How the car donation process works
You request a free pickup in Birmingham Metro
Your donation starts with a simple request through Heartfelt Rides. You share basic vehicle details, including the year, make, model, location, title status, and whether the vehicle runs. Free towing is available across Birmingham Metro, from downtown Birmingham and Avondale to Mountain Brook, Hoover, Irondale, Center Point, Gardendale, and surrounding communities. A pickup is scheduled at a time that works for you, and you do not need to repair, clean, or advertise the vehicle. The purpose of pickup is to remove the vehicle safely and move it toward the best sale option.
The vehicle is assessed after pickup
After pickup, the donated vehicle is reviewed for condition, mileage, drivability, age, repair needs, title paperwork, and local resale potential. This assessment helps determine whether the vehicle is likely to bring the strongest return through auction, resale preparation, or salvage channels. Heartfelt Rides does not make assumptions based only on whether a car starts in your driveway. A high-mileage vehicle may still have value, and a non-running vehicle can still generate proceeds. The goal is to choose the path that reasonably protects the donation value for Heritage for the Blind.
Running, resalable vehicles usually go to auction
If your donated car is running and in resalable condition, it will typically be sent to a public or dealer auction. That might include a sedan from Southside, a pickup from Bessemer, or an SUV from Vestavia Hills that still has market value. The vehicle may receive basic preparation when appropriate, but the purpose is not to create a retail car lot. Instead, the vehicle is sold through an established sales channel so buyers can bid and the gross sale price can be documented for the charity and for your tax records.
Non-running or high-mileage vehicles are still useful
If the vehicle is not running, has major mechanical issues, accident damage, missing parts, or very high mileage, it will typically be sold to licensed salvage or parts buyers. That does not mean your donation failed. Older vehicles in neighborhoods from Ensley to Trussville can still create value through reusable parts, scrap material, or specialty buyers. In many cases, salvage is the most practical way to turn a vehicle that would be expensive to repair into usable proceeds. Your unwanted car can still help fund Heritage for the Blind services.
Proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind
Once the vehicle sells, the sale proceeds become revenue for Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446, a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving people who are blind or visually impaired. Donations help support the organization’s mission and services for blind and visually impaired Americans. Heritage also provides information that may help people explore benefit eligibility, including SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, Section 8, and other resources through nhftb.org/finder. Your vehicle is not just removed from your driveway; it is converted into support for a real charitable mission.
You receive the tax paperwork after the sale
After the donated vehicle is sold, the sale amount is documented. If your vehicle sells for more than $500, you receive IRS Form 1098-C showing the gross sale price, which is generally the amount used for your charitable vehicle-donation tax deduction. Keep this form with your tax records and consult a tax professional if you have questions about your individual return. For vehicles that sell for $500 or less, different IRS rules may apply. Heartfelt Rides keeps the process donor-friendly, transparent, and focused on helping Heritage for the Blind.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is available throughout Birmingham Metro, including Homewood, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Bessemer, and Trussville.
Every donated vehicle is assessed after free pickup before its best sales path is chosen.
Running, resalable vehicles are usually sent to public or dealer auction after pickup and assessment.
Non-running, damaged, or high-mileage vehicles typically sell to licensed salvage or parts buyers when repair is not practical.
Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446, is a 501(c)(3); vehicle sale proceeds are charity revenue.
If your vehicle sells for over $500, you receive IRS Form 1098-C showing the gross sale price.