Donate your car in Delaware by 11:59 p.m. on December 31 and you may claim a charitable deduction for this tax year—if you itemize on Schedule A. With First State Autos, your vehicle is sold, and Heritage for the Blind (a 501(c)(3)) mails IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale for vehicles that sell over $500. Your deduction is based on the actual gross sale price, not Kelley Blue Book. For vehicles that sell at $500 or below, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and may generally deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. Keep your pickup confirmation as proof of the donation date, and always consult a tax professional about your specific return.
We’re local to Delaware donors. Whether your car is in Wilmington, Newark, Bear, Middletown, Dover, Smyrna, Milford, or out at the beaches in Lewes and Rehoboth, we make year‑end giving simple. Non‑running cars, no inspection, no repairs needed—just a quick phone call or 2‑minute online form. We schedule free pickup across New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties, Monday through Saturday, and coordinate everything with the tow driver. You get clear documentation for your taxes, Heritage for the Blind receives vital funding for people who are blind or visually impaired, and you clear your driveway before the new year.
Your year-end donation timeline
Lock in your deduction date
2 minutesSubmit our online form or call First State Autos by December 31 with your vehicle details and Delaware pickup address. The donation date is the date you legally transfer the vehicle—your pickup confirmation is key proof for this tax year.
Schedule fast, free Delaware pickup
5 minutesOur dispatch team arranges free towing anywhere in Delaware—Wilmington, Newark, Dover, Seaford, Georgetown, the beach towns and more. Most pickups are scheduled Monday–Saturday at a time that works for you, even for non‑running vehicles.
Sign over title and hand off keys
10 minutesOn pickup day, you sign the Delaware title to complete the donation. The driver gives you a pickup confirmation—keep this with your records as proof of the donation date for your year‑end tax deduction. No repairs or inspection needed.
Vehicle sells and paperwork is issued
Within weeksFirst State Autos sells your vehicle to benefit Heritage for the Blind. If it sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. At $500 or below, you receive a written acknowledgment instead.
Claim your deduction at tax time
At filingGive your tax preparer your Form 1098‑C or written acknowledgment, plus your pickup confirmation. If you itemize on Schedule A, you may deduct the allowable amount for the year in which you donated—subject to IRS limits. Always consult a tax pro.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals sale price over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, your charitable deduction is generally limited to the actual gross sale price, not Kelley Blue Book or your estimate of value, and is documented on IRS Form 1098‑C.
Special rules at $500 or below
If your vehicle sells for $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment from Heritage for the Blind and may usually deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower, assuming you itemize deductions.
Form 1098‑C from Heritage for the Blind
For vehicles that sell above $500, Heritage for the Blind mails IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. This form shows the gross proceeds and is your primary proof of the amount you may be able to deduct.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation tax deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal return. If you take the standard deduction, you generally cannot claim an additional deduction for your donated vehicle.
Dec 31 controls the tax year
Your deduction applies to the tax year in which you complete the donation, not when the car later sells. Donating by December 31 in Delaware—documented by your pickup or title transfer—lets you claim it on this year’s return.