Car Donations Rules Protect Consumers

Make sure you understand federal and state policies for charities accepting vehicle donations. The policies not only protect the charities from abuse and fraud but they also protect the donors making vehicle donations. These policies include getting receipts for the donations and making sure the receipts contain the charity's name and identification number. Watchdog groups that monitor vehicle donations report they have received phone calls from donors who did not get a receipt from the charity, and cannot remember the name of it. Other donors who did not transfer the title, as required, later learn they are responsible for traffic and parking tickets accumulated by someone else.