Donate your car to Penn Heritage Rides in Pennsylvania before midnight December 31 and you may claim a 2024 charitable tax deduction. For vehicles that sell for over $500, your deduction generally equals the gross sale price of your car, not the Kelley Blue Book value. After Heritage for the Blind sells your vehicle, they mail you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. For vehicles worth $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment, and you can usually deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower, if you itemize on Schedule A.
Penn Heritage Rides arranges fast, free pickup throughout Pennsylvania—from Philadelphia neighborhoods like Fishtown, Chestnut Hill, and South Philly, to Pittsburgh areas like Squirrel Hill, Lawrenceville, and the North Hills, plus Harrisburg, Allentown, Erie, Scranton, Lancaster, and more. Your pickup confirmation serves as proof of your donation date, which is critical for meeting the December 31 IRS cutoff. You avoid dealing with buyers, inspections, or repairs; non-running cars are welcome. Proceeds support Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) helping people who are blind or visually impaired. Always consult a tax professional to understand how the deduction rules apply to your specific Pennsylvania return.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute donation form or call
2 minutesEnter your Pennsylvania vehicle details and contact info online or by phone. This locks in your intent to donate before the year-end rush, and gives our team what they need to schedule your free pickup quickly, often within a few days.
Confirm your donation and pickup date
5 minutesA Penn Heritage Rides representative reviews your info, answers year-end tax questions, and confirms your car qualifies. You choose a convenient pickup window, Monday–Saturday, at home, work, or a repair shop anywhere in Pennsylvania.
Prepare title and remove personal items
10–15 minutesBefore the tow truck arrives, clear out personal belongings and locate your title. In most Pennsylvania cases you simply sign the title at pickup. No emissions test, safety inspection, or repairs are required—even if the car doesn’t run.
Pickup day: hand over keys and get confirmation
10 minutesThe driver tows your vehicle at no cost and provides a pickup confirmation. Keep this as proof of your donation date for IRS purposes—especially important if you’re donating right before December 31 in Pennsylvania.
Receive your tax paperwork after the sale
Within IRS timelinesHeritage for the Blind sells your vehicle. If the gross sale price is over $500, they mail you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale; $500 or under, you receive a written acknowledgment. Use this with Schedule A when you file.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction usually equals sale price, not book value
For most vehicles that sell for more than $500, the IRS requires that your deduction equal the charity’s gross sale price, not Kelley Blue Book or what you think it’s worth. Your Form 1098-C shows this exact sale amount.
IRS Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind sends you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days after the sale. You use this official form to substantiate the amount you claim as a deduction on your federal return.
Written acknowledgment for $500 or less
If your vehicle is valued at $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment letter instead of Form 1098-C. In many cases, you may deduct the smaller of $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value when you itemize deductions.
Must itemize on Schedule A to benefit
To claim a car donation deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal Form 1040. If you take the standard deduction, you generally cannot also claim a separate deduction for your donated vehicle.
Donate by Dec 31 for this tax year
The key date is when you donate, not when the car sells. As long as your vehicle is donated (picked up or signed over) by December 31, you’re generally eligible to claim the deduction for that tax year, subject to IRS limits.