Donating Your Used Car in Charleston, West Virginia

West Virginia in general is made up of largely rural outlying areas. Reliable transportation is a huge problem for low income families that are trying to improve their lives. You can make a difference in someone's life by donating your used car to a charity.

Donating your car to a charity can be a great way to benefit a good cause as well as pick up a hefty tax write-off for yourself. In Charleston, West Virginia, there are several local charities that will accept your used vehicle. Not only can you receive a tax receipt for your Federal Income Tax, you may also be able to receive a credit for your West Virginia State Income Tax as well. A limited number of state income tax credits are available each year. I would recommend asking about the availability when you contact the car donation charity of your choice.

In order to maximize the amount that you receive in the form of a tax credit you need to ensure that the charity that you choose to donate a car to is giving the car to a low income individual and not reselling it to add the proceeds to their general funds. If you car is given to a low income individual, you get to deduct the full book value of the vehicle. If it is sold by the charity, you only get a tax receipt for the amount that the vehicle sold for.

In the Charleston area there are several local charities that will accept your donated car in order to benefit low income individuals. In 1999 The Good News Mountaineer Garage was formed and now has several locations throughout the state including, Charleston, Lewisburg, Parkersburg, Martinsburg, and Morgantown. They request that you call 1-866-GIVECAR to set an appointment for their mechanic to access your vehicle. They also have an online form that you can fill out to have your car picked up. They accept cars that are in working order or that can be repaired for a reasonable amount.

This is a very well rounded program. Not only do they put your donated car to good use, they also teach the recipient of the donated car basic care care and maintenance. They have a goal of 300 car donations per year. Although they do have employment and income guidelines that the recipient of the donated car must meet, their program has helped many people overcome a common barrier to becoming self sufficient.

Another good option for maximizing your tax credit is The Salvation Army. They state that they accept car donations for their Adult Rehabilitation Centers as well as to sell at auction. They request that the cars be in working condition. The Salvation Army in Charleston is located at 301 Mary St., Charleston, WV 25302 They can be reached for more details by calling (304) 342-6833.

Both of the car donation programs above enable people to get on the road to a more successful live. These car donation programs allow the recipients to attend school, get to work, doctor appointments and get back on the road to an independent life.