In Ohio, your car donation only counts for this tax year if the vehicle is physically picked up by December 31. The IRS uses the pickup date as your official donation date, not the day you schedule. That means calling on December 31 is usually too late. To protect your deduction, Buckeye Auto Gifts recommends locking in your pickup 3–5 business days before year-end so Heritage for the Blind can get your car on the truck in time.
Buckeye Auto Gifts serves donors throughout Ohio—from Columbus, Dublin, Westerville and Grove City, to Cleveland, Parma, Lakewood, Akron, Canton, Toledo, Dayton, Cincinnati, Youngstown and more. Heritage for the Blind offers free towing statewide, Monday through Saturday, all through the holiday season, and they accept most vehicles even if they don’t run. After your vehicle sells, you’ll receive the written acknowledgment you need for your taxes. But your deduction year is locked in as long as the pickup happens by December 31. If you’re ready to clear your driveway and help people who are blind or visually impaired, now is the time to schedule.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your Ohio donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesUse our quick online form or call Buckeye Auto Gifts. Share your contact info, vehicle location in Ohio, and basic details about your car, truck, SUV, or van—running or not. You’ll get immediate confirmation and move straight to scheduling your pickup window.
Choose a pickup time before December 31
5 minutesA Heritage for the Blind representative will contact you to set a pickup day and time. To safely lock in this year’s deduction, schedule your pickup at least 3–5 business days before December 31, especially in busy areas like Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo.
Prepare your title and keys
10–15 minutesLocate your Ohio vehicle title and keys before pickup. In most cases, you’ll sign the title over at the tow truck. No emissions test, repairs, or cleaning are required. Heritage for the Blind will handle the towing paperwork and pick up your car at no cost to you.
Vehicle pickup locks in your tax year
15–30 minutesOn pickup day, the towing partner meets you at your home, workplace, or storage lot anywhere in Ohio. Once your vehicle is loaded and paperwork is signed, the IRS donation date is set. If that happens on or before December 31, it counts for this tax year.
Receive your tax receipt after the sale
After saleHeritage for the Blind will sell your donated vehicle. After the sale, they’ll mail you a written acknowledgment, and for vehicles over $500 in value, IRS Form 1098-C. Keep this with your records and use it when filing your Schedule A for your federal tax return.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Donation date = pickup date
For IRS purposes, your donation date is when Heritage for the Blind actually picks up your vehicle, not when you call or submit the form. To deduct it this year, the tow must happen on or before December 31.
December 31 cutoff for this year’s deduction
If your vehicle is picked up in Ohio by December 31, you may generally claim the deduction on this tax year’s return. If the tow happens on January 1 or later, the deduction applies to the following tax year instead.
Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500
When your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind will provide IRS Form 1098-C. This shows the gross proceeds from the sale, which is usually the amount you may be able to deduct on your federal taxes.
You’ll need Schedule A to deduct
To claim a car donation, you generally must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal tax return. Keep your written acknowledgment (and Form 1098-C, if applicable) with your records to support your charitable contribution.
Receipt comes after sale, not pickup
Your written acknowledgment is mailed after the vehicle sells, which may be weeks after pickup. The tax year of your deduction is still based on the pickup date, so December 31 pickup counts even if your receipt arrives in the new year.