Be sure to get a tax receipt for your automobile donation.

If you donate a car to a charitable organization that plans to keep the car, and you wish to claim a tax deduction for your gift, you must determine its fair market value. The fair market value of your vehicle cannot be determined by a charity, since the IRS considers that to be a "conflict of interest." A charity's tax receipt for car donations is, however, proof that you made the donation. If the vehicle has a value of $5,000 or more, then a certified vehicle appraiser must determine the vehicle's value.