How the car donation process works
Start with the 2-minute donation form or a call
Begin by completing the quick online donation form for Rides for Pride. You will share basic details such as the vehicle year, make, model, condition, location, and whether it runs. You can also call Heritage for the Blind directly, and a donation specialist will take the same information for you. The form usually takes about two minutes, and there is no obligation until you confirm pickup. If you are in Memphis, Midtown, East Memphis, Cordova, Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, Southaven, or nearby Memphis Metro communities, this is the fastest way to get your donation moving.
A coordinator calls back to schedule free pickup
After your form is received, a donation coordinator typically calls back within 1 to 2 business hours. The coordinator confirms your vehicle details, answers title or pickup questions, and helps choose a pickup window that works for your schedule. Towing is free anywhere eligible service is available, including many Memphis Metro homes, apartments, workplaces, repair shops, storage lots, and driveways. You do not pay for dispatch, towing, paperwork support, or processing. The goal is to make the next step easy: getting the vehicle picked up without rearranging your whole day.
A licensed tow truck picks up your vehicle
In most metro areas, including many parts of the Memphis Metro, pickup can be scheduled for the same day or the next business day depending on tow availability and your location. A licensed tow truck comes to the address you provide, whether the car is in Downtown Memphis, Raleigh, Hickory Hill, Lakeland, Arlington, or a nearby suburb. At pickup, you sign the title over as directed, remove personal items, and hand over the keys if you have them. The driver provides pickup documentation, and the vehicle is removed at no cost to you.
Your vehicle goes to auction or a parts reseller
Once the vehicle is towed, it is transported to the appropriate sales channel. Many donated cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, motorcycles, RVs, and boats are sent to auction. Others may be routed to a parts reseller if that is the best way to create value from a non-running or heavily damaged vehicle. You do not have to repair, clean, advertise, or meet buyers. Heritage for the Blind’s donation process is designed to handle the vehicle after pickup so you can donate without the stress of selling it yourself.
Sale proceeds support Heritage for the Blind
After the vehicle is sold, the proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind, a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. Heritage for the Blind helps fund services and resources for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also connects individuals with public benefit resources, including SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, Section 8, and other support programs; donors or community members who want to check benefit eligibility can visit nhftb.org/finder. Your Memphis car donation becomes more than a convenient tow -- it helps advance a mission.
Your tax receipt is mailed after the sale
Once the vehicle sells, your tax documentation is prepared and mailed. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind provides IRS Form 1098-C. For vehicles that sell for $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment instead. The complete process, from your first call or form submission to receiving your mailed tax receipt, typically takes about 2 to 6 weeks. Timing can vary based on pickup scheduling, auction timing, title status, and mail delivery, but there is no cost to you at any point.
Key facts about car donation
The online donation form takes about two minutes and can be completed before you commit to pickup.
A coordinator typically calls within 1 to 2 business hours to schedule your free tow.
Same-day or next-business-day pickup is available in most metro areas when tow schedules allow.
You sign the title over at pickup, then the vehicle is transported for sale.
Vehicles selling over $500 receive IRS Form 1098-C; $500 or under receive written acknowledgment.
There is no charge to the donor for towing, processing, or donation paperwork support.