Once you have determined what
charity you want to
donate your car to, you have to
execute the transfer of your
car and its title to the
charity. With respect to the title, make sure you fill in the correct odometer reading and sign your title in the correct location. You are the seller, the charity is the buyer. Therefore, you have to sign it in the place marked “seller’s signature” If your
car is titled in the states of Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, or Wyoming, your signature on the
title has to be notarized. Do not sign the title in the “re-assignment by licensed dealer section”. If you are not sure where to sign it, find out from the
charity or your local Department of Motor Vehicles.
You also need to make sure you sign your name the way it appears on the front of the
title. For example, if the
title is in a maiden name, the signature needs to be as well.
The exception to this occurs when the
title is in the name of someone who is deceased. In this case, the title should be signed by the executer of the estate. In addition, you will need to provide a copy of the death certificate and a copy of the will or power of attorney.
If you make a mistake on the
title,
DO NOT scribble it out or use correction fluid. If you do, it will void your
title and you will have to get a
duplicate title before you can
donate car. If you make a mistake, put one line through it and sign either above or underneath it. You can also use an affidavit of correction.
Next, fill in the name of the buyer. That name will either be the name of the
charity you are
donating your car to or the
car donation center representing them.
DO NOT leave the name of the buyer blank!
There are basically three ways to deal with the
title. You can simply leave it in the car, you can hand it to the
tow truck driver or you can mail it to the
charity or the
car donation center.
DO NOT leave the
title in the
car! This may seem like the most convenient method, but it also has the most risk. If you leave the title in the
car and the
tow truck driver does not leave you a receipt, you will have no proof of your
car donation. Leaving the title and the keys in the
car is also an invitation for someone to steal your
car!
Handing your title directly to the
tow truck driver is safer, but still has some risk. Most
charities do not pickup
car donations themselves; they hire
towing services to do that. Therefore, the
tow truck driver will not be able to examine your title and other documents to make sure they are all in order. Also, most
towing services pickup
car donations for multiple
charities. Therefore, you will need to make sure you get a receipt that is for the correct
charity.
Another risk associated with giving the
title to the
tow truck driver is that they could lose it. This is a major inconvenience for you and the
charity. It is for you, since you will probably have to get a
duplicate title and the sale of your
car will be delayed.
The average cost of getting a
duplicate title is $20. It is an inconvenience for the
charity because of the delay in the sale of your
car. This means that they will not only have to wait for their money, but they may have to pay storage fees as well.
DO NOT hand over your
title unless you have the name of the buyer completed.
If you do and the
tow truck driver is unscrupulous, they could write their own name in as the buyer and can in effect legally steal your
car. This is rare, but it can happen.
Many people are hesitant to mail their
title for fear of it being lost in the mail. Mailing it in a manner that provides you with a tracking number will minimize this risk. Mailing the
title to the
charity is actually safer for you and the
charity. First, once the
charity or
car donation center receives your
title they will be able to tell you if everything is in order before your
car is picked up. If there is a problem, they will advise you on the proper way to fix it.
Now that all the
title issues are handled, you just have to
execute getting the
car to the
charity. First, make sure you remove all your possessions from the
car, including the toll tag, garage door opener, etc. You should also vacuum out the
car. This will help it to sell for a higher price, giving you a better
tax deduction and the
charity more money.
If the
car is in your driveway, position it where the
tow truck can easily get to it. Make sure all four tires are inflated. If one tire is flat, your driveway may be scratched when it is pulled onto the
tow truck. If your car is licensed in any state except, Alaska, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas or Washington, you should remove the
license plates. You will need to transfer them to another
car or return them to the Department of Motor Vehicles so you can cancel your
car insurance. If your
car is licensed in New Jersey, New York or Pennsylvania, you should scrape the inspection and/or registration sticker off the windshield. This will prevent you from receiving any unpaid tickets issued to the next owner of your
car.
If your
car is parked on the street, you will need to wait for the
tow truck to arrive before you remove the
license plates and stickers. If you remove them prematurely, you may receive a ticket.
Car donation is a very
charitable act that has many rewards for you and the
charity. As always, the correct
execution is the key to a successful outcome.
