How the car donation process works
Start with the 2-minute form or a call
Begin by completing the Legacy Wheels online donation form or calling Heritage for the Blind directly. You’ll share basic details: your name, contact information, pickup address, vehicle year, make, model, mileage if available, and whether the vehicle runs. It helps to locate your North Carolina title before you start, but you can still ask questions if you’re unsure about paperwork. There is no fee to submit the form, no obligation to keep going until you’re comfortable, and no cost to donate at any step.
A coordinator calls within 1-2 business hours
After your form is received, a donation coordinator typically calls back within 1-2 business hours during normal business times. This call confirms the vehicle details, answers your questions, and schedules your free pickup at a convenient location. Donors often arrange pickup from a driveway, apartment parking lot, workplace, repair shop, or family property. Whether you’re in Raleigh’s North Hills, Charlotte’s South End, Greensboro, Durham, Wilmington, or a smaller town nearby, the coordinator will match your location with an available licensed towing partner.
Your vehicle is picked up for free
In most North Carolina metro areas, pickup may be available the same day or the next business day, depending on carrier schedules and your availability. A licensed tow truck arrives at the address you approved, and you do not pay the driver. At pickup, you sign the vehicle title over as directed. If your North Carolina title requires any special handling, such as notarization or a name-match question, your coordinator will explain what to do before the truck arrives so there are no surprises.
The vehicle goes to auction or a parts reseller
Once the car, truck, van, SUV, motorcycle, RV, or other eligible vehicle is picked up, it is transported to the appropriate sale channel. Many vehicles go to auction; others may be directed to a parts reseller if that is the best route based on condition, age, mileage, and demand. You do not need to repair, detail, advertise, or meet buyers. Legacy Wheels and Heritage for the Blind handle the back-end logistics so your unwanted vehicle can be converted into support for the nonprofit mission.
Sale proceeds support Heritage for the Blind
After the vehicle sells, the net proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. Your donation helps fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also connects individuals and families with information about benefit programs that may include SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, Section 8, and other resources. Donors or people seeking eligibility guidance can visit nhftb.org/finder to learn more. You are not responsible for sale arrangements or buyer communication.
Your tax receipt is mailed after the sale
After the vehicle is sold and processed, your tax documentation is mailed to you. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind provides IRS Form 1098-C. For vehicles that sell for $500 or under, you receive a written acknowledgment. The complete donation cycle usually takes about 2-6 weeks, depending on pickup timing, title processing, and sale completion. Keep your receipt with your tax records, and ask a tax professional how the deduction may apply to your specific filing situation.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is included across North Carolina, with no pickup, processing, or paperwork fees charged to donors.
Most metro-area pickups can be scheduled for same-day or next-business-day service, based on carrier availability.
You sign the title at pickup; your coordinator will flag any North Carolina title details beforehand.
Vehicles are sold through an auction or parts reseller to convert the donation into mission funding.
Tax documents are mailed after sale, including IRS Form 1098-C when the vehicle sells for more than $500.
The full donation cycle typically takes two to six weeks, depending on pickup timing and sale processing.