How the car donation process works
Start with the 2-minute donation form or a quick call
Begin by filling out the short online donation form for Sound Car Relief or by calling Heritage for the Blind directly. You will share basic details about the vehicle, such as the year, make, model, mileage, condition, whether it starts, and where it is located in the Tacoma or Puget Sound area. You do not need to know the vehicle’s market value before starting. The form is designed to take about two minutes, and there is no cost or obligation to ask questions before scheduling.
A coordinator calls back within 1-2 business hours
After your form is received, a donation coordinator typically calls back within 1-2 business hours to confirm the details and answer your questions. This is when you can discuss the best pickup location, whether the car is in a driveway, garage, apartment lot, workplace lot, or repair shop. Donors in Tacoma, Lakewood, Fife, Fircrest, Spanaway, and nearby communities can ask about timing, title questions, and access instructions. The coordinator will schedule your free pickup and explain what you should have ready for the driver.
Free pickup is scheduled at your Tacoma-area location
In most metro areas, including much of Tacoma and the surrounding Puget Sound region, a licensed tow truck can arrive the same day or the next business day, depending on availability and your schedule. Pickup is free at every step. The vehicle does not need to run, and many donations are picked up from homes, offices, storage lots, mechanic shops, or curbside parking where legal and accessible. At pickup, you will generally sign the title over to complete the transfer, then the tow operator will load the vehicle and provide any immediate pickup paperwork.
Your vehicle goes to auction or a parts reseller
Once the donated car, truck, van, SUV, motorcycle, RV, or boat is picked up, it is transported to an appropriate sales channel, usually an auction or a parts reseller. The destination depends on the vehicle’s condition, age, location, and whether it is better suited for resale, repair, or salvage. You do not need to arrange transportation, negotiate with buyers, or handle the sale yourself. Sound Car Relief and Heritage for the Blind coordinate the process so the vehicle can be sold and the donation value can be documented properly.
Sale proceeds support Heritage for the Blind
After the vehicle is sold, the proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. Heritage for the Blind uses charitable support to help fund services and resources for people who are blind or visually impaired. The organization also connects eligible individuals with public benefit information, including programs such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, and Section 8. If you or someone you know wants to check benefit eligibility, you can visit nhftb.org/finder for a helpful starting point.
Your tax receipt is mailed after the vehicle sells
After the vehicle sells, your tax documentation is mailed to you. If the vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind will provide IRS Form 1098-C. If it sells for $500 or under, you will receive a written acknowledgment for your records. The entire process, from starting the donation to receiving your mailed tax receipt, typically takes about 2-6 weeks, depending on pickup timing, sale processing, and mail delivery. Donors should consult a tax professional for advice about claiming any charitable deduction.
Key facts about car donation
Pickup is free for donors in Tacoma and throughout many nearby Puget Sound communities.
A coordinator typically calls within 1-2 business hours after your form is submitted.
Same-day or next-business-day towing is available in most metro areas when scheduling allows.
You usually sign the vehicle title over at pickup when the licensed tow truck arrives.
Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446, mails tax documentation after the vehicle sells.
There is no cost to you at any point in the donation process.