Need to make sure your car donation counts for this year’s taxes? With Palmetto Wheels Exchange and Heritage for the Blind, your donation date is the day your vehicle is physically picked up. If we tow your car on or before December 31, the IRS treats it as a charitable contribution for this tax year. Start with a quick 2-minute form or phone call, schedule your free pickup, sign the title at the curb, and you’re done. Your written acknowledgment and IRS Form 1098-C (for qualifying donations) arrive after the vehicle is sold.
We handle every detail for donors across South Carolina—from Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson in the Upstate, to Columbia, Lexington, and Sumter in the Midlands, to Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill, Florence, Hilton Head, and beyond. Your car does not need to run, pass inspection, or have current registration. A licensed tow truck comes to your home, office, or storage lot, usually the same day or next business day in major metro areas. Proceeds support Heritage for the Blind’s services for people who are blind or visually impaired. If you’re ready to donate before December 31, move straight to the form or call now so we can lock in your pickup time.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute form or call to donate
2 minutesProvide your contact info, South Carolina pickup address, and basic vehicle details online, or call Palmetto Wheels Exchange for Heritage for the Blind. It truly takes about two minutes and is all we need to open your donation file and start scheduling your year-end pickup.
Coordinator calls back to confirm and schedule pickup
Within 1–2 business hours (weekday)On weekdays, a donation coordinator calls you within 1–2 hours to confirm your information, answer tax-year questions, and offer available tow windows. You pick the earliest time that works for you, including rush end-of-year pickups when slots are available.
Free licensed tow truck arrives at your SC address
Same-day or next business day in most metro areasIn and around Columbia, Greenville, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill and other metro areas, we can usually pick up the same day or next business day. The tow is 100% free. This pickup date is what the IRS uses as your official donation date.
Sign your South Carolina title and hand over keys
10 minutes at pickupAt the curb, you sign the title over to Heritage for the Blind or its authorized agent and remove your license plates if required. The driver provides a basic towing receipt so you have immediate proof that the vehicle was picked up before December 31.
Vehicle sold and IRS acknowledgment mailed to you
Within 30 days of saleYour car is transported, processed, and sold. Within 30 days of the sale, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and, when required, IRS Form 1098-C showing the gross proceeds. You then use that documentation to claim your charitable deduction on Schedule A.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date controls the tax year
For vehicle donations, the IRS treats the contribution date as the day the charity takes possession. When your car is towed on or before December 31, your donation counts for that tax year—even if the sale and final paperwork happen later.
Form 1098-C for larger vehicle deductions
If your vehicle is sold for more than the IRS reporting threshold, Heritage for the Blind issues Form 1098-C. It shows the vehicle details and gross sale price, which you use to support your deduction when you itemize on Schedule A.
Deduction generally equals sale price
In most cases, the amount you can deduct is the actual sale price the charity receives for your vehicle, not a blue-book estimate. That final sale price is what appears on your acknowledgment letter or Form 1098-C for your records.
30-day written acknowledgment requirement
IRS rules require that you receive a written acknowledgment within 30 days of the vehicle’s sale. Heritage for the Blind mails this to the address you provide, giving you the documentation you need for your federal income tax return.
Itemizing with Schedule A
To claim a vehicle donation, you generally must itemize deductions on IRS Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. Consult your tax advisor to see whether itemizing and claiming your car donation will benefit your specific situation.