If your vehicle is picked up on or before December 31 in the Memphis Metro, the IRS treats that pickup date as your donation date for this tax year. With Rides for Pride, you can lock in your 2024 deduction in minutes: fill out a quick online form or call Heritage for the Blind, schedule a free tow on your timeline, and receive IRS‑ready acknowledgment after your car is sold. Your car does not need to run, pass inspection, or have a current registration to qualify.
We know Memphis schedules get tight as New Year’s Eve approaches. That’s why our donation partner can usually arrange same‑day or next‑business‑day pickup across the Memphis Metro — from Midtown, East Memphis, and Southaven to Cordova, Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, and West Memphis. You choose the pickup spot: your driveway in Cooper‑Young, a shop in Binghampton, or a workplace near Downtown. Every donated vehicle supports Heritage for the Blind’s work with people who are blind or visually impaired, while Rides for Pride keeps the process fast, local‑feeling, and simple for you.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2‑minute donation form or call
2 minutesEnter your contact info, Memphis pickup address, and basic vehicle details, or call Heritage for the Blind to provide the same information by phone. This locks in your intent to donate and gets your car into the year‑end pickup queue before December slots fill.
Get a callback to schedule free pickup
Within 1–2 business hoursOn weekdays, a donation coordinator calls you back within 1–2 hours to confirm details and book your free tow. You pick a date and time that works — including Dec 31 where available — at your home, office, or shop anywhere in the greater Memphis Metro.
Free licensed tow truck arrives in Memphis Metro
Same‑day or next business day in most areasA professional, insured towing partner meets you at the scheduled time. In most Memphis Metro locations, they can come the same day or the next business day. The physical pickup date is what the IRS treats as your official donation date for this tax year.
Sign the title and hand over the vehicle
5–10 minutes at pickupAt the truck, you sign your title over and provide keys if available. Non‑running vehicles, failed inspections, and expired registration are fine. Once the paperwork is signed on or before Dec 31 and the car is picked up, your deduction is locked to this tax year.
Vehicle is sold and your tax paperwork is issued
Within 30 days of saleYour car is transported, processed, and sold to maximize value. After the sale, Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS‑compliant written acknowledgment (Form 1098‑C or equivalent) within 30 days of the sale date so you can claim your deduction when you file.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Dec 31 pickup = this year’s deduction
The IRS uses the date your vehicle is transferred (pickup/title handoff) as the donation date. If your Memphis pickup happens on or before December 31, the deduction generally applies to the tax year ending that December 31.
Form 1098‑C proves your car donation
For most vehicle donations, Heritage for the Blind issues Form 1098‑C or a similar written acknowledgment after the sale. This document shows the gross sale price and key details the IRS looks for if you itemize and claim the car donation.
Deduction usually equals sale price
In most cases, the IRS limits your charitable deduction to the vehicle’s gross sale price, not a price guide estimate. The amount shown on your 1098‑C or acknowledgment is what you’ll generally use when you claim the deduction on your return.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation tax deduction, you typically must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal tax return. If you take the standard deduction instead, you usually cannot claim an additional vehicle donation deduction.
30‑day receipt window after sale
Heritage for the Blind mails your 1098‑C or written acknowledgment within 30 days of selling your vehicle. You don’t need the receipt before Dec 31; you just need the pickup/title transfer completed by then for the deduction to count this year.