Donate your car to Alabamotion in Alabama by 11:59 p.m. December 31 and your deduction can count on this year’s federal return. For vehicles that eventually sell for over $500, your deduction is generally the actual gross sale price of the vehicle — not Kelley Blue Book. After the car sells, Alabamotion mails you IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale, so you have the official paperwork to attach to your return when you itemize on Schedule A. Keep the pickup confirmation as proof of your donation date.
Alabamotion partners with Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) serving people who are blind or visually impaired (EIN 58-2164446). We arrange free towing across Alabama — from Birmingham (Hoover, Trussville, Homewood) and Huntsville (Madison, Decatur) to Montgomery, Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Auburn–Opelika, the Gulf Coast, the Wiregrass, and rural communities in between. Non‑running cars are welcome; no inspection or repairs are needed. You get a fast, local pickup, a clean transfer of title, and the tax documents you need. For advice on your exact deduction, always consult your tax professional.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute donation form or call
2 minutesEnter your contact info, basic vehicle details, and Alabama pickup location (Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, etc.). Submitting the form or calling before December 31 locks in this tax year’s donation date, even if the car is picked up later.
Confirm free Alabama pickup and sign title
5-10 minutesOur team calls to schedule free towing anywhere in Alabama, usually Monday–Saturday. You’ll review simple title transfer instructions and prepare the keys and title. Non‑running, damaged, or old vehicles are usually accepted with no inspection required.
Pickup day: get confirmation of donation date
10-15 minutesThe tow driver meets you at your home, workplace, or storage lot. You hand over the keys and signed title. You receive a pickup confirmation or towing receipt — keep this as proof of your donation date for your records and tax preparer.
Vehicle sells and Alabamotion issues your tax receipt
Within 30 days of saleAlabamotion arranges the sale. If your vehicle sells for more than $500, we mail you IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. If it’s $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment instead, stating the information you need for your deduction.
Claim your deduction when you file your return
At tax-filing timeGive your tax preparer the pickup confirmation and 1098‑C or acknowledgment. You must itemize deductions on Schedule A to claim the charitable vehicle deduction. Your tax advisor applies the correct deduction based on the documents and your situation.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals gross sale price over $500
For vehicles that sell for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your charitable deduction to the car’s actual gross sale price, not Kelley Blue Book. That sale amount appears on Form 1098‑C, which you use to support your deduction.
$500-or-less vehicles use a written acknowledgment
If your donated vehicle is sold for $500 or less, Alabamotion sends you a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098‑C. In most cases, you can deduct up to $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower. Ask your tax professional how this applies.
Form 1098-C mailed within 30 days of sale
Alabamotion mails IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days after the vehicle is sold. This form shows the sale date and gross proceeds, which determine your allowable deduction when the sale price exceeds $500. Keep it with your tax records and return.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To use a charitable vehicle donation as a federal tax deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. Your tax preparer can help you decide which approach is better for your personal situation.
Donate by Dec 31 for this year’s deduction
The key deadline is the donation date, not the sale date. As long as your vehicle is donated — meaning you’ve transferred it to Alabamotion — by December 31, it can generally count as a charitable contribution for this tax year, even if it sells later.