Donor field guide

Prepare a car for donation

Seven checks for a safer handoff—from legal recipient to written receipt.

Check 1

Match the legal recipient

The charity name and EIN should match the organization receiving title. A brand or towing-company name alone is not enough.

Checks 2–3

Follow title directions. Match the VIN.

Never sign a blank title or guess about a field. Stop if the dashboard VIN and documents do not agree.

Checks 4–6

Know who is picking it up

Confirm the towing party. Remove personal items, toll tags, paired phones, addresses, garage remotes, and access codes.

Before deciding

Compare the real alternatives

Repairing, selling, trading, recycling, and donating have different time, risk, convenience, and cash tradeoffs.

Check 7

Keep the written record

Save the legal name, EIN, date, VIN, acknowledgment, and any later Form 1098-C. The vehicle's disposition affects federal rules.

General education—not tax advice.
Ready for a safer handoff

Pause before you sign

Verify the recipient, follow case-specific title instructions, protect your data, and keep a complete record.

Complete guide · no account required Open the free donor toolkit