Are you able to donate a car for a blind person? If so, do it now! A lack of donor vehicles is an increasingly common sight as people age.
Many people in their late 50s and early 60s don’t have a use for a car, but would love to donate it to someone who needs it. This is an amazing way to give back and help out the community at large.
Donated cars can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, making it very expensive for the individual receiving the vehicle to purchase it. However, if you are able to help out with your donation, then the individual receiving the vehicle will thank you forever!
This article will talk about several different ways that you can help give back with your car donation.
Contents:
Find a reputable car donation program
When you trade your car in at the end of your lease, be sure to check into the available vehicles. You want to find a car that’s in good condition, but that isn’t fit for use.
Every state has a vehicle abandonment program, so you can look into donating your car to a community or organization that needs a vehicle. Some of these organizations will pay you money to bring your car back to them, which is an added bonus!
If there’s one thing we learn about cars is how hard they can break. Look out members of the community who need a new car. You can help them by donating your still-good car.
Car donations are cost-effective ways to help people with disabilities. Many organizations will let you test drive their vehicles and see if they are what you want before they buy them.
Check the company out
Before you donate a car, check the company out. See if they have any ex-military connections or are based in a military town.
If you do decide to donate the car, make sure it’s in good condition. Check the manufacturer’s website to see if there have been any recalls and/or problems with the vehicle.
A worn out car may not be able to help someone as much as an brand new one. They may be forced to drive it until they find a person who can use it effectively.
Look for signs of abuse or damage before giving it away, if you see anything wrong with that then go ahead and donate it!
If you want to check out the company but don’t want to give them your name and information (which is absolutely necessary when donating a car), then check out Car-for-the- blind.
Call the company
If you can’t afford to purchase a new, drive-able car for the blind, you can call the company and donate your old vehicle.
Many companies will pick up your phone and take you through their donation process. Once they have it, they will fix it and give it to someone who needs it.
Many companies offer donated vehicles at no cost to the owner – in fact, some offer a nice profit – but no worries, the company still needs to maintain and drive the vehicle.
Drive-able cars are a great way to get people out and about as they get accustomed to driving again. Not only do they get transportation without taking a car out of commission, but they also meet some non-driving requirements such as setting up an errand or going to the store.
Does the company donate to blind charities?
Most people don’t consider it blind, but for those who are visually impaired, it can be important to know which cars they can donate their car to.
Car donations are made via dealer contacts or through the auto-salvage system. If your car is damaged, you can donate it to a local automotive charity or a salvage yard.
Cost: The best places to host a car donation event are auto salvage yards, where you pay them extra to hold your vehicle until you come get it. These events usually cost around $150-$200 per person, making this an affordable way to help someone.
How: Renting rooms in downtown locations that are convenient to the event is cost-effective and easy. Once the event is over, you can take your donated vehicle home or make sure someone else can use it.
What is the process for donating a car?
First, you go to a dealership and they take a written proposal for your car. Then, they send that to the National Car Rental Association (Nectar) for review. If the proposal is accepted, then you donate your car and receive a gift card in return.
Nectar then matches your donation dollar for dollar!
This is great because it gives more people with limited income options to donate a car, including people who are not familiar with how to operate a car but can learn by donating a car.
Of the many benefits of giving a car to someone who can’t afford it themselves, the most notable is self-confidence. After helping them get into and drive their new vehicle, they feel comfortable enough to go out and buy one on their own later.
Are there any taxes I need to pay?
If you donate a car, truck, or motorcycle to a charity, then the charity can re-use it for another person who is blind or unable to read.
If you donate a car, truck, or motorcycle to a charitable organization that provides transportation services such as U-Haul or Box Tranq®, then the organization can use the car for transportation services.
Both entities get to charge their price point for vehicle delivery, but if you are able to see and control the vehicle, it can be a whole different animal.
The salesperson can charge per minute of operation instead of hours of setup and removal. They can also offer additional vehicles at lower cost than just one would seem necessary without sighted help.
What happens to the car?
After you donate your car, someone else can drive it for a few days until they get their own car. Or you can!
You can also keep the car and use it for yourself or anyone in the community. The best way to donate the car is through a charity however, this does not apply if you keep the car yourself.
How does it work?
Surrender your car to the Car for the Blind program. They’ll come and take your car and use it to help people who are blind or have low vision. They charge you a small fee per day for use of your car, and people who donate their cars earn donations from manufacturers through them.
You can donate your own car, or you can buy a used car from a dealership or private seller. The only requirement is that it be powered and able to be driven.
Once it’s donated, people can drive it wherever they want! If they don’t want the donated vehicle, they can sell the piece of property that it’s installed on at the dealership or private seller.
As with any program like this, be careful where you drive your car! It might not be legal everywhere to allow someone with a vehicle to take advantage of this platform.