Your car’s body damage will NOT stop your donation. In Michigan, Great Lakes Givers can accept vehicles with dents, rust, cracked or broken windshields, accident damage, and even storm or flood damage. If it’s sitting in your driveway in Grand Rapids, on the street in Detroit, or in a barn up in Traverse City, we can usually still take it. You don’t need to fix anything before donating, and towing is free to you.
Here’s how it works: Great Lakes Givers partners with Heritage for the Blind, a registered 501(c)(3), to process your donation. Your vehicle is picked up anywhere in Michigan, running or not, and then sold in its actual condition. The tax-deductible value of your donation is based on the real sale price, not on how the car looks. Heavy body damage may mean a lower sale price and therefore a smaller deduction, but you are still guaranteed a minimum receipt of $500. For sale amounts above $500, you’ll receive the IRS Form 1098-C for your records. From Detroit and Ann Arbor to Kalamazoo, Lansing, Flint, Saginaw, and the Upper Peninsula, we handle the details so you can clear that damaged vehicle and support services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
How to get your free pickup scheduled
1. Tell us about your damaged vehicle
Start online or by phone and share the basics: year, make, model, location, and what kind of body damage you have—dents, rust, cracked glass, accident or storm damage. Whether it’s in a Detroit alley, a Lansing driveway, or a cottage garage in Gaylord, we’ll confirm we can accept it and explain what to expect next in plain language.
2. Schedule free pickup anywhere in Michigan
We arrange towing at no cost to you, anywhere in Michigan—Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint, Holland, Marquette, you name it. The car can be non-running, missing body panels, or have smashed bumpers. You choose a convenient pickup window; our towing partner meets you or follows your instructions if the keys and title will be left with someone else.
3. Sign the title and hand over the keys
At pickup, you’ll sign your Michigan title to complete the transfer. Our driver will help you verify where to sign and what needs to be filled out. Even if the windshield is shattered or the fenders are hanging, we load the vehicle and tow it away. You keep a copy of your paperwork for your records and insurance if needed.
4. We sell the car as-is, damage and all
Your vehicle is taken to auction or a licensed buyer in its current condition. No repairs are required from you. Whether your car ends up in a Metro Detroit auction or a regional sale in West or Northern Michigan, the actual sale price—based on its damaged state—determines the deductible value of your donation under IRS rules.
5. Receive your tax receipt and support a good cause
Once the car sells, Great Lakes Givers sends you a tax receipt. Even if your damaged car sells low, your minimum guaranteed receipt is $500. If it sells for more than $500, you’ll receive documentation that can be used with IRS Form 1098-C. Proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind to fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Potential complications to watch for
Missing or incorrect Michigan title
Tip: We can’t complete your donation without a properly signed Michigan title. If your title is lost, contact the Michigan Secretary of State for a duplicate before scheduling pickup. Make sure the name on the title matches your ID and that any lien releases are available so the transfer doesn’t get delayed at the last minute.
Car not safely accessible for towing
Tip: If your damaged car is buried in snow, blocked in a tight Detroit alley, or stuck in a back field, the tow truck may not be able to reach it. Let us know about access issues upfront so we can plan the right truck or suggest simple steps—like clearing obstacles or moving other vehicles—to avoid rescheduling your pickup.
Unfinished insurance or accident investigations
Tip: If your car has recent accident damage and an insurance claim or police investigation is still open, wait until everything is settled before donating. Once you transfer the title, the vehicle is no longer yours. Double-check with your insurer that the claim is closed and you’re free to dispose of the vehicle however you choose.
Personal items left in a heavily damaged car
Tip: Broken glass, bent doors, or jammed trunks make it easy to miss personal items. Before towing, carefully check under seats, in the glove box, and trunk for paperwork, tools, plates, and electronics. Once the vehicle leaves your driveway in Grand Rapids, Warren, or wherever it sits, it may not be possible to retrieve anything left behind.