Donate your car in Lancaster County by December 31 and you may claim a 2024 charitable tax deduction when you file your return – as long as you itemize on Schedule A. With Lancaster Motor Gifts, your deduction is based on the actual sale price of your vehicle, not Kelley Blue Book. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind (a 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446) mails you IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. For cars valued at $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment you can use with your return.
We make year-end donations simple for Lancaster drivers. Whether you’re in the city, Manheim Township, Lititz, Ephrata, Elizabethtown, Mount Joy, Millersville, or down along Route 30, we arrange free pickup, often within a few days, Monday–Saturday. Non-running cars, no current inspection, and older vehicles are all welcome. Complete our secure online form in about two minutes or call to schedule your tow. Keep your pickup confirmation as proof of your donation date, then watch for your 1098‑C or acknowledgment in the mail. Always consult a tax professional about how these rules apply to your specific situation.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2‑minute donation form or call
2 minutesEnter your contact and vehicle info online or call us. Just tell us where in Lancaster County the car is located – city, Lititz, Ephrata, Elizabethtown, or anywhere nearby. No title questions or condition worries need to stop you; we’ll walk you through what’s needed.
Pick your pickup day before Dec 31
5 minutesChoose a convenient pickup window, Monday–Saturday. As long as we can schedule the tow so the vehicle is picked up on or before December 31, your donation date falls in this tax year. Non-running and uninspected vehicles are fine – just tell us where they sit.
Sign the title and hand over the keys
10 minutesOn pickup day, the towing partner meets you at your Lancaster-area address – city rowhome, Manheim Township driveway, or a shop in East Petersburg. You sign the title as directed, hand over the keys if you have them, and get a pickup confirmation as proof of the donation date.
Keep your pickup confirmation for your records
1 minuteYour pickup confirmation is important: it documents that you donated on or before December 31. Keep it with your tax files. This, plus the IRS Form 1098‑C or written acknowledgment you receive by mail, backs up your deduction if the IRS ever asks questions.
Receive IRS Form 1098‑C or acknowledgment by mail
VariesAfter your car is sold, Heritage for the Blind mails IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days if it sells for more than $500. If it’s $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment. Use this with your tax preparer and itemize your deduction on Schedule A when you file.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction is based on sale price, not book value
For vehicles that sell for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your deduction to the gross sale proceeds, not Kelley Blue Book or your estimate. Your Form 1098‑C shows this sale price for you and your tax preparer.
When you’ll receive IRS Form 1098‑C
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind must mail IRS Form 1098‑C to you within 30 days after the sale. This official IRS form reports the sale price that you generally may claim as your deduction.
Special rule for cars at $500 or less
If your donated vehicle is $500 or below, you won’t get a 1098‑C. Instead, you receive a written acknowledgment, and you may usually deduct up to $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower, if you itemize.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation tax deduction, you must itemize deductions on IRS Schedule A. If you take the standard deduction, you typically cannot also claim a separate deduction for your Lancaster car donation.
What Dec 31 really means for your deduction
For tax purposes, the key date is when you donate the car – generally the date it’s picked up or transferred, not the sale date. If pickup happens by December 31, the contribution typically counts for this tax year.