The IRS goes by the pickup date—not the day you call. To claim your car donation on this year’s taxes, your vehicle must be physically picked up by December 31. With RevLocal and Heritage for the Blind, that means you should schedule your free tow at least 3–5 business days before year-end so we can confirm a pickup slot in time. Your written acknowledgment (and IRS Form 1098‑C if your vehicle sells for more than $500) will arrive after the car sells, but your deduction year is locked in on the pickup day.
We make last‑minute year-end donations simple across the Greenville Metro. Whether you’re in Downtown Greenville, Taylors, Greer, Mauldin, Simpsonville, Travelers Rest, Easley, or Piedmont, Heritage for the Blind arranges free towing Monday through Saturday during the holiday season—even for non‑running vehicles. No inspections, no repairs, no haggling. Just a quick 2‑minute form or call, a confirmed pickup window, and a tax-deductible gift that supports services for people who are blind or visually impaired. If you want this deduction on your upcoming return, now is the time to schedule.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your 2-minute donation in Greenville
2 minutesSubmit our quick online form or call from anywhere in the Greenville Metro—Downtown, Greer, Mauldin, Simpsonville and beyond. Have your title handy if possible and estimate your vehicle’s condition. This locks in your interest and gets your request into the towing queue immediately.
Choose your pickup window before Dec 31
5 minutesA Heritage for the Blind representative contacts you to confirm your details and offer pickup windows. For a same‑tax‑year deduction, select a date on or before December 31 and schedule 3–5 business days ahead so a tow truck can be assigned in time.
Prepare the vehicle for quick tow
10–15 minutesRemove personal items, gather your keys, and sign the title if required in South Carolina. The car can be in your driveway, apartment lot, or a Greenville-area shop. It does not need to run; no emissions or repairs are necessary before pickup.
Day of pickup = donation date
15–30 minutesThe tow driver arrives at your Greenville-area location, completes any remaining paperwork, and hauls your vehicle away at no cost. The IRS counts this date as your official donation date for tax purposes, as long as it’s on or before December 31.
Receive your tax receipt and 1098-C (if applicable)
Varies after saleAfter your car is sold, Heritage for the Blind mails your written acknowledgment and, if the sale price is over $500, IRS Form 1098‑C. The paperwork may arrive in the new year, but your deduction still applies to the year in which the car was picked up.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date controls your deduction year
The IRS uses the date your vehicle is actually picked up as the donation date, not the day you submit the form or call. To deduct it on this year’s return, towing must occur on or before December 31.
Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500
If Heritage for the Blind sells your donated vehicle for more than $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098‑C. This form shows the gross sale price, which generally sets the maximum amount you can deduct for that donation.
Written acknowledgment is required
You’ll receive a written acknowledgment from Heritage for the Blind after your vehicle is sold. Keep this with your tax records. It lists your vehicle details and sale information and supports your deduction if the IRS ever asks for documentation.
Itemizing on Schedule A
To claim your car donation, you must typically itemize deductions using Schedule A on your federal tax return. If you take the standard deduction instead, you usually cannot also deduct the donated vehicle’s value separately.
Receipt may arrive after year-end
Your tax paperwork can arrive in the following year, because it’s sent after the car sells. That’s normal. Your deduction still applies to the tax year in which the vehicle was picked up, as long as that date was on or before December 31.