How the car donation process works
You Schedule a Free Seattle-Area Pickup
Start by telling RideRebirth about your vehicle and where it is located in the Puget Sound area. Free towing is available throughout Seattle neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill, Ballard, Queen Anne, West Seattle, Beacon Hill, and Rainier Valley, as well as nearby communities including Bellevue, Shoreline, Renton, Tacoma, Everett, and Redmond. You do not need to know the vehicle's final value before donating. We simply gather basic details, help arrange pickup, and make the process convenient whether the car is in a driveway, garage, apartment lot, or repair shop.
The Vehicle Is Assessed After Pickup
After pickup, the donated vehicle is reviewed to determine the best sale path. This assessment considers practical factors such as whether the car starts, overall condition, mileage, age, damage, and market demand. Donors often ask if Heritage for the Blind personally keeps, repairs, or gives away every donated vehicle. In most cases, the vehicle is sold, because the sale creates revenue Heritage can use to support its charitable work. This approach helps turn many different types of vehicles, from commuters to older SUVs, into funding for blind and visually impaired people.
Running Vehicles Usually Go to Auction
If your donated car is running and in resalable condition, it will typically be sent to a public or dealer auction. Auction sale is often the most practical way to find a buyer efficiently and establish a documented gross sale price. That price matters because the proceeds become revenue for Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446. Whether your Seattle vehicle is a sedan, hybrid, pickup, van, or motorcycle, the goal is to sell it through an appropriate channel so its value can help fund services for Americans who are blind or visually impaired.
Non-Running Cars Usually Go to Salvage or Parts Buyers
If the vehicle does not run, has very high mileage, has major mechanical issues, or is not practical to resell at auction, it will typically be sold to a licensed salvage or parts buyer. That does not mean your donation is wasted. Older vehicles, damaged cars, and cars that have been sitting can still produce proceeds through parts, scrap, or salvage channels. For donors in Seattle, this is often the simplest way to clear an unwanted vehicle while still supporting Heritage for the Blind's mission to serve people who are blind or visually impaired.
Proceeds Fund Heritage for the Blind Services
The money generated from the vehicle sale goes directly to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. Sale proceeds are the revenue Heritage uses to support services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also helps connect people with benefit resources, and donors or families who want to check eligibility for programs such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, or Section 8 can visit nhftb.org/finder. Your donated vehicle becomes funding that helps Heritage continue its work beyond the tow date.
You Receive the Appropriate Tax Documentation
After the vehicle is sold, you receive documentation for your records. If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, your tax deduction is generally equal to the gross sale price, and Heritage for the Blind provides IRS Form 1098-C. Keep that form with your tax records and consult a tax professional if you have questions about your individual return. RideRebirth does not set your tax deduction; the documented sale price does. The important part is that the sale creates both a charitable funding benefit and a clear paper trail for you.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is available for car donations across Seattle and the wider Puget Sound region.
Running, resalable vehicles typically go to public or dealer auction after pickup and assessment.
Non-running, high-mileage, or damaged vehicles typically sell through licensed salvage or parts buyers.
Sale proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446.
For vehicles selling over $500, donors receive IRS Form 1098-C showing the gross sale price.