How the car donation process works
Start your San Francisco car donation
Begin by telling AutoBay Alliance about the vehicle you want to donate and where it is located. Pickup is available throughout San Francisco and the broader San Francisco Bay Area, whether your vehicle is parked in a driveway, garage, apartment lot, workplace, or curbside location where towing is allowed. You do not need to clean up the vehicle or handle the sale yourself. The goal is to make donating simple for mission-motivated donors who want their vehicle to support Heritage for the Blind and help people who are blind or visually impaired.
Schedule free towing at a convenient time
After your donation is submitted, a towing provider will contact you to arrange free pickup. This can often be coordinated around your schedule, whether you are in the Marina, Bernal Heights, Noe Valley, the Excelsior, Pacifica, Alameda, Fremont, or another Bay Area community. At pickup, you will typically hand over the signed title and receive an initial donation receipt. The tow is free, and you avoid the stress of selling, repairing, advertising, or meeting buyers. Your donated vehicle then moves into the sale process.
Your vehicle is sold to generate charity proceeds
Once the vehicle is picked up, it is processed for sale through an appropriate resale channel. The final selling price depends on factors such as condition, mileage, age, market demand, and whether the vehicle runs. AutoBay Alliance does not invent a value or promise a specific sale amount. Instead, the actual gross sale price becomes important for tax documentation, especially when the vehicle sells for more than $500. Most importantly for donors, 100-percent of the vehicle proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446.
Proceeds fund services for blind and visually impaired people
Heritage for the Blind uses vehicle donation proceeds to support services for people who are blind or visually impaired. This includes helping individuals understand and connect with government benefit programs that may improve stability and access to care. Programs may include SSI, SSDI, LIHEAP, Section 8 housing assistance, Medicare Extra Help, Medicaid, and other resources. For a donor, this means your unused vehicle can help fund practical guidance for people navigating complex systems during moments when clear, compassionate support matters.
You receive tax documentation after sale
Because Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446, donations may be tax-deductible for donors who itemize deductions. If your vehicle sells for more than $500, the deductible amount is generally the gross vehicle sale price, and IRS Form 1098-C is provided for your tax records. You should keep the receipt and any sale documentation with your files. AutoBay Alliance cannot provide personal tax advice, so donors with specific questions should speak with a qualified tax professional.
Key facts about car donation
Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446, serving blind and visually impaired Americans.
AutoBay Alliance provides free towing throughout San Francisco and the broader San Francisco Bay Area for eligible donated vehicles.
100-percent of vehicle sale proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind, not split with another benefiting charity.
For vehicles selling over $500, itemizing donors receive IRS Form 1098-C showing the gross sale price.
People seeking benefits support can check SSI, LIHEAP, Section 8, Medicare Extra Help, and Medicaid at nhftb.org/finder.