Get a written appraisal if your car donation is worth more than $5,000.

Donate Car For Charity Tip: Donating a car is easy to do, but if you intend to claim a deduction over $5,000 for vehicle donations, you must obtain a written appraisal of the donated property from a qualified appraiser. This must be accomplished prior to pick-up of your vehicle. Further, you must complete IRS Form 8283, Non-cash Charitable Contributions (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8283.pdf) and forward a copy to the charity or donation program. In this situation, a signature from qualified car donation organizations or vehicle donation programs is also required.