How the car donation process works
Start with the 2-minute form or call Heritage
Begin by completing Bay Wheels' short online donation form or by calling Heritage for the Blind directly. You will share basic details such as your name, San Jose-area pickup address, vehicle year, make, model, general condition, and whether you have the title. You do not need to know the vehicle's value, and you do not have to make repairs first. Cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, and other vehicles may be accepted even if they do not run. Once your information is submitted, a donation coordinator reviews it and prepares the pickup request.
A coordinator calls back within 1-2 business hours
After you submit the form, a coordinator typically calls back within 1-2 business hours during normal business hours. This call is your chance to ask questions before committing to a pickup. The coordinator confirms the vehicle location, title status, access instructions, and the best time window for you. Whether the vehicle is parked in a driveway in Willow Glen, a garage in Downtown San Jose, an apartment lot in Berryessa, or at a workplace near North San Jose, they will help make the next step clear and convenient.
Schedule your free San Jose-area tow
Pickup is free, and in most metro areas a licensed tow truck can arrive the same day or the next business day. Bay Wheels helps arrange pickups throughout San Jose and the greater San Francisco Bay Area, including nearby Santa Clara, Cupertino, Campbell, Milpitas, Sunnyvale, Los Gatos, and Fremont. You do not pay towing, storage, or processing fees. Before pickup, remove personal belongings, take off any toll transponder or parking permit, and have the keys and title ready if available. If your title is missing, tell the coordinator so they can explain your options.
Sign the title over at pickup
When the licensed tow truck arrives, the driver will confirm the vehicle and collect the signed title paperwork. In most cases, you simply sign the title over at pickup as instructed. The driver may also provide a pickup confirmation or towing receipt for your records. You do not need to be a mechanic, arrange transportation, or meet a buyer. If the vehicle is not running, has a dead battery, or has been sitting for a while, let the coordinator know in advance so the towing team brings the right equipment.
The vehicle is sold through auction or parts resale
After pickup, your vehicle is transported to an auction facility or parts reseller, depending on its condition and marketability. The goal is to convert the donated vehicle into charitable proceeds as efficiently as possible. You do not need to handle advertising, negotiations, smog questions, buyer no-shows, or disposal. Once the vehicle sells, the proceeds are sent to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446. Those funds help support services and resources for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Receive your tax receipt by mail
After the vehicle sells, your tax receipt is mailed to you. If the vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind will send IRS Form 1098-C. If it sells for $500 or under, you will receive a written acknowledgment. The full donation timeline is typically 2-6 weeks from initial submission to mailed tax documentation, depending on pickup scheduling, transport, sale timing, and mail delivery. Keep your receipt with your tax records, and consult a tax professional if you have questions about claiming a charitable deduction.
Key facts about car donation
There is no cost to donate: pickup, towing, and processing are free for the donor.
A coordinator typically calls within 1-2 business hours after your online form is submitted.
Same-day or next-business-day pickup is available in most San Jose metro areas.
Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446.
Vehicles sold for more than $500 receive IRS Form 1098-C by mail.
The full process usually takes 2-6 weeks from form submission to tax receipt.