Can I donate my car to the Salvation Army?

Yes, the Salvation Army accepts car donations nationwide, typically arranging free towing and issuing a donation receipt you can use for a tax deduction if you itemize.

You can start the process either through the Salvation Army's national vehicle donation program or by calling its vehicle donation line; both routes schedule pickup or drop-off based on your ZIP code and accept most cars, trucks, SUVs, and even non-running vehicles as long as the car is intact, has an engine, and is accessible to a tow truck. In most states you'll need a clear title in your name, with any lien released beforehand. A current smog certificate or safety inspection generally isn't required to donate.

What This Means for Your Tax Deduction

If your vehicle sells for more than $500, the charity is required to send you Form 1098-C or an equivalent written acknowledgment showing the gross sale proceeds, and if the claimed value exceeds $5,000, the IRS generally expects a qualified appraisal to support the deduction. That's where the paperwork gets more involved: a car donation appraisal establishes the vehicle's fair market value with a USPAP-compliant report suited for your IRS Form 8283 filing, which matters most for classic, collector, or higher-value vehicles where the charity's own sale price may not reflect what the car was actually worth.

Before donating, it's worth understanding how to value a donated car and what happens to a donated car after pickup, since both affect what you can ultimately claim. If you're weighing whether donation makes sense compared to selling, review the pros and cons of donating a car first.