Car Donation FAQs

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Car rear view
Answers to all your car donation questions.

How does it work? Will this take up a lot of my time? What are the benefits?
Worried about losing your WWOZ bumper sticker?
Why Donate?
What vehicles do you accept?
Does my car have to be running? Does it need wheels?
Do I have to be in Louisiana? Is there a tow fee or any other costs?
Does my car have to be registered?
What if I lost the title? Where do I sign the title?
What kind of paperwork will I receive?
Do I have to do anything after the car has been picked up?
How much of a tax deduction can I take for my donation?
What will happen to my vehicle? Are all cars sold at auction?
Will I be notified when it sells?
Let’s do this! How soon can my vehicle be picked up?

How does it work? Will this take up a lot of my time? What are the benefits?
Car donations are shockingly easy! This will not take up much time (unless you become addicted to kicking back with a cool beverage and your feet up appreciating your good deed for ‘OZ and all the space you’ve just freed up by donating your car).

When you call 1-855-WWOZ-123 (1-855-9969-123) you will connect to the Charitable Adult Rides & Services. They will ask questions to make sure your vehicle is eligible, and then arrange to send a truck out to pick up your car or motorcycle. Once your vehicle is sold at auction, as long as it’s sale price is over $500, you will receive a receipt from CARS with your tax information.

Car donations are a trifecta of groovy goodness for WWOZ and you:
(1) You get an old car off your hands and out of your driveway with one simple phone call
(2) you can claime a tax write-off for your charitable donation (the sale price of your vehicle)
(3) WWOZ gets 80% of the proceeds and you can proudly join the ranks of WWOZ members and fellow Guardians of the Groove!

Worried about losing your WWOZ bumper sticker?
Never fear! Your car donation earns you a new one! We’ll have your ‘OZ bumper sticker in the mail once we the CARS lets us know that you’re old car is now working for the station.

Why Donate?
There are several great reasons, like:
1. You don't want to worry about selling your vehicle.
2. It is too expensive to repair your vehicle.
3. You don't trust your car to be safe on the road.
4. You need a tax write-off.
5. WWOZ is the greatest station in the nation and you want to show your support!

What vehicles do you accept?
Anything that goes vroom vroom…We take cars, boats (if they are on a trailer), motor homes, trucks, motorcycles (if they are operational), farm equipment, and recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles, jet ski, etc.) Call our representative to find out if your vehicle qualifies.

Does my car have to be running? Does it need wheels?
Not necessarily. There are two requirements: it has to have to have an engine and be towable. It varies from state to state and depends upon the year, make, and model of the vehicle. Your donation might be declined if the cost of transport is higher than its sale value.

Call our friends at the Charitable Adult Rides & Services to find out if your vehicle qualifies. 1-855-WWOZ-123 (1-855-9969-123)

As for wheels v. no wheels…. we can take a car with no wheels, but we will still have to haul it onto the tow truck. The damage to the car during the process can significantly reduce the value of the car. If possible, we recommend that you throw some old beater tires on just to ensure a safe delivery to auction.

Do I have to be in Louisiana? Is there a tow fee or any other costs?
You can donate a vehicle to WWOZ all over the United States. The CARS has outposts around the country, and so long as you’re in towing range (we’re all over the place, so odds are good!) we’ll collect it from you with no tow fee. If you are out of our towing range, we can offer you the option to drop the vehicle off at our auction house at your convenience.

There is never a cost to you or the station. The CARS takes care of everything.

Does my car have to be registered?
Nope! But you must be the legal titleholder.

What if I lost the title? Where do I sign the title?
Lost the title? Pff, who does that? (rummaging through the file cabinet… where did I put that thing??) Yes, you do need a title to donate your car to WWOZ. Please contact your local Office of Motor Vehicles to get a new one before giving us a call.

At pickup, the CARS driver will let you know where to sign your title. You may have to sign a power of attorney authorizing us to transfer it. Our driver will let you know what is required or call our toll free number to speak our representative. 1-855-WWOZ-123 (1-855-9969-123).

What kind of paperwork will I receive?
At pickup, you will receive a tow receipt. Thirty days after the vehicle is sold, you will receive an acknowledgement. If your vehicle sells for OVER $500 you will receive IRS Form 1098 B & C.

Whether or not your car sells at auction, you’re going to be getting a huge thank you in the form of a brand new WWOZ bumper sticker for your new ride!

Do I have to do anything after the car has been picked up?
YES! And this is IMPORTANT: For an ACT OF DONATION in Louisiana, a Vehicle Transfer Notification is REQUIRED and must be notarized and completed within 15 days of the vehicle pick-up date. Please wait until the vehicle pick-up has been arranged before completing and/or notarizing the title. There are 3 ways in Louisiana to notify the OMV that you have donated your car: online, by mail or in person.

How much of a tax deduction can I take for my donation?
Effective 2005, if the value of the vehicle is over $500, the taxpayer is limited to deduct the amount for which the vehicle sold. In such a case you will receive a Form 1098 B & C within 30 days of sale. If the vehicle sells for under $500 you will not receive IRS forms as you are not required to file them for vehicle donations up to $500. Please consult your tax advisor to determine your benefit or for additional information,   (visit the IRS website) at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-05-44.pdf.

What will happen to my vehicle? Are all cars sold at auction?
Your vehicle will be picked up by one of the CARS’ courteous drivers and sold at auction.  Cars are usually sold within 30 days of pick up. Some vehicles may take longer.

Sometime, cars that are donated do not sell at auction. In those cases, the vehicles are sold for scrap metal.

Will I be notified when it sells?
Yes.  If the vehicle sells for over $500 you will receive IRS Form 1098 B & C. If not, you will simply receive an acknowledgement as required by the IRS.

Let’s do this! How soon can my vehicle be picked up?
Vehicles are picked up at a time that is convenient for you.  Our representative will take all pertinent information regarding your donation, and forward it to our tow company. They will call you within 24 hours to set up an appointment. If you have not been called within 24 hours, please call 877-411-3662.

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