To claim a year-end car donation tax deduction, the IRS cares about two dates: when you donate and when the vehicle sells. Donate your car to AutoBay Alliance in the San Francisco Bay Area by December 31, 11:59 p.m. local time, and it can count toward your 2024 taxes if you itemize. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, your deduction generally equals the actual gross sale price, not the Kelley Blue Book value. After your car sells, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C from Heritage for the Blind, the 501(c)(3) charity your donation supports. For vehicles at $500 or below, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and may deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is less.
AutoBay Alliance makes this easy for donors from the Richmond District, Sunset, Mission, SoMa, Noe Valley, Bernal Heights, Oakland, Berkeley, Daly City, and across the San Francisco Bay Area. You complete a quick 2-minute form or call, we schedule free towing (running or not), and you keep the pickup confirmation as proof of your donation date. We handle the sale, then mail your 1098-C or written acknowledgment within 30 days of the sale. Always consult a tax professional about your specific situation and how to claim the deduction on Schedule A.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesFrom anywhere in San Francisco, Oakland, or the Peninsula, submit our secure online form or call. Share your vehicle details and preferred pickup location. This locks in your intent to donate before December 31 and gets you into our pickup queue immediately.
Lock in your donation date
5 minutesOur team confirms your pickup by phone or email, usually the same day Monday–Saturday. The donation date for IRS purposes is when you hand over the keys/title to the tow driver, so scheduling before December 31 is key for a 2024 deduction.
Free pickup anywhere in the Bay Area
30-60 minutesWe dispatch a licensed tow truck to your home, office, or garage in neighborhoods like the Marina, Mission Bay, or Alameda. The car can be non-running. No inspections or repairs needed. You receive a pickup confirmation—keep this as proof of your donation date.
We sell your vehicle and report the price
Varies by saleAutoBay Alliance manages the sale of your donated vehicle. Once sold, the gross sale price determines your potential deduction if the vehicle brings more than $500. This sale price, not book value, is what appears on your IRS Form 1098-C.
Receive tax paperwork and claim your deduction
Within 30 days of saleWithin 30 days after the sale, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C (for sales over $500) or a written acknowledgment (for $500 or below) from Heritage for the Blind. Use it with Schedule A when you file and consult your tax professional about your deduction.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction 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 proceeds, not Kelley Blue Book. The sale amount is printed on IRS Form 1098-C, which you’ll use to support your deduction.
$500-and-under donations use a written acknowledgment
If your vehicle sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098-C. In this case, you may typically deduct up to $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower, subject to IRS rules and your tax advisor’s guidance.
Form 1098-C arrives after the car sells
IRS Form 1098-C can only be issued after your vehicle is sold because it must show the actual sale price. AutoBay Alliance, through Heritage for the Blind, mails this form within 30 days of the completed sale, not the donation date.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation tax deduction, you must itemize deductions using Schedule A on your federal return. If you take the standard deduction instead, you generally cannot claim an additional deduction for your donated vehicle.
Donate by Dec 31 for this year’s taxes
For most donors, your deduction year is based on the date you donate, not the date the car sells. Complete the donation and hand over the vehicle by December 31 in the San Francisco Bay Area to potentially claim it on this year’s tax return.