How to Donate a Car to Public Radio
- 1). Check the Kelley Blue Book to see how much your car may be worth. Specifics vary depending upon the condition of your vehicle, but this is a good starting point to estimate its worth.
- 2). Contact your local public radio station by phone or email and ask whether it accepts car donations. It will inform you of any steps you'll need to take and what kind of shape your car must be in. Many radio stations go through established services such as CARS (Charitable Auto Resources), which you can contact as well.
- 3). Fill out the requested form, including the make and model of the vehicle, license number, your address, your phone number and other pertinent information. In many cases, you can send the form to the station online. Otherwise, you can print a copy and mail it to the public radio station (or its representatives). Someone will contact you to arrange for a pickup time.
- 4). Set the proper time and place for a pickup. If your car is drivable, you can take it to a spot designated by the station. Otherwise, the station can send a tow truck to pick up the vehicle.
- 5). Secure the pink slip, denoting ownership of the car. You'll need to turn it over to whoever comes to pick up the vehicle.
- 6). Get a receipt from the radio station's representative when he picks it up, detailing the make, model and year of the car as well as its estimated value. Turn the pink slip and the keys over to him in return.
- 7). Check the mail for a 1098-C form from the IRS. It will be sent to you within one month of the car's sale, detailing its precise value for tax purposes.
- 8). Send the 1098-C form along with your next tax return to receive the deduction for your vehicle.
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