Thinking of Donating Your Old Car to Charity in Salt Lake City?

Deciding to donate a used vehicle to charity is a great, tax-deductible way to make a difference. It also offers the convenience of getting rid of an automobile that may just end up taking space in your garage for years or possibly - like a fleet vehicle or some motorcycles - be difficult to sell. Fortunately, for those looking for a way to donate their used vehicles to charity, there are several options in the Salt Lake City area. Some of these organizations even tow your vehicle for you, while others simply require you to drive your old car to a pick-up point.

Most vehicle donation organizations aren't centered with a single charity and act more as a third-party service between the donor and the charity, and because of this, there are differences in exactly what percentage of the car's value will be donated to the charity you choose. If you're concerned about choosing a donor service that will maximize the amount donated to your charity of choice, then while browsing the donor service's website, brochure, or speaking with a representative, you should look for the percentage of the net proceeds from the sale of your car. An acceptable percentage should be at least 50%, but with most organizations, the percentage increases as the sale amount increases.

The following two organizations in the Salt Lake Valley offer an average of at least 50% of the net proceeds to the charity you select:

www.donateforcharity.com - Donate for Charity Inc. offers an initial 70-to-80% donation to the charity with the potential for a greater percentage as the sale of the car increases. Their list of charities varies by state, and in Utah it includes: Angelcare Children's Aid International, Breast Cancer Fund, Cure Autism Now, Diabetic Youth Foundation, Glaucoma Research Foundation, Healing Hands for Haiti, Marine Mammal Center, National Eating Disorders Association, National Marine Life Center, Protecting Animals USA, VIDA, and Youth Radio.

Donations to Donate for Charity Inc. are picked up by a licensed and insured towing company at no cost to the donor, and the organization handles all DMV processing. You can contact Donate for Charity Inc. via their website or by calling (866) 392-4483. If you are calling to donate the vehicle, providing the make, model, approximate mileage, as well as the 17-digit VIN will save you a lot of trouble and hold time.

www.v-dac.com - Vehicle Donation to Any Charity offers 45-to-60% donation of net proceeds to the charity of your choice. One notable Utah client is the Children's Miracle Network, one of the most respected and well-known charities in the Utah area. V-DAC also offers explanations of the tax laws behind donations and how they've changed in the last few years.

Donations to V-DAC area picked up by a licensed and insured towing company with no cost to the donor for any car, truck, van, or RV. They can be contacted via their website or by telephone at 1-866-332-1778. They also take construction and farm equipment, although specific pick-up conditions may need to be met.

Keep in mind that donating a car to your favorite non-profit does not necessarily mean that the charity will receive any money. If your vehicle costs more to sell than the sale price ends up being, the charity won't receive any profit. In order to avoid this mistake and to ensure that your donation is accepted, keep the following in mind: a pre-1990 domestic that does not is a good example of a car that probably won't result in a sizeable donation. However, other vehicles that don't run or vehicles with expired registration still have a good chance of being accepted. Most donation agencies also require that you possess the vehicle's title document free of liens and all require the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number.

If your vehicle doesn't meet the qualifications of donation to a non-profit, there are still options other than hauling it to a landfill such as recycling and dismantling programs that vary from area to area.