Donate your car in Raleigh before midnight December 31 and you may claim a 2024 charitable tax deduction on your federal return. With Carolina Charities Auto, your deduction is usually the vehicle’s gross sale price, not the Kelley Blue Book value. After your car sells, Heritage for the Blind – a 501(c)(3) – mails you IRS Form 1098‑C if it sold for more than $500. For vehicles valued at $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment you can use to deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. You must itemize on Schedule A to claim the deduction, and you should keep your pickup confirmation as proof of the donation date.
We make year‑end car donation easy across the Research Triangle – from North Raleigh, Five Points, and Brier Creek to Cary, Apex, Garner, Knightdale, and Durham. There’s no inspection, emissions test, or repairs required, and non‑running vehicles are welcome. Our team schedules free, fast pickup Monday through Saturday in most areas, often within a day or two. Proceeds from your donated vehicle support Heritage for the Blind’s programs for people who are blind or visually impaired. Donate locally, help a national charity, and lock in your 2024 deduction before the December 31 IRS deadline.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2‑minute donation form or call
2 minutesShare your contact info, Raleigh-area pickup address (North Hills, Cary, Garner, etc.), and basic vehicle details. We’ll confirm that donating before December 31 locks in your potential 2024 deduction and explain how the tax paperwork will work for your specific vehicle.
Schedule your free Raleigh-area pickup
5 minutesWe arrange a free tow in the Research Triangle, Monday–Saturday, often within 24–48 hours. You don’t need to be present if we can access the keys/title. Keep the pickup confirmation as proof of your donation date for your records.
Sign the title and hand over the vehicle
10 minutesOn pickup day, our towing partner collects your car, SUV, or truck—running or not. You sign the North Carolina title as instructed. We handle the rest: transport, sale, and reporting to Heritage for the Blind so they can issue the correct tax documentation.
Receive your written acknowledgment or IRS Form 1098‑C
Within 30 days of saleAfter your vehicle sells, Heritage for the Blind mails you either IRS Form 1098‑C (if it sold for more than $500) or a written acknowledgment (if it was $500 or less). This letter shows the gross sale price or the information needed for your deduction.
Claim your deduction on your tax return
At tax timeGive your tax preparer the 1098‑C or acknowledgment and your pickup confirmation. If you itemize on Schedule A, you may deduct the allowed amount. Always consult a tax professional to confirm how the deduction applies to your specific situation.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals actual sale price
For vehicles that sell for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your deduction to the car’s gross sale price—not Kelley Blue Book. Heritage for the Blind reports this amount on IRS Form 1098‑C after your vehicle is sold.
How IRS Form 1098‑C works
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind issues IRS Form 1098‑C and mails it to you, usually within 30 days of the sale. You use the sale price on this form to support your charitable deduction claim.
Vehicles at $500 or below
If your vehicle is valued at $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098‑C. In that case, you may generally deduct up to $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower, if you itemize deductions.
You must itemize on Schedule A
Car donations are charitable contributions. To benefit from the deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal return. If you take the standard deduction, you typically cannot claim a separate car-donation deduction.
Dec 31 controls which tax year counts
Your deduction is tied to the date you donate, not when the car sells. As long as your vehicle is donated (picked up or transferred) by December 31, it normally counts for that tax year. Keep your pickup confirmation as proof of the donation date.