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Donate your car and you can benefit in several ways. Not only can you help a charity out, get an old vehicle out of your driveway and also get a tax receipt for the IRS. It's a good idea to shop around for the right vehicle donation center and here are some tips to help you find the best company to help you help a needy charity.

1. Is the company Reputable - are they a Better Business Bureau member?

A car donation center should be a member of the BBB and it doesn't hurt to see if there are any registered complaints against them.

2. Do you have your choice of charities?

If you have a particular charity that you really want to help, it's a good idea to shop around for a car donation company that will either support your specified charity or at least provide you with a list of options. You want to know where your car will go and who it will help.

3. Will you get a tax receipt prior to pickup?

While the importance might be the charitable act but having a tax receipt is a bonus you shouldn't overlook. This can help you at tax time. Not all car charity companies are created equally. Some will simply offer free pickup and you never know what happens to your old vehicle and who benefits. While that might be fine for some who just want to get an old car out of the way, other people want to know what's happening to the car and want their receipt. Ask before you make arrangements about your tax receipt. You might also be able to be given an estimate based on your description of the automobile.

4. Understanding your tax benefit

A tax benefit is going to vary depending on many things such as your income tax bracket and on the condition and appraisal of the automobile you're getting. Cars in great condition will generally fetch a better amount than derelict vehicles and your own tax bracket will impact how much benefit you get from this receipt at tax time.

Giving to a registered charity is a wise decision for the sheer joy of doing it but can also be a very smart idea at tax time for saving you money. If you're going to give to charity, you'd might as well reap the associated benefits as it does not take away from that charity or lessen your donation.

5. Where will your car be sold and will the charity get the most for the car?

When you provide your car to a car donation company, you want to know what's going to happen. The company might provide you with specific details, with a report after the fact or may have a frequently asked questions section on their website to help you learn about what will happen with your car.

When making your choice about which company you should deal with, don't be afraid to ask about the specifics on what happens to the donation so you can choose the company that can do the most good.

6. What percentage of the proceeds goes to charity?

Various donation services that operate have varying amounts that they take for their operating expenses. It's a business and there is a cost associated with fielding requests, facilitating paperwork and expensive towing services. That said, it might be important for you to find out how much of the proceeds from your donation are going to your specific charity. Some companies take a fair percentage whereas others are known in the industry for being very profit driven.

7. Are the supported charities happy?

The length of the list of supported charities for the auto donation center you're look at can be very telling. If you have a specific charity in mind that you want to receive the benefit of your donated vehicle, don't hesitate to ask them if they recommend a specific donation center.

Donating a car, truck, boat, RV or other large item to charity is a great way to lend your support to a worthy cause. Finding the best donation center to facilitate this for you can result in not only the maximum benefit to the charity but ease of doing the transaction for you as well.

If you're looking to donate your car, contact Cars Helping America. CarsHelpingAmerica.org helps facilitate car donation deals between generous benefactors and needy charities who can benefit in many ways from your used car. Donating a car can be easy, stress-free and result in your getting a tax benefit receipt as well.