Ever donated a car?

Hey guys,

I'm considering donating my 300-D to charity. Has anyone done this before? What was involved and were you able to take a tax deduction?

Thanks

PS I may consider selling it (runs great, no real rust), but it is "the season of giving as well as the season of realizing one's tax situation and trying to do something about it before the end of the year!"

PPS Just for giggles: I did donate a car, once, to my brother's ex-girlfriend who was down on her luck. It was an old Datsun station wagon that actually used regular leaded gas. I used it to clean carpets out of during a summer while still in school.

Yeah, a friend just told me that a lot of times you think you've done a great thing by donating the car. The organization you've donated it to has a company come in that auctions it off and may receive only a small percentage of the selling cost. So most of what you donated actually may go to the seller of the car!

If I do it, it'll probably be to the Salvation Army or (probably) the National Kidney Foundation. (I have only one kidney.)

I donated my '73 220D w/394K miles to the Salvation Army 3 years ago. It went through their auction some weeks later. They will give you a receipt but you claim whatever you want to on your tax return. Back then the feds didn't need an appraisal if your claim was less than $5,000; don't know about now. I didn't attend the auction so don't know what they got for it. Wish I did. Good luck.

[tjohn]

I donated my 86 Mazda 626 to the Salvation Army. It needed some engine work that I didn't feel like doing. I was given a receipt that said they received the car in good mechanical and cosmetic condition - a stretch in my book. As has been mentioned, you then name your deduction on your taxes.

Someone bought her, and brought her back. I still see her occaisonally.

I donated a couple of junkers to a local high school. Yes, I was able to deduct the donation from my taxes.

[Jay]

Stefano
I donated my 88 Caddy to the Salvation Army. It was painless AND I got a reciept that was worth more to me then what I could have sold it for. PS how much do you want fo the car. The charity will take your cash, I think.

[blloyd7]

twice 1 Saab and 1 MB.

Originally posted by Jay
Stefano
I donated my 88 Caddy to the Salvation Army. It was painless AND I got a reciept that was worth more to me then what I could have sold it for. PS how much do you want fo the car. The charity will take your cash, I think.

I don't know, really, what it's worth. It's an '80 300-D. The engine is solid, but I don't know what the mileage is sicne the odometer is broken. I can assume it's over 200K. The car is from Texas and has been here in the DC area for about three years. It does have an engine block heater which I've always used in cold weather. The only rust on it is on the right rear door, due to a scratch. The AC works, cruise doesn't. There is a small dent in the front left fender, other than that no dents. No rust in the typical areas as I always made sure to wash them out. I know the seals for the trunk/ rear window should be re-done since water kreeps into the trunk. The car should work fine as a daily driver, I just don't have the time/money to keep it going since I have two other cars.

The only real problem I've experienced is an ongoing problem with climate control. Right now the heat doesn't work. I don't know what the problem is and have had to replace all the vacuum hoses and servos in the past couple years. I had it configured so that I had either "as cold as it gets" AC or "as hot as it gets" heat. In other words, heat and AC with no temperature control.

The car's paint is not original and I think it may have been in a fender bender years back since the grill/bumpers look newer than 22 years old. The chrome on the rear bumper is peeling. The dash is in fine shape, one two inch crack that hasn't grown in three years. All wood in good shape, some chips on the center piece. All windows work. Upgraded stereo that I plan to remove and keep (I don't like the look of newer models these days). The tires are Michelen, but will need to be replaced probably within a year. One tire is a different brand (spare put on to pass inspection and haven't replaced it with a new one yet.)

I don't really know what it's worth and wouldn't want to sell it to a forum member under any false pretenses. That being said, feel free to make an offer. If needed, I could post pictures on the net.