How the car donation process works
You schedule a free Michigan vehicle pickup
Start by telling Great Lakes Givers about your vehicle and where it is located in Michigan. Free towing is available in communities across the state, including neighborhoods in Detroit, Dearborn, Sterling Heights, Livonia, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Flint, Saginaw, and the lakeshore areas. You do not need to drive the car anywhere. Once your donation is accepted, a towing partner contacts you to arrange a convenient pickup window. The goal is to make the first step simple, respectful, and easy for donors who want their unused vehicle to help Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446.
The vehicle is assessed after pickup
After your donated car is picked up, it is reviewed to determine the best resale path. This assessment looks at practical factors such as whether the vehicle runs, its mileage, age, condition, location, demand, and whether repairs would make sense before sale. Donors often ask if Heritage for the Blind keeps the car or gives it directly to a family. In most cases, the vehicle is converted into cash value through sale, because proceeds are what fund the nonprofit’s work. That approach helps create revenue for Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) organization, EIN 58-2164446.
Running, resalable vehicles usually go to auction
If your vehicle runs and appears to be in resalable condition, it will typically be sent to a public or dealer auction. This is common for cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and motorcycles that still have market value. Auction buyers may include dealers, rebuilders, wholesalers, or individuals depending on the venue. The vehicle is sold, and the gross sale price becomes the basis for your tax documentation if the sale is over $500. This auction process helps turn a Michigan vehicle you no longer need into funds that support Heritage for the Blind services for blind and visually impaired people.
Non-running or high-mileage vehicles may be sold for salvage or parts
Not every donated vehicle is road-ready, and that is okay. Cars with mechanical problems, accident damage, very high mileage, missing parts, or costly repair needs are often sold to licensed salvage or parts buyers. These buyers may recycle usable components, recover scrap value, or dismantle the vehicle according to their business process. This route can still create meaningful proceeds for Heritage for the Blind even when a car cannot reasonably be repaired for resale. So if your old vehicle will not start in a Michigan driveway, garage, or apartment lot, it may still be a valuable donation.
Sale proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind and you receive tax paperwork
Once the vehicle sells, the proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. Those sale proceeds are nonprofit revenue used to help fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. If your vehicle sells for more than $500, you will receive IRS Form 1098-C, and your charitable deduction is generally based on the vehicle’s gross sale price. Keep your paperwork with your tax records and consult a tax professional for advice about your specific filing situation. Great Lakes Givers helps keep donors informed from pickup through sale.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is available for eligible vehicle donations across Michigan, including many cities, suburbs, and rural communities.
Running vehicles in resalable condition typically go to public or dealer auction after assessment.
Non-running, damaged, or high-mileage vehicles are typically sold to licensed salvage or parts buyers.
Proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446.
For vehicles selling over $500, donors receive IRS Form 1098-C showing the gross sale price.
Your donation helps fund services for Americans who are blind or visually impaired.