How to spot car donation scams: fee requests, open titles, fake charities, inflated deduction promises, and liability traps.
Free pickup nationwide — cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and boats, running or not.
Call 888-579-5544Legitimate vehicle donation never costs you money. If anyone asks for a towing fee, a processing fee, a title fee, or a credit card number, stop the transaction.
Free pickup is standard across the industry, including for non-running vehicles in rural areas.
An open title — signed with the buyer section blank and no named transferee — can be resold repeatedly while the vehicle stays legally connected to you. Unpaid tickets, tolls, and abandonment fees then come to your address.
Ask who the named transferee is and confirm it matches the organization you researched.
Scammers register names that closely resemble well-known charities. Verify 501(c)(3) status on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and confirm the EIN, not just the name.
Search the organization's name plus 'complaint' and check your state attorney general's charity registry.
Nobody can honestly tell you your exact deduction before the vehicle is sold, because for vehicles selling above $500 the gross sale price is the deduction. Guarantees of a specific large write-off are a sales tactic, not tax advice.
Programs that explain the $500 threshold and Form 1098-C accurately are the ones to trust.
File a release of liability with your DMV the day the car leaves, keep a photo of the signed title and the tow receipt, and cancel insurance only after pickup. These three steps protect you even if something goes wrong downstream.
Call 888-579-5544 with any question before you hand over keys.
Ready to donate and support veterans?
Call 888-579-5544 NowDisclosure: Cars for Veterans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. After operating costs (towing, processing, title transfer, and administration), a portion of the net proceeds from each donated vehicle benefits veteran programs. This article is general information, not tax advice.