How the car donation process works
You start the Tennessee donation and schedule free towing
The process begins when you choose Volunteer Wheels for your Tennessee car donation. You provide basic vehicle details, such as year, make, model, mileage, title status, and whether the car starts. Free towing is then arranged at a convenient location, whether the vehicle is at a home in East Nashville, an apartment in Germantown, a driveway in Bearden, a lot near Midtown Memphis, or a suburb like Hendersonville, Bartlett, Brentwood, or Ooltewah. You do not need to guess the vehicle’s final destination before pickup. That determination happens after the vehicle is received and assessed.
The vehicle is assessed after pickup
After your donated car is picked up, it is reviewed for condition, mileage, age, mechanical status, appearance, and resale potential. The goal is not to fit every vehicle into one category; it is to choose the route that can reasonably produce proceeds for Heritage for the Blind. A clean, running sedan from Franklin may be handled differently than a non-running truck in rural West Tennessee or a high-mileage SUV in Knoxville. This assessment helps determine whether the vehicle should be offered through an auction channel or sold to a licensed salvage or parts buyer.
Running, resalable vehicles typically go to auction
If your donated vehicle runs and appears to be in resalable condition, it typically goes to a public or dealer auction. That means buyers can bid on it based on the vehicle’s actual condition and market demand. Volunteer Wheels does not need to promise that every car will be repaired or given to a family, because the most reliable benefit to Heritage for the Blind usually comes from converting the vehicle into sale proceeds. Auction is often the right path for cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs that still have practical value for Tennessee buyers.
Non-running or high-mileage vehicles may be sold for parts or salvage
Not every donated vehicle is a good auction candidate. If a car does not run, has very high mileage, has major mechanical problems, has accident damage, or would cost too much to prepare for resale, it is typically sold to a licensed salvage or parts buyer. This can still create meaningful value for the charity because parts, scrap, or rebuildable components may be marketable. Donors are often relieved to learn that an older vehicle sitting in a Tennessee driveway, garage, field, or parking space can still help support Heritage for the Blind’s mission.
Sale proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind
Once the vehicle is sold, the gross sale proceeds are directed to Heritage for the Blind, a real 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with EIN 58-2164446. Those proceeds are the charity’s revenue from your donated vehicle. Heritage for the Blind uses charitable support to fund services for blind and visually impaired Americans. The organization also helps people explore benefit resources; donors or families who want to check eligibility for programs such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, or Section 8 can visit nhftb.org/finder. Your car becomes funding that supports a mission.
You receive the tax paperwork after the sale
After the donated vehicle sells, you receive documentation for your records. If the vehicle sells for more than $500, your charitable tax deduction is generally equal to the gross sale price, and IRS Form 1098-C is issued for your return. This is why the actual sale matters: the final sale price helps determine the deductible amount for vehicles over $500. Volunteer Wheels helps make the process understandable, but you should consult a tax professional if you have questions about your specific tax situation or how to claim your deduction.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is available for eligible Tennessee vehicle donations through Volunteer Wheels.
Vehicles are assessed after pickup before an auction, salvage, or parts-sale decision is made.
Running vehicles in resalable condition typically go to a public or dealer auction.
Non-running, damaged, or high-mileage vehicles typically go to licensed salvage or parts buyers.
Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446.
For vehicles selling over $500, IRS Form 1098-C reports the gross sale price.