You might be thinking about donating a vehicle to charity, such as the Red Cross or Goodwill, and wonder how much of the auction price actually goes to the charity. It is a legitimate question, but one that is not easy to answer. Vehicle donation programs involve many people, from the people who do the advertising for the program, the people who answer the phones day and night to arrange the logistics involved in the donation, people who tow the vehicle that has been donated, to the actual auctioneer and people involved in the auction itself.

Towing is a fixed cost, and it averages around $75 per vehicle. The advertising for the vehicle donation program is a variable, but expensive cost in and of itself, and perhaps the most vital part of the process outside of the vehicle donation itself. Without knowledge of the donation program, someone deciding to donate a vehicle would have no idea how to go about it. The only way to get this information to the public is through advertising, and radio, television, and newsprint advertising is a huge expense. The auctioneer and others involved in the auction itself must be paid, so the entire process leading to the selling of the car has many costs to cover.

The charities receive  proceeds of the selling price after these expenses are paid, so the higher priced donated vehicles will net the most money for charity, but remember this: nearly all vehicles will be accepted, and charities are ever thankful for all money realized by your gracious donation.

Hurricane Katrina disrupted the lives of many, many thousands of Americans, not only in New Orleans, but across the Gulf States. The American Red Cross, through the generosity of the millions of Americans who pitched in what they could during this horrific national disaster, did an amazing job of helping ease the burden placed on all those so severely affected by the hurricane, much like they did in the aftermath of 9/11. Car donation programs are fast becoming one of the best ways for people to raise money to help people in need.

Car donation not only benefits people out of work and needing food, clothes, and shelter, it also provides a tax deduction for the individual or group donating the car. The best part of the process for those who selflessly donate an unwanted car may well be the tremendous feeling of well being that undoubtedly occurs when you help your fellow man, knowing that a child or family will have a place to sleep and enough food to eat in this country that, like the rest of the world, is going through tough economic times.

If you would like to assist the American Red Cross, whose 500,000 volunteers work tirelessly for the benefit of the less fortunate, one of the best, and easiest, ways is through car donation. Millions of cars in this country sit idle, gathering rust and serving no purpose whatsoever. A call to your local Red Cross chapter will start the very simple car donation process.

What happens to your car when you donate it to charity depends on the charity you chose. Most charities, working with a fund raiser, will sell the car at an auction and collect a percentage of the cash proceeds from the sale. Some charities have programs which repair or refurbish the vehicles for their own use or to be given to beneficiaries of the charity who need a car.

Many vehicle donation programs accept all types of vehicles including trucks, farm equipment and construction vehicles. The majority of these vehicles are sold at auction. Large charities, like the American Red Cross, Goodwill Industries and the Salvation Army generally prefer to take the cash proceeds from selling a car. Some smaller charities actually specialize in assisting people who cannot afford a car to secure reliable transportation.

If your car is in running conditions and you select a charity that repairs and refurbishes cars, your car will go to someone who desperately needs it. You can contact the charity directly to ask how their car donation program operates. Most charities that repair and refurbish vehicles are regional and depend on volunteers to do the necessary work. If your car isn’t running, charities that repair cars may be able to use the parts.

Most charities run their auto donation programs through fund raisers. You can contact your favorite charity to find out which fund raiser they use for their program. The fund raiser will handle picking up the car and selling it for the charity.

You can donate your car by telephone or online. It’s convenient and simple and the car will be picked up within 24 to 48 hours. You will be provided with the appropriate tax forms so that you may deduct your donation on your income tax.

Be aware of the laws of your state regarding registration and license plates. In some states you may be required to leave the plates on the car. In other states you may be required to remove the plates and turn them into the state. If you are not sure, ask the program to whom you are donating the car or check with your state motor vehicle department.

Vehicle donation is something that has become extremely popular in recent years and for good reason. The fact is that it has proven to be a process that can benefit so many different individuals. Firstly, and most importantly, the people that are truly benefiting are those that are receiving the money and aid raised by the charities. This is why those who have no other means of donating may be able to contribute through the process of vehicle donation.

When you donate your car to a charitable organization such as the American Red Cross and Goodwill Industries you will be helping those that the charities are striving to help. This is because most of these car donation programs utilize your car in an auction, which will raise money for their cause.

It’s important to note that if you want to donate your car to charity you may not be limited by the type of vehicles you have. This is because most of these programs accept many different types of vehicles from SUV’s to farm equipment. The best thing that you can do is contact your local program and get more information about what type of vehicles are accepted. The good news is that there are a ton of great options and most of these charitable programs are very supportive and will guide you through the entire process.

One thing to keep in mind is that it’s not only vehicles that are not running that make good candidates for vehicle donation. This is because many of these charities will accept functional vehicles that can be donated to people who are in desperate need of them. This is an option that you should definitely consider if you have running vehicles that you no longer have a use for.

If you are thinking about auto donation you should contact your local program in order to learn more about the process. This will allow you to get the info you need to get the process started and get your car in the hands of someone who is in desperate need of it.

There are a ton of different benefits that are commonly associated with the process of donating your car to a charity. The fact of the matter is that these days it is one of the best options available for the majority of vehicle owners that are looking for a great place to get rid of their old cars, trucks, and SUV’s. The good news is that the process is now easier than it has ever been due to the great programs that have been put in place with the help of charities such as Goodwill Industries and the American Red Cross. Not only is it easy, it can actually be quite a beneficial alternative for many people trying to get rid of vehicles that are out of commission.

One of the biggest benefits associated with using these outlets to donate your car is the fact that you will be contributing to these charities that will in turn invest the money in worthy causes. Rather than simply selling your vehicle to salvage yard, you can actually use the process to benefit others and this is something that is obviously extremely beneficial.

Another incredible benefit when you donate your car to charity is the fact that you will not have to do much at all. In fact, once you place the call for your vehicle to be picked up, you won’t have to do much more. The charitable program will take care of the entire process of picking up your vehicle and auctioning it off in order to raise money for their cause. Not only that, but the process will also provide you with a considerable tax reduction that will be worth much more than you would have normally received for your vehicle. This is the reason that donating your car to charity has proven to be much more desirable for many individuals than simply selling the vehicle through traditional means. This is why this method of donating your car is something that is definitely bound to become much more popular in the near future than it has been in the past.

The American Red Cross is one of the oldest charities in the United States. Founded in 1881 by Clara Barton, today they have over 700 chapters nationwide. They assist people following natural disasters, run one of the largest blood banks in the nation, offer education in health and safety and reach out with humanitarian relief to victims of war around the world. When you donate to the Red Cross, $.91 of every dollar is invested in humanitarian services.

The Red Cross was among the first charities to begin a vehicle donation program. Management of Red Cross car donation programs is handled by individual chapters. Most chapters work with fund raisers to insure the best service to donors and the largest return on the sale of your auto.

To donate your car to the Red Cross, you may call your local chapter or contact the fund raiser directly. Advertisements generally list the fund raiser’s number for your convenience. Since each chapter is geared for the location it serves, you may want to ask about title transfer and whether you should remove the car’s license plates. The regulations on motor vehicles vary from state to state.

In addition to cars, your local chapter may also accept RVs, SUVs, trucks, farm or construction equipment, motorcycles and boats. You will be provided with the appropriate tax forms so that you may deduct your auto donation on your income tax. Once donated, your vehicle will be sold. The proceeds will be used to support the work of your local Red Cross.

If you or someone you love has ever needed a blood transfusion or plasma for treatment of an injury or disease, you have probably received the services of the Red Cross. The Red Cross works in each community they serve offering classes in CPR and first aid, and assisting victims of disasters large and small.

If you have a car you no longer need, consider supporting the half million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the American Red Cross. Donate a used car to the Red Cross and help your neighbors and people around the world.

Donating a used car to the American Red Cross is an excellent choice. The Red Cross provides disaster relief to people across the globe. A nonprofit agency, they are dependent on donations to support their disaster relief efforts. When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, the American Red Cross was one of the first agencies on the scene, providing shelter and food to thousands of people who were left homeless. They respond to earthquakes and other natural disasters worldwide and their work has been continuing for over 100 years.

The vehicle donation program for the American Red Cross supplies a significant amount of funding for their relief efforts. When you donate your car, the charity sells it and uses the cash proceeds to continue their work. It is easy to donate a used car, certainly easier than selling it yourself. Older used cars usually don’t have much trade in value, but if you donate your car, you are eligible for a tax deduction equal to the cash value of your car. For many people this saves time and money.

With the problems in the economy, cash donations are down, but the need for services is still present. Natural disasters can occur at anytime, anywhere. Auto donations help to insure that the American Red Cross will be available when they are called upon. Their efforts relieve suffering that is unimaginable to most of us. One way to be grateful for your good fortune is to make a gift of your old car.

Many vehicle donation programs also accept RVs, SUVs, boats, motorcycles and farm and construction equipment. With the high cost of maintaining a boat, there has been a recent trend to abandon them. Why not donate that boat to the American Red Cross instead? If your motorcycle has been sitting in the garage for 2 years, unused, make a gift of it. You will receive tax benefits while disposing of property you no longer need.

You may think that a disaster will never happen to you, but it can happen to anyone. Support the American Red Cross so that, if you ever need them, they will be there.

Goodwill Industries has a program called Wheels to Work which assists people who cannot afford to buy a car. They trains and assist people in finding employment, but if public transportation is not available in their area, they may not be able to get to work. Wheels to Work provides these people with reliable cars.

Cars for the Wheels to Work program are provided through vehicle donations. Just as you donate your old clothes and household item and furniture, you can donate a car. Goodwill Industries will repair and refurbish the vehicle and give it to one of their program participants so they can become self sufficient.

Goodwill works with many different kinds of clients. In addition to working with the physically and mentally challenged, they also run programs for mature workers, new immigrants, ex offenders and low income youth. Many GW centers have free GED classes which are open to anyone who needs a high school diploma.

Auto donations also help in other ways. If your car can’t be used in the wheels to work program, it will be sold at auction and the charity will receive the proceeds of the sale. The cash raised in this way is crucial to keeping many of the community based programs viable. Most of the revenue generated comes from selling donated items. The car donation programs are responsible for a significant percentage of that revenue.

Goodwill Industries services help people to better their lives and, in turn, better their communities. Simply by donating a used car, you can support the efforts of thousands of volunteers and employees who work to make the programs a success. Your gift is appreciated and the process is much simpler than selling the car yourself. Your car will be picked up and the charity will handle all the paperwork. You can make a phone call, or fill out a form online. That’s all. If you are not sure who to call, call your local GW center or Google “Goodwill” for the location of the program nearest you.

When you donate a car to Goodwill of the Southern Piedmont you are helping to fund their ‘Wish Program” empowering working poor families from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

WISH - Workforce Initiative for Supportive Housing
A Practical Solution to Charlotte’s Homeless Crisis
The WISH Program is a faith-led permanent supportive housing solution whereby selected families are given a defined set of “steps” which can empower them from homelessness to self-sufficiency. Highly-screened working families selected for WISH receive intensive life-skills support from social workers, a connection to local faith groups (through volunteers called Hope Teams,) a monthly rent subsidy for an affordable apartment, transportation assistance, etc.

You can get more information about this program by visiting:
http://www.wishprogram.org/

To donate your vehicle to Goodwill of the Southern Piedmont in support of their “Wish Program” you can do so by calling 1-877-gwcars-9 or by visiting:
http://www.cars4goodwill.com