In South Carolina, the IRS donation date is the day your vehicle is physically picked up — not the day you call or fill out the form. To claim a deduction for this tax year, Palmetto Wheels Exchange must have your car, truck, SUV, or van picked up by December 31. Because year-end fills fast, we strongly recommend scheduling your free pickup 3–5 business days before December 31 so you lock in a spot and don’t miss this year’s deduction.
Palmetto Wheels Exchange is your local South Carolina car-donation partner benefiting Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) serving people who are blind or visually impaired (EIN 58-2164446). We arrange fast, free towing across the Palmetto State — from Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson in the Upstate, through Columbia, Lexington, and Sumter in the Midlands, to Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill, Florence, Aiken, and beyond. We accept most vehicles, running or not, with no repairs or inspection required. Our team works Monday through Saturday throughout the holiday season to help you donate before the December 31 deadline and get the tax paperwork you need.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesComplete our quick online form or call Palmetto Wheels Exchange with your South Carolina vehicle details and contact information. It usually takes under two minutes. Tell us you need pickup by December 31 so we can prioritize a year-end slot for this tax year’s deduction.
Choose a pickup day before December 31
5 minutesOur team confirms your South Carolina location, then offers the earliest available pickup times. To be safe, schedule 3–5 business days before December 31. Remember: the IRS donation date is the day the tow truck actually picks up your vehicle, not when you schedule.
Prepare the title and keys
10–15 minutesBefore pickup, locate your South Carolina vehicle title and remove personal items and license plates, if required by state rules. Our towing partner will guide you through signing the title at pickup. No emissions test, repairs, or cleaning are needed, even if the car doesn’t run.
Vehicle picked up — your deduction year is locked in
Pickup dayOnce the tow truck collects your car anywhere in South Carolina, your donation is locked in for that tax year, based on the pickup date. We’ll give you an initial tow receipt showing the date, confirming it qualifies for this year if picked up by December 31.
Receive your written tax acknowledgment
After vehicle sellsAfter your vehicle sells, Heritage for the Blind mails you a written acknowledgment. For vehicles over $500, you’ll get IRS Form 1098-C showing the gross sale price. Keep this with your records and claim the deduction on Schedule A for the same year as the pickup date.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date controls your deduction year
For the IRS, your car donation date is the day the vehicle is actually picked up, not the day you submit the form. If your car is towed away on or before December 31, it counts toward that tax year’s potential charitable deduction.
Written acknowledgment and Form 1098-C
Heritage for the Blind sends you a written acknowledgment after your vehicle is sold. If it sells for more than $500, they issue IRS Form 1098-C. This document shows the sale price you’ll generally use to calculate your deductible amount.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car-donation tax deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal income tax return. If you take the standard deduction, you generally cannot claim an additional write-off for your vehicle donation.
30-day rule for documentation
The charity must provide your written acknowledgment, including Form 1098-C when required, within 30 days of the vehicle’s sale or significant use. Even if that paperwork arrives later, the deduction still applies to the year the car was picked up.
December 31 equals this year’s tax year
As long as Palmetto Wheels Exchange picks up your vehicle on or before December 31 in South Carolina, your donation counts for that calendar tax year. A January pickup moves the deduction to the following tax year, even if you scheduled it in December.