I am looking to donate my used car to a worthy charity.  I am considering Salvation Army and Purple Heart as possibilities for my vehicle donation; could you give me more information about the general cause and car donation programs of Purple Heart and Salvation Army so that I can make a more informed decision?

Both Purple Heart and Salvation Army are both fine charities with worthy missions and causes that could really use your car donation.  We’ll talk a little more about each of Purple Heart and Salvation Army and what their charitable causes are.

The United States Congress established the Military Order of the Purple Heart over 75 years ago to help American veterans who have received a Purple Heart after being injured in combat in service of our country.  Purple Heart car donations help fund programs and causes that provide free assistance to these veterans, including providing advice regarding their compensation claims and benefits.  Purple Heart car donations funds and supports regional offices around the country that also provide assistance in finding housing, dealing with burial or death benefits, and finding jobs or employment to veterans.  Purple Heart car donations also funds efforts to identify and help veterans who may be homeless.  On both local and national levels, Purple Heart car donations funds and supports veteran advocacy efforts.  Purple Heart also has outreach programs to help disabled veterans unable to reach regional offices as well as providing education about veteran entitlements and benefits.  All these efforts supporting the American veteran are helping to be funded by Purple Heart car donations, and since Purple Heart is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization you will be sure to receive the full tax benefit for your donation.

The Salvation Army is one of the largest organizations doing charitable work in the world and works toward addressing human needs.  The Salvation Army car donation progrm helps funds the many programs in the works including disaster relief, alcohol and drug rehabilitation, music outreach, prisoner rehab, reuniting missing persons, elderly services, community care, community recreation, and fighting human trafficking.  The Salvation Army actually maintains a car donation processing and pickup facility in each of the four US regions classified as easter, southern, central, and western.  Your car donation and charitable contribution will help support all the different Salvation Army charitable efforts.  Since Salvation Army is a 501(c)(3) non profit charity according to the IRS, you will get the full tax deduction for the value of your used car donation.

The other option for dealing with my car is selling my used car.  Why wouldn’t I choose to do that rather than donating my car to Purple Heart or Salvation Army?

You get many great benefits when you choose to make a car donation to Salvation Army or Purple Heart:

• If you want to sell your used car instead of making a car donation, it can actually be a great hassle.  You have to advertise your vehicles after possibly making costly repairs, deal with potential buyers, finding buyers, or even dealing with car brokers who may be some of the greasiest peopel to deal with.  When you make a car donation to Purple Heart or Salvation Army, you avoid all these hassles.
• Both Salvation Army and Purple Heart are great charitable causes which you would be supporting with your car donation.
• Both Salvation Army and Purple Heart are certified by the IRS as non profit 501(c)(3) organizations so that you will receive your full tax benefit and tax deduction under the tax code.
• Both Purple Heart and Salvation Army will accept your vehicle usually regardless of condition and will arrange for free towing and pickup of your used car within 1 - 3 days.

My used car is free of liens and the title is clear, but I cannot find my copy of the title.  Can I still donate this used car to Purple Heart or Salvation Army?

Yes, usually as long as the title is clear and free of liens, both Purple Heart and Salvation Army will work through the extra paperwork to accept your car donation.  Be sure to let the customer service representatives know the exact situation when you contact them so that there is no delay in finishing all the paperwork and giving you the proper documentation to receive your tax benefits for your car donation to Purple Heart or Salvation Army.

What types of vehicles will be accepted by Purple Heart and Salvation Army for car donations?

Both Purple Heart and Salvation Army can accept any type of vehicle imaginable as charitable donations including regular cars, trucks, vans, RVs, boats, motorcycles, tractors, and buses.  As long as the value of your vehicle donation exceeds the costs of pickup, repair, and processing the vehicle and that the charity has the means of processing that type of vehicle, just about any type of vehicle or condition will be accepted by Purple Heart and Salvation Army.

What is the tax benefit for a car donation to Purple Heart or Salvation Army?

Since both Salvation Army and Purple Heart are certified by the IRS as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, that means you will get your full tax benefit for your car donation.  The general rule is that for vehicles valued under $500, you can determine the amount of your tax deduction as the fair market value of that car.  If the value of the car donation to Purple Heart or Salvation Army is over $500, you will have to wait for the charity to process and sell your vehicle because you will receive documentation for the sale amount of the car donation which is the amount that you will claim on your tax return.