How the car donation process works
Start with the 2-minute donation form or call Heritage
Begin by completing the quick Volunteer Wheels online donation form or calling Heritage for the Blind directly. You will share basic details such as your name, Tennessee pickup address, vehicle year, make, model, general condition, and whether you have the title. You do not need to know the vehicle value, and you do not have to decide every detail upfront. This first step simply lets the team confirm your vehicle information, identify the best pickup option, and begin the donation record for Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446.
Get a coordinator call within 1 to 2 business hours
After your form is received, a donation coordinator typically calls back within 1 to 2 business hours. The coordinator confirms the pickup location, answers questions, reviews the title-signing basics, and helps choose a convenient pickup window. This is where you can mention special details, such as a vehicle parked at an apartment complex in Midtown Memphis, a driveway in East Nashville, a workplace in downtown Knoxville, or a relative's home in Hendersonville. There is no cost to schedule, no towing charge, and no obligation to pay at any point.
Free pickup is scheduled at your Tennessee location
In most Tennessee metro areas, including Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, and Murfreesboro, pickup is often available the same day or the next business day, depending on local tow capacity. A licensed tow truck comes to the address you approved, whether that is a home, office, repair shop, storage lot, or another accessible location. At pickup, you sign the Tennessee title over according to the coordinator's instructions. Remove personal belongings beforehand, and have your keys and title ready if available.
Your vehicle is moved to auction or a parts reseller
Once the tow driver collects the vehicle, it is transported to the appropriate selling channel. Depending on age, mileage, condition, and local market factors, the vehicle may go to an auction or to a parts reseller. Donated cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, motorcycles, and other vehicles do not have to be perfect to help. Volunteer Wheels and Heritage for the Blind focus on turning the donated vehicle into proceeds, while making the process easy for you and keeping you informed about the next paperwork step.
Sale proceeds support Heritage for the Blind services
After the vehicle is sold, proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind to help fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also connects people with resources that may help them check eligibility for programs such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, Section 8, and other support options. If you or someone you know wants to explore benefit eligibility, visit nhftb.org/finder. Your Tennessee car donation is not just a way to clear space in the driveway; it helps support a nonprofit mission through Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446.
Receive your mailed tax receipt after the vehicle sells
Your tax paperwork is mailed after the vehicle sells. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind provides IRS Form 1098-C. For vehicles that sell for $500 or under, you receive a written acknowledgment. The full process, from your first form submission or call through pickup, sale, and mailed receipt, typically takes about 2 to 6 weeks. Keep your donation documents with your tax records and ask a tax professional how the deduction may apply to your personal situation.
Key facts about car donation
There is no towing fee, processing fee, or surprise charge to donate through Volunteer Wheels in Tennessee.
Most metro pickups can be scheduled for same-day or next-business-day service, depending on tow availability.
You sign the Tennessee title at pickup; keep your plates unless your coordinator gives different instructions.
Vehicles may be sold at auction or to a parts reseller to create mission-supporting proceeds.
Tax documents arrive by mail after sale, typically within the overall two-to-six-week donation process timeline.
Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446, supported by donated vehicle proceeds.