In Michigan, your car donation only counts for this tax year if the vehicle is physically picked up on or before December 31. The IRS goes by the pickup date, not the day you call or fill out the form. That means to safely lock in a deduction for this year, you should schedule your free pickup at least 3–5 business days before December 31. Great Lakes Givers, benefiting Heritage for the Blind (a registered 501(c)(3)), arranges fast, free towing—often within a few days—across Michigan, including non-running vehicles.
We know year-end in Michigan is hectic—holiday traffic in Metro Detroit, lake-effect snow in Grand Rapids and Muskegon, busy commutes in Lansing and Ann Arbor, and icy roads around Flint, Kalamazoo, and Traverse City. Our dispatch team operates Monday through Saturday throughout the holiday season to help you beat the deadline. There’s no inspection, no repairs, and no paperwork at the DMV for you—we guide you step by step. Complete our secure online form in about two minutes or call to reserve your pickup time, and we’ll help you get it done in time for this year’s IRS deduction while supporting critical services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesComplete our quick online form or call Great Lakes Givers. Share your Michigan location (Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, etc.), vehicle details, and best contact number. This lets us confirm free towing, including non-running cars, and start working backward from the Dec 31 IRS cutoff so your pickup can qualify for this year’s deduction.
Choose a pickup window before Dec 31
5 minutesOur team, working with Heritage for the Blind, will offer available Monday–Saturday pickup slots. To be safe, schedule your tow at least 3–5 business days before Dec 31, especially with winter weather in Michigan. Remember: your deduction year is based on the actual pickup date, not your scheduling date.
Prepare your title and remove personal items
10–15 minutesBefore the tow truck arrives, locate your Michigan title, remove license plates if required by state rules, and clear out belongings. No need to clean or repair the car. The driver will help with basic paperwork at pickup so the donation is properly documented for your tax records.
Vehicle is picked up – your deduction year is locked
Pickup dayWhen your vehicle is physically picked up on or before Dec 31, that calendar year is locked in for your IRS deduction. The tow is free anywhere in Michigan, and we accept most vehicles—even if they don't run. You’ll receive an initial towing receipt as same-day proof of the donation event.
Receive your IRS-compliant tax receipt by mail
After sale of vehicleAfter your car is sold, Heritage for the Blind mails you a written acknowledgment. For vehicles valued over $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C. Even if this arrives weeks later, your deductible year remains the year of pickup, as long as it occurred on or before December 31.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date controls your deduction year
The IRS treats the donation as made on the date your vehicle is actually picked up, not when you schedule or sign forms. To claim the deduction for this tax year, your car must be towed away on or before December 31.
Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind will provide IRS Form 1098-C. This form states the gross sale price, which typically limits the amount you may claim on your federal tax return.
Deduction usually equals the sale price
For most donors, the allowable deduction is the amount the charity receives when the vehicle is sold, not an estimated Blue Book value. The final sale price shown on your 1098-C is what you’ll generally use when you itemize deductions.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To use a car donation as a federal tax deduction, you must itemize deductions on IRS Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. A tax professional can help you decide which option is better for your situation.
Receipt can arrive after year-end
Your written acknowledgment may arrive weeks after the car sells, sometimes in the new year. That’s okay—the deductible year is still the year the vehicle was picked up, as long as that physical pickup happened on or before December 31.