How the car donation process works
Start your Birmingham Metro car donation
Begin by sharing basic vehicle details with Heartfelt Rides, including the year, make, model, condition, and pickup location. You do not need to know the vehicle value or handle the selling process yourself. Donors across Birmingham, Mountain Brook, Irondale, Fairfield, Alabaster, Gardendale, and nearby communities can request a convenient pickup. If the vehicle can be accepted, Heartfelt Rides helps coordinate the next steps so your unwanted car, truck, van, or SUV can begin working for the Heritage for the Blind mission.
Schedule free towing from your home, office, or repair shop
Once your donation is set up, a towing provider contacts you to arrange pickup at a time and place that works for you. Towing is free, whether the vehicle is parked at your driveway in Hoover, a mechanic in downtown Birmingham, a family property in Bessemer, or a campus-area lot near UAB. You will receive instructions about the title and any needed paperwork before pickup. The goal is to remove the vehicle with as little stress as possible while keeping the donation moving toward mission funding.
Your vehicle is sold to generate charitable proceeds
After pickup, the donated vehicle is prepared for sale through the appropriate resale channel. The final sale amount depends on the vehicle’s condition, age, mileage, demand, and other market factors. Heartfelt Rides does not ask donors to negotiate with buyers or manage repairs. Instead, the vehicle is converted into proceeds that can support Heritage for the Blind. This is the moment your unused or no-longer-needed car becomes funding for services that help people who are blind or visually impaired.
100-percent of vehicle proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind
The mission connection is direct: 100-percent of vehicle sale proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446. These proceeds help fund services for blind and visually impaired Americans, including support that connects individuals with government benefit programs. That may include help identifying eligibility for SSI/SSDI, LIHEAP, Section 8, Medicare Extra Help, Medicaid, and related assistance. Donors who want to explore benefit eligibility for themselves or someone they care about can also visit nhftb.org/finder.
Receive your tax documentation after the vehicle sells
Because Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, eligible vehicle donations may be tax-deductible for donors who itemize deductions. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, your deduction equals the gross vehicle sale price, and that amount is reported on IRS Form 1098-C. Keep your acknowledgment and tax documents with your records. Heartfelt Rides helps donors understand the paperwork timeline, while your tax professional can advise how the donation applies to your personal return.
Key facts about car donation
Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446, serving blind and visually impaired Americans.
Heartfelt Rides arranges free towing for eligible vehicles across the Birmingham Metro, including suburbs and nearby communities.
100-percent of vehicle sale proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind to support its charitable services.
For vehicles selling over $500, the tax deduction equals the gross sale price reported on IRS Form 1098-C.
Donors who itemize may claim eligible vehicle donations to a 501(c)(3) charity as tax-deductible contributions.
Anyone can check potential benefit eligibility at nhftb.org/finder for programs including SSI/SSDI, LIHEAP, Medicaid, and more.