
Habitat for Humanity International
Builds affordable homes alongside families in need across all 50 states and 70+ countries.
Owners across Knox 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.
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Skip the listings. Get the tax write-off and free towing — our charity of the week handles the rest.
The receiving charity mails a Form 1098-C documenting the gift. It is the single piece of paperwork the IRS expects for a car donation deduction over $500.
A Knox County private sale can drag on for weeks. A vehicle donation moves quickly: a short form, a scheduled tow, and a signed title at pickup.
Donors who itemize can deduct the Knox County vehicle's qualifying value on their federal return. For most cars, that figure is the amount the charity nets when the vehicle is sold.
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.
See how much your car could impact a charity.
Vetted 501(c)(3) charities ready to accept car donations from donors across Knox County and the rest of Tennessee.

Builds affordable homes alongside families in need across all 50 states and 70+ countries.
Protects ecologically important lands and waters across the United States and globally.
Provides mentorship, after-school programs, and safe spaces for young people nationwide.
The largest U.S. hunger-relief network, sourcing food for 200 member food banks.
Delivers humanitarian aid, blood donation, and disaster recovery across the country.
A used-car sale in Knox County 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.
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)
Your charity will conduct a preliminary assessment of your vehicle's market value and suitability for donation.
Their team verifies clear title, runs the vehicle history, and prepares all necessary transfer paperwork.
The title is officially transferred to the charity. You receive IRS Form 1098-C for tax deduction purposes.
The vehicle is sold or put to use by the charity, and proceeds fund their mission.
Straight answers on donating your car, the tax treatment, and what to expect.
Pickup is typically scheduled within a few business days of the initial contact, often within a week. The donor sets the window; the tow company arrives during that window.
For a low-value, non-running, or unwanted vehicle, the time and cost of a private sale often eat into the proceeds. A donation skips the sale entirely, includes free towing, and produces a documented deduction — usually the simpler route for vehicles the donor would rather not market.
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.
The organizations shown for Knox County are recognized public charities that hold IRS 501(c)(3) status and accept vehicle donations. Easy Car Donation is an independent referral resource and is not affiliated with the charities listed; the list is provided so donors can compare options.
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.
Browse charities that accept real estate donations elsewhere in the state.