Before the tow truck leaves, do a 15-minute sweep. Remove the garage-door remote, spare house keys, toll transponder, parking permits, disability placards, insurance card, registration, glovebox papers, personal items, and valuables. Remove the vehicle from any toll account too. Factory-reset the infotainment system so Bluetooth pairings, HomeLink buttons, saved contacts, and saved home addresses are gone. Leave the keys and signed-over title with the car.
Your pre-pickup checklist
Remove security items first
Start at the driver door and think security first. Remove the garage-door remote, gate fob, apartment entry card, office badge, and any spare house keys. Check the key ring too. If the car key is attached to home keys, remove the home keys and leave only the car key or key fob needed to move the vehicle.
Pull billing items next
Remove any toll transponder, bridge tag, parking payment device, fleet card, fuel card, or prepaid parking pass. Then log in to the toll or parking account and remove the donated vehicle from the account. This helps prevent later charges tied to the license plate, transponder, or vehicle profile after the car leaves with Bay Wheels.
Take the glovebox documents
Open the glovebox and door pockets. Remove your insurance card, registration, service invoices, warranty papers, roadside cards, old citations, and anything with your name, address, phone number, policy number, or account number. Keep disability placards and removable parking permits with you. A title is different: the signed-over title should stay with the car.
Sweep cabin and trunk
Do a slow sweep from front to back. Check under the seats, between seat cushions, seat-back pockets, visors, cup holders, center console, door bins, cargo pockets, trunk corners, and spare-tire well. Look for sunglasses, tools, phone chargers, cash, medication, garage clickers, kids' items, work equipment, and personal papers. Use a flashlight if the vehicle is packed or dark.
Factory reset vehicle electronics
Use the vehicle settings menu to factory-reset the infotainment system when possible. Delete Bluetooth pairings, saved phones, contacts, call history, garage codes, HomeLink buttons, navigation favorites, and any saved home address. If the screen will not power on, remove any plugged-in USB drives, memory cards, CDs, dash display accessories, or phone mounts that store data.
Remove optional add-ons carefully
Remove aftermarket items only if you can do it without damaging the car or changing what you described to Bay Wheels. Common removals include dash cams, phone mounts, removable GPS units, upgraded speakers, stereo faceplates, child seats, bike racks, and cargo organizers. Leave installed parts in place if removal would leave exposed wiring, holes, broken trim, or missing required equipment.
Leave pickup items behind
After the sweep, put the car key or key fob with the vehicle. Put the signed-over title with the vehicle too, following the signing instructions on the title. Do not leave loose personal documents with it. If more than one owner is listed, make sure the needed signatures are complete before the tow truck takes the car.
Final handoff check
Before free pickup, do one last look through the vehicle from the driver's seat, then from the trunk. The goal is simple: nothing personal, valuable, secure, or billable should ride away. The car should still be intact and match what you told Bay Wheels. Keep personal items; leave the keys and signed-over title. For license plates, see our separate guide: License Plates After Donation. For release of liability, see our separate guide: Release of Liability After Donation.
Common questions
Do I really need to remove the toll transponder?
Yes. Pull the physical transponder from the windshield or dashboard, then remove the vehicle from the toll account online or by phone. Both steps matter. Some accounts can bill by transponder, and some can bill by plate. Keep any account confirmation for your records.
What if I cannot find the title before pickup?
A signed-over title is the ownership document that should stay with the car. If it is missing, damaged, or has names that do not match, pause and get DMV guidance before handing off the vehicle. Do not guess on signatures, liens, or multiple-owner situations.
How do I know the infotainment data is gone?
Look for settings such as factory reset, delete personal data, remove devices, clear navigation, or erase HomeLink. After resetting, check that your phone is no longer paired and your home address is not saved. If the system cannot reset, remove all removable media and accessories.
More donation prep guides
A clean sweep makes donation handoff easier and protects your personal information. Before your San Jose vehicle leaves, remove remotes, toll tags, documents, permits, valuables, and saved electronic data. Leave the keys and signed-over title with the car. Bay Wheels vehicle donations support Heritage for the Blind (EIN 58-2164446). When your checklist is done, you are ready for pickup.