In the DC Metro, the year that counts for your tax deduction is the year you donate, not the year your car sells. If you donate your vehicle to Wheels for Impact by 11:59 pm on December 31, you are generally eligible to claim the deduction on that tax year’s return, as long as you itemize on Schedule A. For vehicles that ultimately sell for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind (our 501(c)(3) partner, EIN 58-2164446) mails you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale, and your deduction is the actual gross sale price—not Kelley Blue Book. For vehicles at $500 or below, you’ll use our written acknowledgment and may deduct up to $500 or your fair market value, whichever is lower.
Wheels for Impact makes this simple for donors across Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and nearby Maryland. We pick up in neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, Petworth, Shaw, and Anacostia, and suburbs including Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Silver Spring, and Bethesda. Your tow is free, your car doesn’t need to run, and no inspection or repairs are required. You’ll get a pickup confirmation to prove your donation date for the IRS, then your official acknowledgment once the vehicle sells. You support services for people who are blind or visually impaired through Heritage for the Blind, and you get clear, audit-ready paperwork for your return.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute donation form or call
2 minutesFrom anywhere in the DC Metro—NW, NE, SW, SE, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Montgomery County—complete our quick online form or call. Share basic vehicle and contact details so we can lock in your donation date before December 31 for this year’s taxes.
Lock in your donation date and free pickup
5 minutesOur Monday–Saturday dispatch team reviews your information and schedules a free tow, often within 24–48 hours in the DC area. The donation date that matters for your taxes is when you formally donate, not when the car is towed, so you can donate on December 31 if needed.
Sign the title, remove plates, hand off the vehicle
15 minutesOn pickup day, our driver meets you at home, work, or a Metro-adjacent spot anywhere from Columbia Heights and Navy Yard to Tysons or Silver Spring. You sign the title, remove your tags per DC/VA/MD rules, and get a pickup confirmation showing the date you donated.
Receive your written acknowledgment and 1098-C
Varies by sale dateAfter your vehicle sells, Heritage for the Blind mails you an acknowledgment. If it sells for more than $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale, stating the exact gross sale price you may generally deduct when you itemize on Schedule A.
Claim your deduction on Schedule A
Tax filing timeAt tax time, give your pickup confirmation, acknowledgment, and Form 1098-C to your tax professional or use them when you file. You must itemize on Schedule A to claim a car donation. Always consult a tax professional about your specific DC, Virginia, or Maryland situation.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Donation date vs. sale date
For IRS purposes, the year of your deduction is based on when you donate, not when the car sells. Donate by December 31 at 11:59 pm in the DC Metro to claim it on that tax year’s return, assuming you itemize.
Form 1098-C for cars over $500
If your vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. Your allowable deduction is generally the gross sale proceeds listed on that form, not an estimated book value.
Cars at $500 or below
If the vehicle sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098-C. In that case you may typically deduct up to $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower, when you itemize your deductions.
Itemizing on Schedule A
You can only use a car donation as a federal tax deduction if you itemize deductions on Schedule A. If you take the standard deduction instead, you cannot add an extra amount for your donated vehicle. Ask a tax professional which approach fits you.
Keep your pickup confirmation
Your pickup confirmation from Wheels for Impact is key evidence of the date you donated. Keep it with your written acknowledgment or 1098-C for your records, especially if you donate right at year-end in Washington DC, Virginia, or Maryland.