December 31 is the firm IRS deadline: your vehicle must be picked up by midnight on December 31 for your car donation to count for this tax year. With Ride Forward, benefiting Heritage for the Blind, pickups in the Austin–Round Rock area run Monday–Saturday all year, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s. In most Austin metro neighborhoods, if you contact us on a weekday before early afternoon, we can often schedule same-day or next-business-day towing—at no cost to you, running or not.
To protect your year-end tax deduction, we strongly recommend Austin donors call or complete the quick online form by December 27–28 to guarantee a December 31 slot. All you need is a signed title and two minutes to get started. We serve the entire Austin area—from Downtown, South Congress, Zilker, East Austin, and Mueller to Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Leander, Kyle, and Buda. Your donated car is picked up free, sold, and proceeds help fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. You get a tax receipt, Heritage for the Blind gets vital support, and an unused vehicle gets out of your driveway before the calendar flips.
Your year-end donation timeline
1. Start your donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesFrom anywhere in Austin–Round Rock, complete our simple online form or call us. Have your vehicle’s basic info and location ready. This quick first step reserves your place in the year-end schedule so you don’t miss the December 31 IRS cutoff.
2. Confirm your pickup time and location
5 minutesOur team coordinates a free tow Monday–Saturday, including Christmas week, anywhere in the Austin metro: from Hyde Park and South Austin to Round Rock and Cedar Park. Call by December 27–28 to secure a December 31 pickup window for this tax year.
3. Prepare your signed Texas title
10 minutesTo complete your donation, you must provide a properly signed Texas title at pickup. No inspection or repairs are needed. Just remove personal items, have your keys and title ready, and the tow driver will handle the rest—even if the car doesn’t run.
4. Free towing by December 31
30–60 minutes at pickupOn your pickup day, our towing partner comes to your home, office, or storage lot anywhere around Austin–Round Rock. The entire tow is free, regardless of condition. As long as we complete pickup by December 31, your donation can qualify for this year’s tax deduction.
5. Receive your tax receipt and file
Within 30 days of saleHeritage for the Blind will mail you a tax receipt after the vehicle is sold, typically within 30 days of sale. If your deduction is over the IRS threshold, you’ll use Form 1098-C and attach it to your return when you itemize on Schedule A.
Year-end tax deduction facts
December 31 controls which year you deduct
For vehicle donations, the IRS looks at the date your car is actually donated—practically, that means the pickup date. If we tow your vehicle on or before December 31, you may generally claim the deduction for that calendar tax year.
Your deduction is usually the sale price
For most donated vehicles, the IRS allows you to deduct the amount the charity receives from selling your car, not its blue-book value. Once Heritage for the Blind sells your vehicle, they send documentation stating the gross proceeds from the sale.
Form 1098-C for larger deductions
If your vehicle sells for more than the IRS reporting threshold, Heritage for the Blind provides Form 1098-C (or a similar written acknowledgment). You attach this to your tax return if you’re claiming a deduction above that amount for the car donation.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation deduction, you generally need to itemize your deductions on Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. A tax professional can help you decide whether itemizing with your vehicle donation makes sense.
30-day written acknowledgment rule
The charity typically sends you a written acknowledgment within 30 days of the vehicle’s sale, detailing the sale amount and how the vehicle was used. Keep this with your tax records; the IRS requires this documentation to substantiate your deduction.