Your hometown vehicle charity
Most car-donation ads route you to a national call center. Here, the organization taking your vehicle is based in the same county you are. Dawsonville is the Dawson County seat, and Georgia 400 runs through the county on its way north into Lumpkin County, so pickups anywhere in the county are close to home for us (New Georgia Encyclopedia: Dawson County).
We don't run a public drop-off lot or storefront. You keep the vehicle where it is, we review it, and once it's accepted a towing partner picks it up at no cost to you. We never publish a street address for the office, but you can always reach a person at 770-871-9422.
What Dawson County donors usually give
Dawson County mixes subdivisions near GA-400 with mountain and farm land toward Amicalola Falls State Park and the Chattahoochee National Forest. That shows up in what people donate: the commuter car that got replaced, the old farm truck that sat by the barn for a decade, the camper nobody uses anymore. Dawson County is also one of the five counties on the Lake Lanier shoreline, so boats, personal watercraft, and trailers come up often (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Lake Sidney Lanier).
Non-running is fine. Flat tires, no battery, or parked on a gravel drive: just tell us how the truck will get to it and whether the vehicle rolls.
Dawson County tag office and Georgia title steps
Because we are local, many Dawson County donors ask if they should go to the courthouse first. Usually not. Georgia titles and registrations are handled by each county's tax commissioner, which runs the local tag office. For Dawson County, that is the Dawson County Tax Commissioner. Check that office's site for current hours and locations; Georgia DOR keeps a statewide list of county tag offices. In most donations you won't need to visit at all: you sign the title and we handle the transfer paperwork.
Signing the title. Georgia DOR says the owner completes the assignment on the back of the original title, in blue or black ink, and that alterations or erasures can void it. Every owner listed on the front signs. Never hand over a title signed in blank; Georgia law treats that as a misdemeanor. We mark exactly which lines are yours before pickup. (Georgia DOR: transferring a Georgia title)
Older vehicles. Georgia requires a title for most 1986-and-newer vehicles. DOR lists 1963 to 1985 model years as title-optional and 1962-and-older vehicles as not requiring a title; those typically change hands with a bill of sale and the registration in your name. (Georgia DOR: title not required or optional)
Your license plate. In Georgia the plate stays with you, not the vehicle, so take it off before the tow truck arrives. You can move it to another vehicle you get at your county tag office. Cancel the registration online through DRIVES e-Services or with Form MV-18J before you drop insurance; DOR fines coverage lapses on a vehicle that is still registered. (Georgia DOR: cancelling a registration)
Boats and personal watercraft. Boats are not titled at the county tag office. Georgia DNR's Wildlife Resources Division has issued electronic boat titles since July 1, 2020. When a registered boat changes hands, DNR says the owner reports the sale within 15 days and gives a detailed bill of sale; if a paper boat title was issued, it must be signed over. Personal watercraft are registered on the same vessel form, and boat trailers do not need a Georgia title. (Georgia DNR: boat registration and eTitles)
Questions we hear from Dawsonville donors
Is Cars Helping Kids actually based in Dawsonville?
Yes. Our legal entity, Fainting Goat Foundation Co Inc (EIN 99-0472123), is headquartered in Dawsonville, Dawson County. We do not publish a street address and there is no public drop-off lot; pickups are arranged with towing partners after a vehicle is accepted.
Do I have to bring the car somewhere in Dawsonville?
No. Accepted vehicles are towed free from where they sit: your driveway, a pasture, a storage lot, or a marina, as long as the truck can safely reach it.
Can I donate a boat that is kept on Lake Lanier?
Yes, boats and personal watercraft are reviewed like any other vehicle. Georgia boats are registered and electronically titled through Georgia DNR rather than the county tag office, so tell us the Georgia registration number and whether a paper boat title was ever issued.
My old farm truck has no title. Can I still donate it?
Often, yes. Georgia does not require a title for 1962-and-older vehicles and lists 1963 to 1985 model years as title-optional, so older trucks can usually transfer with a bill of sale and registration. Newer vehicles need a title or a replacement; we walk you through it.
How fast can you pick up in Dawson County?
We schedule pickup once the vehicle is accepted, and being our home county helps. We do not promise same-day pickup; we give you a real date when the tow is booked.
Distances and drive times are approximate route estimates from Dawsonville, not pickup windows. Title rules summarized here are general information from the official sources linked on this page, not legal or tax advice; your instructions are confirmed for your specific vehicle. Content reviewed 2026-10-02.
Cars Helping Kids is not affiliated with Cars Helping Kids, Inc. of Denver, Colorado.