How the car donation process works
Start With the 2-Minute Form or a Quick Call
Your donation begins when you complete the short online vehicle donation form or call Heritage for the Blind through Ride to Relief. You will share basic information such as your name, Colorado pickup address, phone number, vehicle year, make, model, general condition, and whether you have the title. The form usually takes about two minutes, and there is no obligation if you are still asking questions. Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446, is the nonprofit beneficiary, so your donation supports services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
A Coordinator Calls Within 1-2 Business Hours
After your form or call is received, a donation coordinator typically calls back within 1-2 business hours during normal business times. The coordinator confirms your vehicle details, answers questions, and helps choose a pickup window that works for your schedule. Whether your car is parked at a Denver apartment garage, a driveway in Colorado Springs, a workplace in Boulder, or a rural property outside Pueblo, the goal is to make pickup convenient. You will also get clear instructions on the title, keys, and anything to remove before the tow truck arrives.
Free Pickup Is Scheduled at Your Colorado Location
A licensed tow truck is scheduled for free pickup at your home, office, repair shop, storage lot, or other approved location. Same-day or next-business-day pickup is available in most Colorado metro areas, including Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, and nearby suburbs, when scheduling and towing capacity allow. Mountain communities and more remote areas may take a little longer, but towing is still arranged at no cost to you. Before pickup, remove personal items, gather the keys, and have the title ready so the handoff is quick.
You Sign the Title Over at Pickup
When the tow truck arrives, the driver verifies the vehicle and completes the pickup. In Colorado, you will generally sign the vehicle title at the time of pickup so ownership can be transferred properly. The coordinator will explain what is needed ahead of time, and if there is a title question, they can help you understand your options before the truck is dispatched. You do not pay the driver, towing company, or charity. Once the vehicle is loaded, your part is usually complete until the tax paperwork is mailed.
Your Vehicle Is Sent to Auction or a Parts Reseller
After pickup, the vehicle is transported to an auction, wholesale buyer, or parts reseller depending on its condition, location, and marketability. Running cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, motorcycles, and even some non-running vehicles may still have value through resale or parts channels. The sale proceeds are directed to Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446, to help fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Ride to Relief keeps the donor experience simple while the backend sale process is handled by experienced vehicle donation partners.
Your Tax Receipt Is Mailed After the Vehicle Sells
Once your donated vehicle sells, your tax documentation is prepared and mailed to you. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, donors receive IRS Form 1098-C. For vehicles that sell for $500 or less, donors receive a written acknowledgment. The full process from initial submission to mailed tax receipt typically takes about 2-6 weeks, depending on pickup timing, auction scheduling, and sale processing. Keep the receipt with your tax records, and speak with a tax professional if you have questions about claiming a charitable deduction.
Key facts about car donation
There is no cost to donate, schedule pickup, tow the vehicle, or receive your mailed tax documentation.
Most Colorado metro pickups can be scheduled for the same day or next business day when available.
Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446.
Vehicles selling for more than $500 receive IRS Form 1098-C after the sale is processed.
You can donate from a home, office, repair shop, storage lot, or other approved pickup location.
The typical start-to-receipt timeline is 2-6 weeks, depending on pickup, sale, and paperwork timing.