December 31 is the hard IRS deadline. For your car donation to count toward this tax year, your vehicle must be picked up and donated by December 31—not just promised. With Drive Change, our partner Heritage for the Blind schedules pickups Monday–Saturday all year, including Christmas week, across Fort Worth and the DFW Metroplex. Same‑day or next‑day pickup is often available when you contact us before early afternoon on weekdays. To guarantee a December 31 pickup slot, contact us by December 27–28. You’ll need a signed title, but your car can be non‑running, damaged, or older—towing is always free.
We know year‑end in Fort Worth is busy—between work, the Stockyards lights, and holiday traffic on I‑35W and 820. That’s why we’ve made donating fast and local. In about two minutes, you can schedule a free pickup from TCU/Bluebonnet, West 7th/Cultural District, Alliance, Benbrook, Arlington, North Richland Hills, or anywhere in the DFW Metroplex. Heritage for the Blind is a real 501(c)(3) charity (EIN 58‑2164446), and your vehicle’s sale supports services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Lock in your tax deduction now so you can enjoy New Year’s in Fort Worth knowing you beat the deadline.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesComplete our quick online form or call Drive Change. Have your car’s basic details and location in the Fort Worth/DFW area ready. We’ll confirm that your signed title is available and immediately start the process with Heritage for the Blind.
Lock in a December pickup date
5 minutesTell us you need the deduction this year. We’ll schedule the earliest available slot—often same‑day or next‑day in the Metroplex. Contact us by December 27–28 to guarantee a December 31 option for Fort Worth pickups, subject to truck availability.
Free tow from your driveway or workplace
15–30 minutes at pickupA licensed tow partner meets you at your Fort Worth home, apartment, or office—whether you’re near Downtown, Ridglea, Lake Worth, or Arlington. No repairs or inspection needed. Your car can be non‑running or wrecked; towing is always free to you.
Transfer the title and complete donation
10 minutesAt pickup, you hand over the signed title and keys (if available). The tower provides basic documentation of the pickup. Once the vehicle is loaded, your donation is complete for IRS purposes as of that date—crucially, on or before December 31.
Receive your tax receipt and claim deduction
Within 30 days of saleHeritage for the Blind arranges the sale of your vehicle. After it sells, they mail you a written acknowledgment (and Form 1098‑C when required). You use this receipt and the sale price to claim your charitable deduction when you file your taxes.
Year-end tax deduction facts
December 31 sets the tax year
For the IRS, your donation counts in the year the vehicle is actually transferred—when it’s picked up and signed over. A pickup completed by December 31 qualifies for this tax year; a January pickup applies to next year’s taxes.
You need a written receipt
Heritage for the Blind will send you a written acknowledgment of your car donation, typically after the vehicle is sold. Keep this with your records; it’s what supports your charitable deduction if the IRS ever asks for documentation.
Form 1098‑C for larger deductions
If your vehicle sells for more than the IRS reporting threshold, you’ll receive Form 1098‑C from Heritage for the Blind. This form shows the gross sale price, which you’ll use when claiming the deduction on your federal income tax return.
Deduction is usually the sale price
In most cases, the IRS allows you to deduct the actual sale price Heritage for the Blind receives for your vehicle, not the Blue Book value. That amount, shown on your receipt or Form 1098‑C, is what you list when you itemize deductions.
Itemizing on Schedule A
To benefit from a car‑donation deduction, you generally must itemize your deductions on Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. A tax professional can help you decide which option is best for your specific situation.