How to recycle your old car: Donate it
So you're ready to put that old clunker in the driveway out to pasture -- maybe selling or junking your old car isn't the best answer. Consider donation.
Photo: Danilo Prates/Flickr
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How to recycle your old car: Donate itSo you're ready to put that old clunker in the driveway out to pasture -- maybe selling or junking your old car isn't the best answer. Consider donation.By Chris BaskindSun, Mar 21 2010 at 4:04 PM EST
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Photo: Danilo Prates/Flickr Perhaps it's time for a newer, more fuel-efficient car. Maybe you've had your eye on one of those fancy hybrids. Or maybe you're in a position to take the big green plunge and embrace mass-transit or bicycle commuting.
Out with the old
In any case, something has to be done with Old Reliable. The conventional answer is to trade it in. But no matter how the paperwork gets structured, most car dealers aren't really giving you what your trade-in is worth: after all, they're in business to turn a profit.
You could literally recycle your vehicle, selling it for scrap. Most of its components and materials will eventually find their way back into the consumer stream. Or you can recycle your old car in a very productive way — by donating it to a worthy charity or nonprofit group.
Why donate?
Nonprofits have made a big investment in vehicle donation. It provides a very real, non-traditional revenue stream for organizations who are used to operating on slim budgets. Donation saves the owner the cost of towing or sale, while often providing a degree of tax benefits. Many local public radio stations have vehicle donation programs, as does a broad array of well-known, well-run national organizations. There are also umbrella programs which represent groups of like-thinking nonprofits.
One such organization is Earth Share, a network of America's leading environmental and conservation groups. Earth Share's members include Friends of the Earth, the National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, the Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club and a host of other front-line champions of the environmental movement.
Free pick-up
Earth Share's vehicle donation program is well-organized: you fill out a form describing your vehicle; it's reviewed by Earth Share; and if they agree to take your car, it will be picked up in about three business days. They can handle all fifty states, and there's no cost to you.
Programs like this give you a chance to clear your driveway and support some of the groups you love. There are plenty of others — do a web search for "car donation" and you'll find a big selection of groups happy to take a salable vehicle off your hands.
One caveat
In the United States, tax laws concerning vehicle donation were tightened in 2005. Before attempting to claim a donated car as a tax deduction, check the current rules or consult a tax professional. In most cases, you're allowed to deduct the "fair market value" of the car. That's not the same as the Blue Book value. Your vehicle may list at $1,500, but if the charity only gets $200 at auction, that's all you get to deduct.
You've still converted a liability to an asset, and helped a worthy cause at the same time. So put that old clunker back into the system, and smile knowing you have done some good.
Copyright Lighter Footstep 2008
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Comments
Carla
01/25/2012 12:40 PM
I am a personal supporter of Car Donation. For me it's not just giving away your old car while taking advantage of tax deduction but more importantly helping other organizations or groups as well.
Enter your name
11/25/2011 13:32 PM
donation old cars will increase the amount of air pollution and the greenhouse effect, which in the end, the pace of global warming is increasing. indeed, on the other hand, to donate will make a job (provided the car as a priority need).
Andre
11/25/2011 13:31 PM
donation old cars will increase the amount of air pollution and the greenhouse effect, which in the end, the pace of global warming is increasing. indeed, on the other hand, to donate will make a job (provided the car as a priority need).
Andreas
11/25/2011 13:29 PM
donation old cars will increase the amount of air pollution and the greenhouse effect, which in the end, the pace of global warming is increasing. indeed, on the other hand, to donate will make a job (provided the car as a priority need).
Henry
02/16/2011 04:13 AM
I ama Church Pastor in Malawi, looking for any individual or organization which is tired with its junk used car, we are in need of that car to be used for going out to preach the word of God. henrymichael@live.com.
Bettina Curtis
02/16/2011 02:32 AM
Donating your old car for a good cause can benefits people who are in need of assistance. There are so many car donation program but only few are respected and trustworthy. If you are ready to donate your junk vehicle why not visit http://www.wheelsforwishes.org because they are one of the best as far as I know. By donating your old car you'll get a charitable tax deduction and at the same time the overwhelming feeling that you made something good to the people..... More
jack
02/15/2011 04:53 AM
have an old car/antiques cars can be a problem if not treated with the patient. the cost will be more when compared with the latest car. donate is a wise choice because it can still be exploited by others. http://www.song4free.co.cc
Ryans
02/15/2011 04:32 AM
despite being older, as long as can still run well, old cars worth to be exploited. Apart from donations, with good treatment, its will be < ahref="http://www.ihotnews.com/post/most-expensive-antique-cars.html">expensive antiques cars.
Michelle
01/23/2011 20:06 PM
Great content! car donation is the best option than to sell your old car. Besides helping others, there are tax advantages for this donation.
Amy
01/20/2011 16:10 PM
Did you know Goodwill accepts car donations? Yup. A lot of people don't realize it. Want to donate? Check out the Goodwill Car Donation website at www.gwcars.org.
James 4Shared Download
11/01/2010 09:03 AM
by donating an old car, we have helped alleviate a person's job.
Tom Garcia
10/27/2010 14:50 PM
First of all used car donation works well only when the car is in good working condition. Mostly we donate it, when it is about to break apart in to pieces. The broken cars, that we donate do not utilized as program cars. Rather an auction company auctions the car to salvage/junk cars. Eating up the auction commission. The result: Charity gets a little. The second reason is conversion. You will be surprised that most car charities operate at an efficiency of less than.... More
Alex
09/23/2010 22:37 PM
When you buy your car next to choose one with high miles per gallon. Not only will you save money and pollute less, saves it creates pollution at http://cravinganime.com/ gas stations and shopping in bulk (gas trucks are filled.)
batterie
07/20/2010 11:01 AM
I mean not so old that have been in use more that a cntury ago but those cars which we used in our youth.
RD
07/07/2010 11:27 AM
As for me I likeold cars. I mean not so old that have been in use more that a cntury ago but those cars which we used in our youth. Unfortunatelly they are no longer used nowadays. This sad fact makes me recall the lines from the song Could It Be The Good Old Days? (it is easy to download it from mp3 search http://www.mp3hunting.com ) Maybe I live in the past? Well, I think no. It was just there were too many recollections with such.... More
RD
07/07/2010 11:24 AM
As for me I likeold cars. I mean not so old that have been in use more that a cntury ago but those cars which we used in our youth. Unfortunatelly they are no longer used nowadays. This sad fact makes me recall the lines from the song Could It Be The Good Old Days? Maybe I live in the past? Well, I think no. It was just there were too many recollections with such cars...
Mike
03/22/2010 21:54 PM
The problem now is that the Government's cash 4 clunkers program took all of the clunker cars out of the equation. Now we have a surplus of new cars (which won't be donated) and and even bigger surplus of repossessed cars (i.e. http://repofinder.com). It will be at least 4 to 5 years before car donations get back to where they were.
JAMIE
01/13/2011 14:11 PM
I want to recommend V-DAC, Vehicle Donation to Any Charity. They represent over 5000 charities across the US. Because they are really efficient, they deliver the most money to the charity of any national program. They will ensure that the car is recycled, or reused after it has been re-smoged and improved. They;re on line. www.v-dac.com Add your commentSign in with one of these accounts or just add your comment below. |
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