Donate your car in Tennessee by December 31 and you may claim a 2024 federal tax deduction when you file. With Volunteer Wheels, most vehicles picked up in Tennessee are sold at auction. If your car sells for more than $500, your deduction is generally the actual gross sale price, not Kelley Blue Book. After the vehicle sells, we mail you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale, showing what it brought. For vehicles that sell for $500 or less, we send a written acknowledgment, and you may usually deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. To use the deduction, you must itemize on Schedule A. Keep your pickup confirmation as proof of the donation date for the IRS.
Volunteer Wheels serves donors across Tennessee—from Memphis, Germantown, and Bartlett to Nashville, Franklin, and Hendersonville; from Knoxville, Maryville, and Oak Ridge to Chattanooga, Cleveland, and throughout the Tri-Cities, including Johnson City and Kingsport. We know year-end in Tennessee is busy with bowl games, family visits, and winter weather. That’s why our process is simple: a 2-minute form, free towing even if your car won’t start, and no inspection or repairs needed. Proceeds from your donated vehicle support Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) serving people who are blind or visually impaired. For detailed tax advice about your situation, always consult a tax professional.
Your year-end donation timeline
Lock in your 2024 deduction date
2 minutesComplete our online form or call to schedule your free pickup anywhere in Tennessee. The IRS cares about your donation date, not the sale date, so make sure you donate on or before December 31 to count for the 2024 tax year.
Confirm title and pickup details
5 minutesOur team reviews your vehicle info, answers tax-deduction questions, and confirms your pickup location in Tennessee—whether you’re in Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, or beyond. We’ll explain what to sign on your title and what ID to have ready.
Free towing at your Tennessee address
30–60 minutes (pickup window)A licensed tow partner meets you at home, work, or a storage lot. No emissions test, repairs, or cleaning required. Non-running and damaged vehicles are welcome. You’ll receive a pickup confirmation—keep this as proof of your donation date for your records.
We handle sale and IRS paperwork
Within 30 days of saleWe arrange the sale of your vehicle. If it sells for more than $500, we mail IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale showing the gross sale price. If $500 or under, you receive a written acknowledgment for your records instead.
Claim your deduction at tax time
When you fileAt filing time, give your acknowledgment or Form 1098-C to your tax preparer. If you itemize on Schedule A, you can generally deduct the amount allowed. Always consult a tax professional to see how the deduction works in your specific situation.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Volunteer Wheels sends you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. This form shows the buyer’s gross purchase price, which is the key number for your potential deduction.
Deduction equals sale price, not book value
For vehicles sold above $500, the IRS usually limits your deduction to the actual gross sale price shown on Form 1098-C, not Kelley Blue Book or what you think the car is worth. This is the amount you give to your tax professional.
$500-or-less vehicles use written acknowledgment
If your car sells for $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098-C. In many cases, you may deduct up to $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower, when you itemize deductions.
You must itemize on Schedule A
Car donations are charitable contributions. To use them, you generally must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal tax return. If you take the standard deduction, you typically cannot add an extra car-donation write-off.
Donate by Dec. 31 for this tax year
The IRS looks at when you donate, not when the car sells. If your Tennessee donation happens on or before December 31, it generally applies to this year’s taxes, even if the vehicle sells and Form 1098-C arrives early next year.