Donate your car to Ride to Relief in Colorado before 11:59 p.m. on December 31 and you may claim a 2024 charitable deduction if you itemize. For vehicles that ultimately sell for more than $500, your deduction generally equals the actual gross sale price of the vehicle — not Kelley Blue Book — and you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C from Heritage for the Blind after it sells. If your vehicle sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and you can usually 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.
Ride to Relief coordinates free, fast pickup for donors across Colorado — from Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, and Littleton to Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Fort Collins, Greeley, Boulder, and mountain communities like Evergreen and Castle Rock. There’s no emissions test, title inspection, or repairs required for most vehicles, and non-running cars are typically accepted. We work with Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 58-2164446), so your donation helps fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Use our secure 2-minute online form or call to lock in your pickup before year-end and get the tax paperwork you need.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute Colorado donation form
2 minutesEnter your contact info, Colorado pickup address, and basic vehicle details (year, make, model, condition). This locks in your intent to donate before December 31, even if we schedule the tow a bit later, and creates a timestamped record for your files.
Confirm free pickup date and location
5 minutesOur team calls to confirm a convenient pickup time anywhere in Colorado—Denver metro, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Fort Collins, Western Slope and more. Most pickups are Monday–Saturday, and non-running or damaged vehicles are usually fine with no inspection needed.
Sign the title and hand over the keys
5–10 minutesOn pickup day, the tow driver helps with any remaining title signatures. You’ll receive a pickup confirmation or tow slip; keep this as proof of the donation date for your records. Your vehicle is removed at no cost to you.
Receive your written acknowledgment
Within a few weeksOnce the vehicle is processed, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment. For vehicles that bring $500 or less, this document supports a deduction up to $500 or fair market value, whichever is lower, when you itemize on Schedule A.
Get IRS Form 1098-C for sales over $500
Within 30 days of saleIf your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind mails IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale showing the gross sale price. That amount is usually the maximum deduction you may claim on your federal return.
Claim your deduction on Schedule A
At tax timeGive your tax preparer the pickup confirmation, acknowledgment, and (if applicable) Form 1098-C. To use the deduction, you must itemize on Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. Always confirm details with a tax professional.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction usually equals sale price over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your deduction to the actual gross sale price listed on Form 1098-C—not the Kelley Blue Book or your estimate of what it was worth.
Vehicles $500 or less use acknowledgment letter
When your vehicle sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098-C. In many cases, you may deduct up to $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower, when you itemize.
Form 1098-C is mailed within 30 days of sale
Heritage for the Blind mails IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days after your vehicle is sold. The form shows the date of contribution and gross proceeds, which you and your tax preparer use to document your deduction.
You must itemize on Schedule A
Car donations only reduce your federal tax if you itemize deductions on Schedule A. If you claim the standard deduction instead, the car donation will not create an additional federal tax benefit. Ask your tax advisor which is better for you.
Donate by Dec 31 for this year’s tax return
For federal taxes, the key date is when you donate the car—not when it sells. As long as your donation is completed by December 31, it generally counts for that tax year, even if the vehicle is picked up or sold slightly later.