To claim your car donation on this year’s taxes, the IRS goes by the actual pickup date — not the day you schedule. That means your vehicle must be physically picked up on or before December 31 for you to deduct it on this year’s return. With Drive Change, powered by Heritage for the Blind, pickups run Monday through Saturday during the holiday season, but year-end slots in Fort Worth fill fast. We strongly recommend you schedule at least 3–5 business days before December 31 so we can guarantee a free tow in time.
Whether you’re in Arlington Heights, TCU/Westcliff, Benbrook, Keller, Hulen, Alliance, East Fort Worth, Arlington, or anywhere across the DFW Metroplex, we’ll come to you. Your car doesn’t need to run, and you don’t need to make repairs or pass an inspection. Once your vehicle sells, Heritage for the Blind (a registered 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446) will mail you the IRS-required paperwork, including Form 1098‑C for vehicles valued over $500. The deduction year, however, is locked in by the pickup date — so if you want this year’s tax benefit, now is the time to schedule your Fort Worth pickup.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your 2-minute donation form or call
2 minutesShare basic info about your vehicle, your Fort Worth-area location, and your preferred pickup window. It truly takes about two minutes. This is your fastest path to secure a slot before year-end, especially as December 31 approaches in the DFW Metroplex.
Choose a pickup date before December 31
5 minutesWork with our team to pick a pickup day that’s on or before Dec 31. Because the IRS uses the physical pickup date, we recommend scheduling 3–5 business days ahead to ensure we can reach you anywhere in Fort Worth or surrounding cities in time.
Confirm your free tow and tax-year cutoff
5 minutesYou’ll receive a confirmation with your pickup date and time window. Once your vehicle is scheduled for pickup by Dec 31, you’re on track to claim it for this tax year—as long as the tow truck actually picks it up before midnight.
Prepare the title and remove personal items
10–15 minutesBefore your driver arrives, clear out belongings and have your title ready if available. You don’t need to clean or repair the car. Non-running, damaged, or older vehicles across Fort Worth, Arlington, and the DFW suburbs are still eligible for free pickup.
Vehicle picked up – tax year locked in
Day of pickupWhen our tow truck collects your car on or before Dec 31, that date becomes your official IRS donation date. You’ll receive an initial pickup receipt, and the tax year for your deduction is now locked, even though the final paperwork comes later.
Receive your IRS acknowledgment and Form 1098‑C
Within weeks after saleAfter your vehicle sells, Heritage for the Blind will mail your written acknowledgment. For vehicles over $500, this includes Form 1098‑C showing the sale price. You’ll use this with your records when you file and itemize your deduction for that tax year.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date controls your tax year
For the IRS, the donation date is when your vehicle is actually picked up, not when you call or submit the form. If the tow truck collects your car by Dec 31, you may claim the deduction for that tax year.
Form 1098‑C for vehicles over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind will send you IRS Form 1098‑C. You generally deduct the gross sale price shown on that form when you itemize on your federal tax return.
You must itemize on Schedule A
Car donations are a charitable contribution. To benefit, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. Always consult your tax advisor about whether itemizing makes sense for your situation.
Acknowledgment usually mailed within 30 days of sale
By IRS rules, the charity generally sends your written acknowledgment, including Form 1098‑C when required, within 30 days after the vehicle is sold. That document may arrive weeks after year-end, but the deduction year is still based on pickup date.
Non-running vehicles can still qualify
Your car does not need to run or pass inspection. We can tow vehicles that are inoperable, older, or damaged at no cost to you. As long as we pick it up by Dec 31, you may still be able to claim the donation for that tax year.