In Florida, the IRS rule is simple: to claim your car donation on this year’s taxes, your vehicle must be picked up on or before December 31. With Palm Motor Legacy, powered by Heritage for the Blind, you can donate in just a 2-minute call or form, and we’ll dispatch free towing Monday through Saturday, including Christmas week. In most metro areas—from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach to Orlando, Tampa–St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, and Sarasota—same-day or next-business-day pickups are often available when you contact us before early afternoon on weekdays.
Because year‑end slots go fast, we strongly recommend you call or submit the form by December 27–28 to guarantee a December 31 pickup option. As long as we complete the tow by midnight December 31 and you’ve signed the title, your donation is locked in for this tax year. We serve donors across Florida: from Coral Gables, Kendall, and Hialeah to Winter Park, Lake Nona, Brandon, Wesley Chapel, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Cape Coral, and beyond. Your unwanted car—running or not—turns into support for people who are blind or visually impaired, and you receive a tax receipt for your records.
Your year-end donation timeline
Step 1 – Call or submit the 2-minute form
2 minutesReach Palm Motor Legacy online or by phone and share basic details: your Florida location, vehicle info, and your preferred pickup window. This quick step starts the process and lets our dispatch team find the earliest year-end pickup slot for you.
Step 2 – Confirm your December pickup date
2 minutesWe check availability and offer you the soonest pickup—often same-day or next-day in Florida cities like Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville. Call by December 27–28 to virtually guarantee a December 31 time. We’ll confirm your date and time window on the spot.
Step 3 – Prepare your signed Florida title
2 minutesTo finalize your deduction, you must sign your Florida vehicle title before or at pickup. We’ll explain exactly where to sign. No emissions test, repair, or inspection is required. Just remove personal items and plates according to Florida DMV guidance.
Step 4 – Free tow anywhere in Florida
30–60 minutes at pickupOn your scheduled day, our driver meets you at home, work, or a storage lot in areas like Fort Lauderdale, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, or Daytona Beach. We tow your vehicle free of charge, running or not, and complete pickup by December 31 for this year’s tax credit.
Step 5 – Receive your tax receipt
Within weeksHeritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3), will mail you an initial donation acknowledgment quickly after pickup and a detailed IRS Form 1098-C when the vehicle is sold, documenting the sale price for your itemized deduction on Schedule A.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Dec 31 sets your tax year
For the IRS, the key date is the day the charity takes possession of your car. If Palm Motor Legacy completes pickup by December 31, your donation applies to this tax year. A January 1 pickup counts for next year instead.
Form 1098-C for larger deductions
If your donated vehicle sells for more than the IRS reporting threshold, Heritage for the Blind will issue Form 1098-C. This form shows the gross sale amount, which you’ll use when claiming your deduction with your federal return.
Deduction equals sale price in most cases
In general, your charitable deduction is based on the vehicle’s final sale price, not a price guide. There are limited exceptions when the charity keeps or significantly improves the vehicle, but typically you deduct what the car actually sells for.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To use your car donation as a federal tax deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. Keep your 1098-C and acknowledgment letter with your tax records in case of questions.
30-day written acknowledgment
For eligible donations, the charity generally provides a written acknowledgment within about 30 days of the sale. This document, often the 1098-C, is your IRS-approved proof of the contribution and the value you can claim.