Make a Difference and Reap the Benefits of Your Car Donation
When you contemplate buying a car (whether it's previously owned
or new), you're faced with the decision of what to do with your
old car. Often, trading it in means receiving only a fraction of
its value. Selling it through an ad in the newspaper or online
is a hassle. Not only do you have to pay for the advertisement,
but you also have to endure questions from potential buyers and
make yourself available to people who want to view the car or
take it for a test drive. In addition, you assume financial
risks, in that the buyer may present you with, for example, a
fraudulent check.
Increasingly, car owners are choosing to donate their older cars
to charity. The process involved in a car donation is
straightforward, and gives the car owner the satisfaction of
knowing that they are helping those in need. Often, the tax
benefit afforded the car owner as the result of an auto donation
exceeds the benefit of the outright sale of the vehicle.
A variety of charities are embracing car donation as a way to
support the important and valuable work they do to help adults
and children who are less fortunate. Many charities have seen
donations fall off, as donors instead have contributed to
disaster relief, such as efforts triggered by the tsunami in
Asia or by Hurricane Katrina. When you donate your car to
charity, you are providing worthy organizations with much-needed
support.
Many of these organizations provide services internationally to
people in need. Often, a car donation can go far in helping
those who are most in need. You can be sure that your auto
donation has a significant impact when it is used to help the
over three billion people in the world who live on a meager $2
per day.
Your car donation can help a cause you care about and help you
reap the tax benefits of auto donation. Whether your car is
barely used or barely runs, you can still help those in need and
list the contribution on your tax return. Although you should
check with your tax preparer, you can typically deduct the full
amount that the charity receives for your car or $500, whichever
is more.
When you decide to donate your car, the process is easy. For
example, Donate Car for Charity (www.donate-car-for-charity.com)
lists five simple steps you can take to make a difference in the
lives of those who need the services that charities can provide.
In essence, they will help you determine the value of your car
donation, and all you have to do is complete an auto donation
form, provide the vehicle title, and arrange for your car to be
picked up at no charge. Then, you can reap the tax benefit from
your car donation, and feel the satisfaction that comes with
knowing that you have made a difference in the lives of others.