Making a Car Donation in New York

The first step to making a New York car donation is locating your vehicle title. If you lost the title, you will have to contact the New York Department of Motor Vehicles to replace it.
You cannot make a qualified car donation to a charity without transferring the title. If the used vehicle is at least eight years old and worth less then $1,250, you will need to fill out a special form -- Form MV35 -- with the New York Department of Motor Vehicles.
To replace the lost title or access the form, go to the DMV's Web site:
www.nydmv.state.ny.us

The Connecticut Motor Vehicle Department can provide additional information about transferring title and releasing liability when donating a car in Connecticut.

Donate a Car for Charity provides vehicle pick-ups throughout the state of Connecticut, including Bridgeport, New Haven, Stamford, Greenwich, Middleton, Waterbury, Hartford, Milford, Norwich, West Haven, and Trumbull.. In most cases, you must provide a clear title when you donate a vehicle in Connecticut. Please consult the Connecticut Motor Vehicle Department to determine procedures if you do not have a title. The Connecticut MVD will also be able to provide you with more information on how and when to release the liability of your donated vehicle.

There are many New York charities that accept car donations.

Some of the New York-based organizations that accept vehicle donations include Angelcare, the Breast Cancer Fund, Cure Autism Now, the Glaucoma Research Foundation, the Marine Mammal Center, the National Eating Disorders Association, VIDA and Youth Radio, as well as innumerable educational and religious organizations and local chapters of the American Red Cross. The New York Office of the Attorney General will provide you with a list of and information on charities in New York.

Consumer Group Advises New Yorkers on Car Donations

The Better Business Bureau of New York offers advice to residents who are thinking about donating an unwanted car to charity:
Make sure the charity will make the most of your car donation. There are numerous car donation programs to choose from, but the BBB of New York warns donors to choose carefully.
While a lot of New Yorkers give to charity through volunteer time and donations of used clothes, a car donation is a big gift. Donors should make sure that a large portion of the proceeds from car donation sales go to charitable causes, not hidden costs.
The BBB of New York offers this "vehicle donation checklist":
-- Make sure the recipient is registered as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Otherwise you cannot claim a tax deduction.
-- Transer the title to the charity, not the fundraising company that may handle the collection.
-- Keep records of the transfer.
-- Ask how much in revenues the charity will ger when it resells the car. Some charities only get a flat fee, with the rest going to the auction house and fundraiser.

Contact Massachusetts Public Charities Division for information on local charities.

To obtain a list of eligible charities or to check on the legitimacy of a charity to which you are considering making a gift, contact the Massachusetts Public Charities Division at (617) 727-2200, ext. 2101. Note that most non-profit organizations must register in Massachusetts, but religious organizations, educational organizations and the American Red Cross are exempt from that requirement.

Search New Jersey's database of registered charities.

A wide range of local, state-wide and national charities that accept vehicle donations operate in New Jersey. You can search a database of registered charities in New Jersey at http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/charfrm.htm.

NY Mayor's Web Site Offers Giving Tips

The Mayor's Volunteer Center of New York City is a resource for folks looking to make New York car donations.
The Web site -- nyc.gov/html/mvc -- is a clearinghouse for charitable giving opportunities in New York City.
Among the listings is a category for vehicle donations. It includes names of some charities that handle vehicle donations.
The Mayor's Volunteer Center is a solid resource, recommending charities that are registered as 501(c)3 nonprofits.

Refer to the New York DMV for forms and details on vehicle donation.

It's easy to complete a New York car donation. Car donation pick up sites are available throughout the state of New York. Vehicles donated in New York to a non-profit classified with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization are deductible from your federal income taxes. In most cases, the state of New York requires that the donor have the vehicle title. If you do not have title papers, you can either apply for a replacement title or, if your vehicle is at least eight model years old and worth less then $1250, fill out form MV35. Visit the New York Department of Motor Vehicles web site to obtain the necessary forms before donating. To release liability of your donated vehicle in New York, the New York DMV requires that you surrender the license plates of your donated vehicle. For additional information, please refer to the New York DMV web site.

Teddy Bear Cops Takes New York Car Donations

Teddy Bear Cops (www.givecars.com) is a car donation program endorsed by the New York Police Department. Its mission is simple: Give thousands of teddy bears to police, fire and rescue departments across the United States.
Those gifts may go to children who are victims of abuse, who have been injured in an accident, or who lost their homes to fire.
With New York car donations, Teddy Bear Cops sells the car for proceeds. A portion of the proceeds benefits Teddy Bear Cops, including its giveaway program in New York City.

In Massachusetts, vehicle donation mimics any transfer of title.

Massachusetts car donation is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Car donation pick up services are available throughout the Massachusetts, and vehicles donated in Massachusetts to a non-profit classified with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization are deductible from your federal income taxes. In most cases, the state of Massachusetts requires that the donor have the vehicle title. If you do not have title papers, you can apply for a duplicate title through the Registry of Motor Vehicles. To release liability of your donated vehicle in Massachusetts, the RMV requires that you surrender the license plates of your donated vehicle. Do not cancel insurance on the donated vehicle until you have returned your plates to the RMV, and be sure to keep your receipt. For additional information, please refer to the Massachusetts RMV web site.

Refer to the New Jersey MVC web site for more details on car donation procedures.

Car donation programs and services exist throughout New Jersey, and vehicles donated in New Jersey to a non-profit classified with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization are deductible from your federal income taxes. In most cases, the state of New Jersey requires that the donor have the vehicle title. If you do not have title papers, you can apply for a duplicate title through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). To release liability of your donated vehicle in New Jersey, follow the same procedure as your would if you were selling the vehicle. Refer to New Jersey's MVC web site for more details.

Massachusetts AG Verifies Charities for Car Donations

When making a Massachusetts car donation, verfiy that you are giving to a qualified charity. Otherwise you cannot claim a tax deduction.
How do you find out if the charity is a 501(C)3 nonprofit? For Massachusetts car donations, call the Public Charities Division of the Attorney General's Office, at 617-727-2200, ext. 2101.
Also, find the vehicle title when making a car donation. A charity cannot accept the vehicle without the title. If you cannot locate your title, get a duplicate from you local Registry of Motor Vehicles, or go online to www.massrmv.com.

Car donation by city: Boston, MA

Car donations in the Boston area are subject to the same policies and procedures as car donations throughout Massachusetts. Donate a Car for Charity, part of the Family Care Foundation (FCF), an IRS-registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, offers vehicle pick-up in Boston, as well as throughout the state of Massachusetts and nationwide. Because FCF enjoys an extensive network in and around Boston, you can expect a free and prompt pickup of your vehicle.

Car Donation Programs in Massachusetts

It's easy to make a Massachusetts car donation, with a range of established charities soliciting gifts of unwanted cars, trucks, and even motorcycles.
The charities include public TV station WGBH, Fenway Community Health, the American Lung Association of Massachusetts, Special Olympics Massachusetts, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Boston.
Most major charities have Web sites and some even have online forms to start the process of making an automobile donation.
But remember to transfer your vehicle title to the organization, and have it in hand when the charity comes to collect your car donation.
With cars valued at $500 or more, you cannot claim a higher deduction than what the charity sells the vehicle for, even if it is less than fair market value -- the amount you're likely to find in the Kelley Blue Book pricing guide.

Car donation by city: New York City

New York car donations in the Manhattan or New York City area are subject to the same policies and procedures as car donations throughout New York. Donate a Car for Charity, part of the Family Care Foundation (FCF), an IRS-registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, offers vehicle pick-up in the city, as well as throughout the state of New York and nationwide.