How the car donation process works
You Schedule a Free South Carolina Pickup
Your donation starts with a quick request through Palmetto Wheels Exchange. We arrange free towing at a convenient location, whether the vehicle is at your home in Columbia, a workplace in Greenville, a condo lot in Charleston, or a driveway in North Charleston, Lexington, or Fort Mill. You do not need to make the vehicle look perfect before pickup. A tow provider collects the car, truck, van, SUV, motorcycle, or other eligible vehicle and moves it into the next stage of processing.
The Vehicle Is Assessed After Pickup
After pickup, the vehicle is reviewed to determine the best resale path. The assessment may consider whether it starts, its mileage, condition, title status, market demand, age, and repair potential. This step matters because the goal is to create the strongest possible proceeds for Heritage for the Blind while handling the vehicle responsibly. Donors often wonder if their car will be given directly to a family. In this program, the vehicle is typically sold, and the sale proceeds support Heritage for the Blind’s charitable work.
Running Vehicles Typically Go to Auction
If your donated vehicle runs and is in resalable condition, it will typically be offered through a public or dealer auction. This allows buyers to compete for the vehicle based on its real market value in the region. A commuter car from Sumter, an SUV from Aiken, or a pickup from Anderson may all take this route if auction resale is the best option. Once sold, the gross sale price is reported and proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446.
Non-Running Vehicles May Be Sold for Salvage or Parts
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 has no value. Older vehicles, damaged cars, and cars that have been sitting can still generate proceeds through parts, scrap, or salvage channels. This gives South Carolina donors a practical way to clear space and still help fund services for blind and visually impaired people.
Proceeds Fund Heritage for the Blind Services
The key point is simple: Heritage for the Blind receives the sale proceeds as charitable revenue. Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446, serving people who are blind or visually impaired. Your donated car is not sitting unused in a lot; it is converted into funding that supports the organization’s mission. Heritage also helps connect people with benefit resources, and donors or families who want to check eligibility for SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, Section 8, and similar programs can visit nhftb.org/finder.
You Receive the Proper Tax Documentation
After the vehicle sells, you receive documentation for your records. If the vehicle sells for more than $500, your tax deduction is generally equal to the gross sale price, and IRS Form 1098-C is provided. This is one of the most common donor questions, and Palmetto Wheels Exchange keeps the process clear from pickup through sale notification. Keep your receipt and any tax forms with your records, and speak with a tax professional if you have questions about your individual deduction.
Key facts about car donation
Free tow is available for eligible donated vehicles across South Carolina communities and suburbs.
Running vehicles in resalable condition typically go to public or dealer auction.
Non-running, damaged, or high-mileage vehicles typically go to licensed salvage or parts buyers.
Sale proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446.
For vehicles sold over $500, donors receive IRS Form 1098-C showing the gross sale price.
Your vehicle is converted into funding for services supporting blind and visually impaired Americans.