How to Donate a Car in South Carolina
When you donate a car in South Carolina, you can earn $500 or more in tax deductions.
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
If you need to get rid of an old car but don’t want to deal with trying to sell it, then donating your car to a charitable organization is an easy way to do a good deed—and earn a tax deduction! We’ve compiled a list of South Carolina charities that accept vehicle donations.
Selling a car can be a hassle. It may take a long time to find a buyer—and who wants the added stress of negotiating a price? You might consider trading in your car at a dealership, but if it is old or has high mileage, it might not be worth your time. If your priority is to offload your unwanted car quickly, donating it to charity is usually as uncomplicated and straightforward as it gets.
Here with everything you need to know about donating your car in South Carolina is
Jerry
, the top-rated broker app and car insurance
expert. Keep reading to find out how to avoid car donation scams, how donating affects taxes, where to donate your vehicle, and even how to save on your South Carolina insurance costs
. How to donate a car in South Carolina
Donating an old vehicle to your preferred charity is a fantastic way to support their mission—and the process is usually simple. Just follow this checklist:
- Decide which organization you want to donate to. Scammers often prey on people who are willing to donate a vehicle. Be sure the charity you choose is reputable, and best-case scenario, they’ll support a mission you care about.
- Use the IRS’stax-exempt organization search toolto check if the charity is set up to receive tax-deductible donations.
- Locate your car’s title and any other documents requested by the organization you chose. You might also be asked to provide themake and model, vehicle identification number (VIN), and/or current mileage.
- VisitKelley Blue Bookto figure out your car’s market value. You may need it to determine your tax deduction.
- Contact the organization to schedule a pick-up. Depending on the charity, you’ll either need to call them or fill out an online donation form.
- Hang on to your donation receipt since you’ll need it to claim your tax deduction. If you’re donating to a charity that’s going to sell your car, be sure to get the sale price so you know what you’re eligible to claim.
How do taxes work when donating a car?
One perk of car donation is the tax deduction you can get by doing so. Most charities will sell your car and use the proceeds to support their mission. In those cases, your tax deduction depends on the sale price of the car.
If your car sells for more than $500, then you’re required to claim the sale price on your taxes—no matter what your vehicle’s market value is. To put it simply, if your car’s market value is $3,000 but it was sold for $1,500—you’re only allowed to claim $1,500 on your taxes.
If your car sells for less than $500, then you need to claim either the car’s market value or $500—whichever is less. If the organization keeps your car, then you can claim its market value.
It’s important to remember that these rules only apply to organizations that are eligible to receive tax-deductible donations. So if you’re donating your car to a trade school or an informal charitable group, you cannot write the donation off on your taxes.
Key Takeaway To be sure your car will earn you a tax deduction, research your preferred charity’s tax status before you donate.
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Where to donate a car in South Carolina
Not sure where to donate your car in the Palmetto State? Here are some great South Carolina charities that accept vehicle donations.
Habitat for Humanity
You can support
Habitat for Humanity
in its mission to build homes for those in need by donating your car. To participate in Habitat for Humanity’s Cars for Homes project, fill out their online donation form
, call (877) 277-4344, or contact the HFH chapter in your area.ETV Endowment South Carolina
If you enjoy watching
PBS
or listening to public radio
, you can help support South Carolina’s public broadcasting services by donating your car to ETV Endowment
. You can donate by filling out a form online or by calling (877) 227-2388.Wheels for Wishes
Wheels for Wishes
uses the proceeds from car donation sales to help critically ill children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. You can donate to the South Carolina chapter
by calling (855) 278-9474 or filling out their online donation form
. They accept donations from anywhere in the state, and Wheels for Wishes will come to pick up your vehicle and tow it away for free.Vehicles for Veterans
If you want to support veterans in need,
Vehicles for Veterans
is a nationwide organization that helps fund programs that provide aid to former members of the United States Armed Forces. To donate in South Carolina
, call (877) 646-1976 or fill out their donation form
.Goodwill
You can donate almost anything to Goodwill. They’ll find a use for your old clothes, furniture, pots, and pans—and they’ll find a use for your old car, too. Proceeds from
Goodwill car donations
go toward funding programs that provide job training to disadvantaged individuals in South Carolina. How to find affordable car insurance in South Carolina
Donating your old car to charity can help you save money on your taxes, and
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