or directly — and direct the proceeds to their programs. Some charities use a donated car directly for fleet or client transportation. The receiving charity can confirm its intended use before pickup.

Yes. Personal items, registration documents not needed for transfer, garage door openers, toll transponders, and aftermarket equipment the donor wants to keep should all be removed before the tow truck arrives.