You’re ready to donate. Here’s what you need to know: for IRS purposes, the physical pickup date is the date of your vehicle donation. If RideForward’s tow truck picks up your car in Greater Philadelphia on or before December 31, your gift counts for this tax year. Start now: our secure online form takes about two minutes, and a live coordinator will call you back to lock in your free pickup time. Most donors in the region can get a tow scheduled for the same day or the next business day.
RideForward partners with Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, to turn your car into vital services for people who are blind or visually impaired. We handle everything: free towing from Center City, South Philly, West Philly, the Northeast, Manayunk, Roxborough, Mount Airy, Chestnut Hill, University City, and suburbs like Upper Darby, Bensalem, Cherry Hill, and King of Prussia. Your car doesn’t need to run, pass inspection, or even have current registration. Just start the form or call, pick your best pickup window, and we’ll take care of the rest—title transfer, sale, and mailing your tax paperwork.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute form or call RideForward
2 minutesEnter your contact info, vehicle details, and preferred pickup window, or call RideForward’s Heritage for the Blind donation line. This locks in your intent to donate and gets your car into the Greater Philadelphia towing queue right away for year-end scheduling.
Get a call back to schedule pickup
Within 1–2 business hours (weekdays)A live coordinator calls you within 1–2 hours on weekdays to confirm your details and set up your free tow. In most Philadelphia metro areas, we can offer same-day or next-business-day pickup slots leading up to December 31.
Free licensed tow truck arrives in Greater Philadelphia
Same day or next business day in most areasA licensed towing partner comes to your home, work, or garage in neighborhoods like Fishtown, Brewerytown, South Philly, or the Main Line. Non-running, failed-inspection, and unregistered vehicles are all okay—we’ll load it and handle transport at no cost to you.
Sign your title at pickup to complete the donation
5–10 minutes at your curbAt pickup, you sign your Pennsylvania (or New Jersey) title over following our clear instructions. Once the tow truck takes possession on or before Dec 31, the IRS considers your vehicle donated for this tax year, even though it will be sold later.
Vehicle is sold and tax paperwork is mailed
Form mailed within 30 days of saleHeritage for the Blind arranges the sale of your vehicle. After it sells, you receive IRS Form 1098-C or a written acknowledgment by mail within 30 days of the sale, showing the gross proceeds you can use when itemizing your deduction.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date sets your tax year
For vehicle donations, the IRS looks at the date the charity takes possession. If RideForward’s tow truck picks up your car on or before December 31, your donation counts for this year’s federal income tax return.
Form 1098-C documents your deduction
After your car is sold, Heritage for the Blind sends IRS Form 1098-C or a written acknowledgment. It shows key details, including the sale date and gross proceeds, which you use when claiming your charitable contribution.
Deduction usually equals sale price
In most cases, the IRS allows you to deduct up to the gross sale price of your donated vehicle, not the blue-book value. Your 1098-C will list this sale amount for you and your tax preparer.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To use your car donation as a tax benefit, you generally need to itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal tax return. If you take the standard deduction, the vehicle donation won’t reduce your taxable income.
30-day acknowledgment deadline
By IRS rules, the charity must send your 1098-C or written acknowledgment within 30 days of selling your car. Keep this with your records; you don’t need it by Dec 31 as long as the pickup happened by Dec 31.