There are many charitable organizations who accept car donations for needy families. You can donate your car to help these needy families by following a few simple instructions.

Remove all of your possessions from the car. Take items out of the trunk, back seat and passenger seat. Check the glove compartment and remove all personal papers and other documents. Look under the driver and passenger seats for your possessions. While removing your belongings, throw away all trash. Vacuum the carpet and seats if needed.

Make sure you have a copy of the title and registration of your vehicle. When the charitable organization picks up your car, they will ask you to provide those documents.

Get the yellow pages and look under the heading for charitable donations. You should find a list of organizations that receive car donations. You can also look under the heading donations for leads. Write down the name, address, and phone number of the organizations you wish to contact.

Contact a few companies and ask questions about their car donation policies. Find out how they distribute their cars to those who are in need. If needed, ask them to send literature to your email or mailbox.

Ask the organization’s staff how they assess the value of the car for tax purposes if you plan to take a tax deduction. You should also look up the value of your vehicle. Remember cars depreciate over time. They will not have the same value as the price you paid.

Once you have chosen the charitable organization where you want to donate your vehicle, set up an appointment for them to come and pick up the car. Set a day and time when you will be home. If it is impossible for you to be home, have a responsible friend or family member present.

Put the car’s keys, registration and title in one place. Once the organization’s staff member arrives at your home or business, you don’t want to waste time looking for these important items.

Make sure you get the receipt from the staff member for tax purposes. The receipt should have the value of the car written on it.