Donate your car in San Jose to Bay Wheels by 11:59 p.m. on December 31, and your donation can count toward your 2024 federal tax return. Here’s how the deduction really works: When your vehicle sells for over $500, the amount you can generally deduct is the actual gross sale price (not Kelley Blue Book). After the sale, Bay Wheels has Heritage for the Blind (a registered 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446) mail you IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. You’ll use that and your pickup confirmation to claim your deduction when you itemize on Schedule A.
If your car sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098‑C, and you may generally deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. Pickup is free across the San Francisco Bay Area—from Willow Glen, Almaden Valley, Evergreen and Berryessa to Downtown San Jose, North San Jose, Campbell, Santa Clara, Milpitas and beyond. Non‑running cars are welcome. No smog check, inspections, or repairs needed. Donate now, secure your year‑end tax paperwork, and help provide vital services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute form or call
2 minutesEnter your contact info, vehicle details, and preferred pickup time, or call our team. As long as you submit before midnight on December 31, your donation date is locked in for the 2024 tax year.
Confirm your San Jose pickup time
5 minutesA scheduling specialist calls to confirm a pickup window anywhere in San Jose—Downtown, Willow Glen, West San Jose, Evergreen, Almaden Valley and nearby cities. Most pickups are arranged Monday–Saturday at a time that works for you.
Hand over keys, title, and get pickup confirmation
15 minutesThe tow driver arrives, verifies the vehicle, and has you sign the title where needed. You receive a pickup confirmation—keep this as proof of your donation date for the IRS. Towing is free, even if the car doesn’t run.
Vehicle sells and paperwork is issued
VariesBay Wheels works with Heritage for the Blind to sell your vehicle. Once it sells, we determine the gross sale price. For sales over $500, you’ll be issued IRS Form 1098‑C; for $500 or less, a written acknowledgment.
Receive your tax documents and file
Within 30 days of saleYour Form 1098‑C or written acknowledgment is mailed within 30 days after the sale. Use this, plus your pickup confirmation, when you file and itemize deductions on Schedule A. Consult a tax professional about your exact deduction.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals actual sale price over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your charitable deduction to the gross sale price, not the Kelley Blue Book or your estimate. Your Form 1098‑C shows this amount clearly.
How $500-or-less vehicle donations work
If the vehicle sells for $500 or less, you don’t need Form 1098‑C. Instead, you use our written acknowledgment, and you may typically deduct the lower of $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, subject to IRS rules.
Form 1098-C mailed after sale
For vehicles that bring in more than $500, Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. This form documents the sale price and date, which supports the deduction you claim on your return.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation tax deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal return. If you take the standard deduction, you won’t separately deduct your vehicle donation. Ask a tax pro what’s best for you.
Why donating by Dec 31 matters
The IRS cares about your donation date, not the sale date. If you transfer the car to Bay Wheels by December 31, it generally counts for that tax year—even if the sale and Form 1098‑C arrive early in the following year.