California is one of the 50 states of US that allow you get tax deduction from car donation. As we know, car donation now is one of the favorite ways to get a tax deduction. Being the most populated region in America with more than 37 million of citizen lives in California there a huge potential tax deduction from charities.
How to donate a car in California?
Getting a tax deduction is not that easy, you could end up donating your car without having a tax deduction benefit if don’t know how to donate a car in California with the proper way. To prevent this, read my following guide to know how to donate a car in California and help you through all the process smoothly.
Will I get tax deduction for car donation in California?
Yes, you will get a full benefit of tax deduction as long as you donate your vehicle through a nonprofit charitable organization that registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. So make sure you check the charity IRS registration before you make any car donation in California.
How many tax deduction I will get in California?
According IRS’s publication 4303 on car donation you will get a full advantage of tax deduction with the same amount of your car’s Fair Market Value on California. If your FMV is under $500 you will get a direct tax deduction but if if the value is more than $500 then you will have to wait until the auction to know how many tax deduction you still get. So make sure check what is your car’s value before you decide to donate your car in California.
What are all the papers that I need to fulfill in order to make a vehicle donation?
To be able to make car donation in California you are required to have a title for your vehicle and a car donation form. If you lost your title then you have to apply again for duplicate title at California Motor Vehicle Department
Will my car’s liability get release after the donation?
Yes you will get a release on your liability of your car. To release you are going to need to fill the release of liability form that in most case is attached in your title. However you can also download the form here. You may fill it online too. You will have to remove the license plate and keep it as you are the owner. You can go to California Motor Vehicle Department to get info on how to release your liability.
Is there any special condition that doesn’t require title to donate a car?
Yes, there is one type of vehicle that has the exception for not to have a title for donating it which is all cars manufactured before 1975.
What else I need to know before I can make a car donation?
Sign on the line one of the title to release the ownership, if your vehicle is financed, then the lien holder’s name will appear in the legal owner section, so this will be released with a counter signature in line two. If the title have “AND” conjunction; both of the owner have to sign to release the title. If the title has “OR” conjunction; only one owner required to sign. You have to complete a Sold Notice online, or on the back of the Vehicle Registration and mail it to the address indicated in the paper.
Other thing is make sure you got your written acknowledgement after the car donation since it required by IRS. This also helps you to prevent any legal issues regarding your car in the future.
Now where to donate a car in California?
With high population of California, it is not difficult to find a good charitable organization for car donation in California. You can also use a car donation agent as a middleman for the whole donation process. Here I give you all the charities that I recommend to you as your first place to go to donate your car:
Giving Children Hope
8332 Commonwealth Avenue, Buena Park, CA 90621
714-523-4454
http://www.gchope.org/product-donation.html
http://www.cars4causes.net/charity-car-donation/giving-children-hope
San Francisco Food Bank
900 Pennsylvania Ave, San Francisco, CA 94107
415.282.1900 for offices
http://www.sffoodbank.org/donate/how_to_donate.html#CarDonation
Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
4554 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA 93110
805-967-5741
http://www.foodbanksbc.org/howtohelp.html
Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Turk Family Center, 8804 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 637-3000 | 877-537- 4227 to donate
http://www.jfssd.org/site/PageServer?pagename=give_car_donation
Shepherd’s Gate
1660 Portola Avenue, Livermore, CA 94551
(925) 443.GATE (4283)
http://shepherdsgate.org/how-can-i-help-2/donate-a-carproperty/
Abode Services
40849 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont, CA 94538
(510) 657-7409 ext. 203
http://www.tricityhomeless.org/giving_overview.html
Families Forward
9221 Irvine Blvd. Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 552-2727
http://www.families-forward.org/donations_faqs.htm
Interfaith Community Services
Main Office, 550 West Washington Ave. Suite B, Escondido, CA 92025
760.489.6380
http://www.interfaithservices.org/helpinkind.html
http://www.donatingiseasy.org/CarDonationInfo.aspx?CID=120
Project Mexico
P.O. Box 120028, Chula Vista, CA 91912-3128
(619) 426-4610
http://projectmexico.org/Donate/InKindDonation.aspx
San Diego Habitat for Humanity
10222 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 283-HOME (4663) for offices | 1-877-277-4344 to donate
http://www.sdhfh.org/Donate.aspx
Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County
121 S. Rice Avenue, Oxnard, CA 93030
(805) 485-6065 | 877-277-4344 to donate
http://www.habitatventura.org/front/donate-your-vehicle-to-cars-for-homes/
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, California
2200 S.Ritchey Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 434-6200 | (877) 277-4344
http://www.habitatoc.org/page.aspx?pid=327
The Redwood Empire Food Bank
3320 Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa, California 95403
707.523.7900
http://www.refb.org/waystodonate_vehicledonation.html
Alameda County Community Food Bank
P.O. Box 2599, Oakland, CA 94614
(510) 635-3663 | (877) 999-8322 to donate
http://www.accfb.org/donate_options.html#car
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
2625 Zanker Road, San Jose, CA 95134-2107
408-468-0100
http://www.catholiccharitiesscc.org/donations/donations_auto.htm
Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Ana
950 W. Highland, Santa Ana, CA 92703
(714) 543-7212
http://www.boysandgirlsclub.com/page.asp?ID=34
Playworks
380 Washington Street, Oakland, CA 94607
510.893.4180
http://www.playworks.org/donate
Challenged Athletes Foundation
9591 Waples Street, San Diego, CA 92121 858.866.0959 for offices | 858-866-0959 to donate
http://www.challengedathletes.org/site/c.4nJHJQPqEiKUE/b.6456805/k.785D/Cars_for_Causes.htm
Pet Orphans of Southern California
7720 Gloria Avenue Van Nuys, CA 91406
818.901.0190 for offices | 1-877-980-2277 to donate
http://www.petorphans.org/other_ways_to_give.shtml
San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity
400 S. Irwindale Ave, Azusa, CA 91702
(626) 387-6899
http://www.sgvhabitat.org/donate/goods-and-services
Audubon Canyon Ranch
4900 Shoreline Highway One, Stinson Beach, CA 94970
415/868-9244
http://www.egret.org/donate
Shelter Partnership
523 W. 6th St., Ste. 616, Los Angeles, CA 90014-1224
(213) 943-4585 for offices | 800-766-2273 to donate
http://www.shelterpartnership.org/make-a-donation.aspx
Acterra
3921 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303-4303
650-962-9876 x308
http://www.acterra.org/donate/support.html
Goodwill of Orange County
410 N. Fairview St., Santa Ana, CA 92703
(714) 547-6308
http://www.ocgoodwill.org/give/donate-goods/vehicle-donations
Spondylitis Association of America (SAA)
PO Box 5872, Sherman Oaks, CA 91413
888-722-3424
http://www.spondylitis.org/support/donate_vehicle.aspx
Oaks Christian School
31749 La Tienda Drive
Westlake Village, CA 91362
818-575-9262
http://www.oakschristian.org/supportoaks/ways-to-give/index.aspx
Shoes That Fit
1420 N. Claremont Blvd, Suite 107B, Claremont, CA 91711
(888) 715-4333
http://www.shoesthatfit.org/Get-Involved/How-You-Can-Help
Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Counties
1500 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103-2513
(415) 575-2101 for offices | 415-575-2185 to donate
http://www.sfgoodwill.org/CarDonation.aspx
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
1500 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310-725-0025 | 888-448-3345 to donate via Donation Line | 800-766-2273 to donate via Cars 4 Causes
http://www.pancan.org/section_donate/ways_to_give/vehicle_donation.php
United Way of Santa Barbara County
320 E. Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805-965-8591 to donate
http://www.unitedwaysb.org/donatenow.html#car
Fresno Rescue Mission
181 E. Sierra Ave., Fresno (Between Blackstone and Fresno Street)
1-800-796-0051 or (559)440-0870
http://www.fresnorescuemission.org/index.php?c=58
Orange County Rescue Mission
One Hope Drive, Tustin, CA 92782
(714) 247-4300
https://www.rescuemission.org/MainTabs/WaysToGive/VehicleDonations.aspx
Food Bank for Monterey County
815 West Market Street, #5, Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 758-1523
http://www.food4hungry.org/ways_to_donate/
Berkeley Repertory Theatre
999 Harrison St, Berkeley CA 94710
510 647-2907
http://www.berkeleyrep.org/support/vehicle.asp
Goodwill Southern California
342 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles, CA 90031
(888) 446-6394 offices | (800) 898-8285 to donate
http://www.goodwillsocal.org/donations/vehicle-donations/
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
501 E. Ojai Ave. Ojai, CA 93023
(888) 459-4376 offices | 1-877-999-8322 to donate
http://www.v-dac.com/org/?id=770412509
Alzheimer’s Services of the East Bay
2320 Channing Way, Berkeley, California 94704
(510) 644-8292 offices | (866) 392-4483 to donate
http://www.aseb.org/v1/supporting.php
Bay Area Rescue Mission
2114 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond, CA 94801
(510) 215-4555
http://www.bayarearescue.org/ways_to_help/vehicle-donations.asp
StandUp for Kids
83 Walton Street, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30303
800.365.4KID
http://www.standupforkids.org/donate/default.aspx
Freedom from Hunger
1644 DaVinci Court, Davis, CA 95618
(800) 708-2555 to offices | (530) 758-6200 ext. 1042
http://www.freedomfromhunger.org/help/other.php
In Defense of Animals
3010 Kerner Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94901
415-388-9641
http://www.idausa.org/support/carform.html
San Diego Humane Society and SPCA
5500 Gaines Street, San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 243-3401 for questions | (877) 540-7387 to donate
http://www.sdhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=don_cardonation
Society of St. Vincent de Paul of San Mateo County
50 North B Street, San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 373-0623 offices | 1-800-937-7837 to donate
http://www.svdp-sanmateoco.org/donatevehicle.html
San Diego Rescue Mission
P.O. Box 80427, San Diego, CA 92138
(619) 687-3720 | 619-819-1793 to donate
http://www.sdrescue.org/howtohelp/cardonations.php
Capital Public Radio, Inc.
7055 Folsom Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95826-2625
(916) 278-8900 | 1-877-CARSCPR or 1-877-227-7277 to donate
http://www.capradio.org/support/vehicle-donation
Please check this how to donate a car guide if you still have any hesitation and confusion regarding the car donation process.