Before your RevLocal free pickup, do a 15-minute sweep. Remove the garage-door remote, spare house keys, toll transponder, parking permits, disability placards, insurance card, registration, glovebox papers, cash, electronics, medications, tools, child items, and anything in the trunk.
Factory-reset the infotainment system: delete Bluetooth pairings, HomeLink buttons, saved addresses, and garage codes. Leave the keys and the signed-over title with the car for pickup.
Your pre-pickup checklist
Pull Security Items First
Start with anything that opens a door or identifies an address. Take the garage-door remote, gate fob, spare house keys, mailbox keys, office keys, and any key tags from the console, visor, key ring, or glovebox. If a house key is attached to the vehicle key, remove it now and put only the vehicle key back with the donation paperwork.
Stop Toll And Parking Charges
Pull the toll transponder from the windshield or holder before the tow truck arrives. Then sign in to that toll account and remove this vehicle from the account, or call the toll agency if the tag is not removable. Also take parking passes, employee lot hangtags, removable apartment decals, and any paid permit that could keep billing after the car leaves.
Clear Glovebox Documents
Clean out the glovebox and door pockets next. Remove the insurance card, registration, maintenance receipts you want to keep, loan or lien papers, old tickets, medical papers, and anything with an account number. If you are unsure which ownership document must stay, keep personal papers out but leave the signed-over title with the vehicle key for pickup.
Sweep Cabin And Trunk
Work front to back. Check under the seats, between cushions, seat-back pockets, cup holders, visors, center console, door bins, and floor mats. Open the trunk or hatch and look in storage cubbies, tool trays, the spare-tire well, and any emergency kit. Remove sunglasses, chargers, cash, jewelry, medications, garage receipts, personal tools, and children’s items.
Wipe Stored Electronic Data
Turn on the vehicle if needed and factory-reset the infotainment system. Delete Bluetooth pairings, phone contacts, call history, navigation history, saved home and work addresses, garage codes, and HomeLink buttons. Remove USB drives, CDs, memory cards, and phone mounts. If the reset menu is hard to find, check the owner’s manual or remove paired devices one by one.
Remove Optional Aftermarket Items
Take accessories you added and still want, such as a dash cam, phone mount, radar detector, seat covers, removable roof rack parts, child seats, and custom floor mats. Leave the car intact and as described to RevLocal. If removing an upgraded stereo, wheels, or other installed part changes the vehicle condition you reported, contact RevLocal before pickup.
Leave Keys And Title
Do not sweep away the items needed to complete the handoff. Leave the vehicle keys and the signed-over title with the car. If there is a separate valet key, key fob, or remote start fob, leave those too. Place them in the agreed handoff spot or have them ready for the driver, separate from the personal items you removed.
Paperwork Not Covered Here
Keep this page focused on items inside the car. Ownership paperwork rules can vary by state and by your exact situation, especially if there is a lien, a missing owner signature, an inherited vehicle, or a name change. Do not guess on ownership documents. If you are not sure where to sign, what supporting paper is needed, or whether your title is acceptable for donation, check with the South Carolina DMV before pickup. Use our separate guide: License Plates After Donation. Use our separate guide: Release of Liability After Donation.
Common questions
Should I remove my toll transponder if the car no longer runs?
Yes. Remove the toll transponder even if the vehicle is not driveable. A tag can still be scanned while a vehicle is being moved. Also remove the vehicle from the toll account so future charges do not attach to your name.
Can I leave old receipts or papers in the glovebox?
Do not leave personal papers unless they are required for the vehicle handoff. Remove insurance cards, registration copies, repair invoices, medical papers, and anything with your address, account number, or signature. Keep donation paperwork separate from personal records.
What if I forget something after the car is picked up?
Contact RevLocal as soon as you notice. There is no guarantee that a forgotten item can be recovered once the vehicle has been moved or processed. The safest approach is to do the full 15-minute sweep before the keys leave your hand.
Do I need to remove a child seat or booster?
Yes, remove child seats, boosters, and any child safety accessories you want to keep. These are personal items, not part of the donated vehicle. Check under and behind the seat for toys, snacks, ID cards, medical items, and small electronics.
More donation prep guides
Once your 15-minute sweep is done, place the signed-over title and vehicle keys where the driver can receive them. Keep your personal items, billing devices, and saved data out of the vehicle. Your RevLocal vehicle donation benefits Heritage for the Blind (EIN 58-2164446). If anything on the checklist is unclear, contact RevLocal before pickup.