Donating your vehicle to Wheels For Wishes is one of the simplest ways to help grant a life-changing wish for a child facing critical illness. The process comes with terminology that can feel unfamiliar, so this glossary explains every car donation term you are likely to encounter in plain language. Ready to get started? Call […]

If you have a car sitting in your garage or driveway that you have stopped using, donating it to Wheels For Wishes is the simplest way to let it go. Our convenient vehicle donation service puts its remaining value to work for Make-A-Wish kids. Call or fill out our online donation form today. We handle […]

You've decided it's time to get rid of your car. It's been sitting in the driveway taking up space, the registration is about to expire, and you're ready to move on. Now comes the big question: should you list it on Facebook Marketplace and try to sell it yourself, or donate it to Wheels For […]

You've made the decision to donate your car to Wheels For Wishes. You've scheduled your free pickup. The towing company will arrive soon to take your vehicle. Now comes the final step that many donors rush through or forget entirely: preparing your car for pickup. Fifteen minutes of focused preparation can save you from losing […]

Picture this: a 2003 sedan sitting in someone's driveway with a cracked windshield, 180,000 miles on the odometer, a check engine light that's been on for two years, and a passenger door that only opens from the outside. The owner hasn't driven it in eighteen months. It failed inspection. The battery is dead. The tires […]

When you're navigating economic uncertainty, have you considered donating your car instead of selling it? The used car market can swing hard during unstable times, often leaving sellers short-changed, and donation offers a steadier alternative. Your deduction is based on what your vehicle actually sells for, not on guessing where the market will land that […]

You can donate your old car to Wheels For Wishes and help grant a wish for a child facing critical illness, in partnership with Make-A-Wish. It doesn't need to run, and towing is free. Surprising Worth of Your Old Car You might think your car isn't worth donating, but even a high-mileage or non-running vehicle […]

Does your car have a blown engine? The engine doesn't need to run for you to donate your car with a blown engine to Wheels For Wishes. We arrange free towing, sell your vehicle through auction or recycling, and mail you a tax-deductible receipt reflecting what it sells for. What To Do When Your Car's […]

If you have a junk vehicle sitting around on your property, you may have more options than you realized for getting rid of it. Most people think their only choice for junk car removal is to pay someone to tow their car off to a scrap yard. But what if there was a way to […]

Donating your car is an easy way to do some good for your community and your wallet! Before you get started, there are a few things that you should know when you're looking for a place to donate a car. Here's Where You Can Donate A Car In Your Area: Alabama / Alaska / Arizona […]

Looking to donate a car for cash? Despite false claims, this is not possible. However, you can receive a tax deduction when you donate your car. By way of tax deduction, it really pays to donate! This is only true when you donate to an IRS-certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit like Wheels For Wishes. Why You Can’t […]

When you have an older car with too many problems to fix, you are often stuck with a tough decision. Is it better to try selling the car or fix it up so you can continue driving it? Or is it better to just scrap it in order to get rid of it quickly? There […]

Many people have plans to someday donate their old car, boat or motorcycle to charity. But how do you know when the best time to donate is? Giving up your car can be a tough decision even if you know it will help a cause you care about. To help with the sometimes difficult decision of when to donate a car, we've put together this simple guide. 

When most people think of car donations, a four door sedan is usually the first thing that comes to mind. However, there are countless types of vehicles that can be donated! In general, if you have a vehicle with wheels, car donation charities will accept them. 

When you think of trading in a vehicle for something new, car donation may not always cross you mind. Instead, you may choose to sell the vehicle to a new owner or you may choose to trade the vehicle in after buying a new vehicle from a dealership. While these can be beneficial options, they also include the hassle of meeting with potential buyers, spending time and money on car repairs, or haggling over a sales price. Why deal with these annoyances when you don’t have to? Instead, donate cars to charity and save yourself the headache.

When you donate cars to charity, specifically Wheels For Wishes, you can help to grant the wish of a local child in your community. Wheels For Wishes is a vehicle donation program benefiting Make-A-Wish and when you donate a car, truck, boat, SUV, RV, or motorcycle to Wheels For Wishes, that donation benefits your local Make-A-Wish chapter. Donated vehicles are either recycled or reused to build new vehicles or auctioned off for new owners to use. Earned proceeds from donated automobiles are used to benefit Make-A-Wish, and help to grant the wish of local children.

Recycling a vehicle involves dismantling a vehicle for spare parts at the end of their life. Once a vehicle has stopped working properly, it is broken down and used for spare parts. The process of breaking a vehicle down can be complicated, since there are many different parts – including some hazardous material that must be removed.

To start the recycling process, recyclers will usually start the engine (if the engine starts at all) to find any leaks there might be. After the recycler has recorded all of the parts on the vehicle, they will then drain all fluids from the car (i.e. motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze, etc.) and store those fluids in the proper area. Other remaining hazardous materials will then be removed, like the battery and propellant for the air bags. Once all products and reusable items from the car are removed, the vehicle is crushed and recycled at a metal recycling facility. The old parts can be used to create new cars, or used to repair cars that are still in working condition.

In a day and age where just about everything can be done online, it makes total sense that donating a vehicle would be one of those things. The Internet allows us to do everything from shopping for groceries or clothing, paying our bills, to completing our taxes. The internet is a huge timesaver and allows us to get things done at our own convenience. This is especially true when it comes to car donation or getting rid of an unwanted vehicle.

Not only is online car donation quick and easy, but it lets you quickly make your donation while handling the details later. Plus, it saves you loads of time that you would otherwise lose if you were trying to sell or trade in a vehicle.

Donating a used car to charity will not only save you the time and stress of selling or trading in a car, but it also grants the wish of a local child who longs to feel hope, strength, and joy once again.

Used car donation is easy and hassle free when you donate a car to Wheels For Wishes, benefiting your local Make-A-Wish. Our experienced Car Donation Representatives at Wheels For Wishes make donating a car easy and help you get the most out of your car donation, including a great tax deduction. Start the year off right with a car donation to charity while also getting a great car donation tax deduction.  

Trying to decide what to do with your old vehicle can be a hard decision. You have many options: selling, trading, or donating it. We may be partial to the program, but here are a few of the many benefits to donating your car.

Auto Recycling Saves Lives:

We may be biased, but we think that donating a car is an incredible act. Not only do donors get a 100% tax deduction and the perks of a hassle-free pick up, but also the proceeds can help change the medical outcome of a child with a critical illness​.

89 percent of medical professionals surveyed said that the introduction of a wish experience into a child's life has the ability to improve not just mental, emotion, and psychological well-being, but physical health!