Has anyone out there experienced receiving a car from those charities who ask public2 donate your old car?

Question

There are alot of ads that companies collect your old cars and donate it or the money to charity.. Has anyone ever received a car? Or money from a charity that actually collected the cars? how does it work? what state? how did you get in contact with that charity? did you get a decent car?
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Answer 1

The charities auction off the cars and use the proceeds. I donated an old SUV once and I've personally known charities who use that system. It works out well. Just investigate any charity that you donate to first, as there are a lot of scams out there.

Answer 2

If you don't itemize on your taxes (for example, if you are not a homeowner), don't bother donating the car unless you just want to do it as a kind deed benefitting a charity. If you itemize, go for it. Determine the Blue Book value on Kelly Blue Book or a similar site, PRINT OUT THE INFORMATION, and keep it with your tax records. If the Blue Book says the car you've donated was worth $4,218, then that's the amount you should claim. Keep the information with your records in case you are audited. The charity will give you a tax receipt. Also, if you've put any money into the car (repairs, etc.) recently, keep those receipts also to justify the Blue Book value. I donated a car to charity and it ended up being an incredible boon come tax time! It really reduces the amount of taxes you owe and will probably give you a hefty refund.

Answer 3

Yes I recevied a car from a charitable organization It was in Lewisville, Texas Chistian Community Action I was going to the clinic which is also part of the organization along with a food bank, rent assistance and alot more .Any way, I was in need of a car and was teaching school.One of the nurses told me to apply for it, They look at your situation and then deternmine if you qualify. Then once you are given the car you have to pay the license and have insurance and tilte transfer
this was over a year and I still drive the 1995 Grand Prix

Of course you need to maintian it like oil changes and flushing things like the radiaitor, oil, and transmision since I did not know how long it was since those things had been done .. It is a great place if you find them know your source

The car runs great and no problems

Most Churches or schools will be able to help with information as to who would like to donate a car for some one in need

Some times the school has a shop where they have cars donated to them they they fix them and sell them or in some cases donate them

Good luck in your search ...

Answer 4

I recived a car from a church in Plano. Texas. I am a single father of three, Disabled, and I was working at the time. We just left a homless shelter, and got an apartment. Some of the People at the homless shelter got in touch with a church that does these things, and a few weeks later I got a 1986 Cutless Supreme. it was about 11 years old, but My feet were 40 years Old. My power sterring went out about three months later, and one of My son Teachers had me take the car to the high school auto shop, they got the parts and fixed my car in no time. About a three months later, A man in a brand new porsch took off my front end, He ran a red light. No More Car. I have had three heart attacks since then, so I dont work again, but to answer your question yes they are out there, They are not the best cars, but they wont give you a car they think will get you hurt.

Answer 5

There are reputable charities like the Battered Womens Shelters or even the Public Aid offices in various states. I do know that Ohio has a program that allow people to donate their vehicles to people in need through the perspective city that the person lives in. You would have to call the Public Assistance office to find out about their policies on receiving a donated vehicle. Hope this information helps.

Answer 6

How odd!? I was wondering the same thing myself one day as I passed the Humane Society. There was a sign outside which read "Donate Your Car". So, curious, I called the Humane Society to learn more. They referred me to an auction house in another city. That auction house referred me back to ANOTHER auction house in the city I was in. It seems that, with all of the other "for profit" businesses involved, the actual money that the charity eventually receives would be minimal. If you have a vehicle to donate, you would probably get more satisfaction giving it to a local church deacon. They know who needs help and will make sure it gets to the RIGHT person/family.

Answer 7

I know someone that worked for a so called charity that took cars for donations. He told me that the so called charity sold the cars and put the money in their operating fund bank accounts. He told me that not once did the charitry ever give a single car to anyone.

Answer 8

I did receive a car from one of these charities back in 2004. It's actually a minivan (I still drive it) and it's turned out to be one of the best (and nicest) used cars I've ever had. The charity told me that I got lucky (I would call it Blessed) though, that the cars they usually get are not as nice as the one I received. Contact United Way (dial 211 from any land line phone in any state) and tell them what you're looking for. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

Answer 9

Yes, I do know of someone who has received a car from a local charity in the Antelope Valley (northern Los Angeles County of California). The family had the car for several years. This car allowed the family to get to doctor appointments, etc. without relying on public transportation or others. What a blessing!
Many veterans organizations, homeless/food shelters, battered women's shelters, and orphanages have this type of program in place.

Answer 10

Our local United Way has donated cars to our local people in need. However, they hold the title for one year and then sell it to the person for $1.00. This way people are less likely to take advantage of the program. One such person was a mother with many little ones and needed transportation to take the children to daycare and then get to work. She was walking in the winter with the children and to work. The program helped her alot. You will always find someone trying to take advantage of every program and there are many fraudulent charities out there. These people make it hard for the real programs to assist people. Just look in your heart and know that if you donate something that even if the people that you actually gave it to did not do as they promised... that you know your reasons for giving was to help and "Karma" or the old saying "What goes around, comes around" does apply. They will get theirs and you will get yours. You can't worry about what happens after you have done your good deed. Let God take care of it from there. (If you must have proof then call your local BBB and check out the agency). Rest assured though that when you give without intentions of what it can do for you... when you give from the heart... things have a way of working out. You trust that when you give your $$ to church or the bell ringer that it will be used for good... just know that no matter what... if you give with an honest heart things will work out the way they are suppose to.