Donate your car in Denver before midnight December 31 and you can generally claim a 2024 tax deduction. With Ride Revive, your deduction for vehicles that sell for over $500 usually equals the actual sale price, not Kelley Blue Book. After your vehicle sells, Heritage for the Blind (a 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446) mails you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. For vehicles that sell for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and you may deduct up to $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower. To use the deduction, you must itemize on Schedule A. Keep your pickup confirmation as proof of the donation date, and always consult a tax professional about your specific situation.
Ride Revive makes year-end donating fast for Denver Metro drivers. Whether you’re in Capitol Hill, Highlands, Aurora, Lakewood, Littleton, Arvada, or out by DIA, we arrange free towing of running or non-running cars, usually Monday–Saturday. No inspections, no repairs, no selling strangers your car in a snowy parking lot. You donate, we handle the title transfer and IRS-required paperwork, and Heritage for the Blind uses the proceeds to support people who are blind or visually impaired. Start now and lock in your 2024 deduction before the year-end rush hits Denver traffic.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute form or call Ride Revive
2 minutesShare your Denver-area location, vehicle basics, and how to reach you. This locks in your donation date when your car is picked up, which is what matters for claiming a deduction for this tax year. No VIN lookup or photos required to get started.
Schedule your free Denver Metro pickup
5 minutesA local towing partner calls to set a pickup time that works for you in Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Thornton, Englewood, or anywhere in the metro. Most pickups run Monday–Saturday. You don’t need to be present if paperwork is pre-signed and accessible.
Prepare your title and remove personal items
10 minutesSign your Colorado title as instructed, clear out plates and belongings, and have your keys ready. The driver gives you a pickup confirmation or tow slip—keep this as proof of the date your vehicle was donated for your tax records.
Vehicle sells and IRS paperwork is issued
Varies by saleRide Revive coordinates sale of your vehicle for Heritage for the Blind. When it sells for over $500, they mail IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. For $500-or-under vehicles, you receive a written acknowledgment for your records.
Claim your deduction on your tax return
At tax timeWhen you file, use the amount shown on Form 1098-C as your deduction (or up to $500/fair market value for low-value cars). Attach any required forms, itemize on Schedule A, and consult a tax professional about how the deduction fits your situation.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals gross sale price
For vehicles that sell for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your deduction to the gross sale proceeds shown on Form 1098-C—not Kelley Blue Book or what you think it’s worth. This keeps your deduction in line with what the charity actually receives.
How Form 1098-C works
After your car is sold, Heritage for the Blind mails IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale date. It reports your name, vehicle, and sale price. Keep this with your tax documents and provide it to your preparer when claiming your deduction.
Cars worth $500 or less
If your donated vehicle sells for $500 or less, you can generally deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. Instead of Form 1098-C, you receive a written acknowledgment describing the car and stating whether you received any goods or services.
You must itemize on Schedule A
Car donations are a charitable contribution. To benefit, you must choose to itemize deductions on Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. A tax professional can help you decide which approach provides the most benefit in your situation.
Donate by Dec 31 to deduct this tax year
For IRS purposes, the key date is when you donate the vehicle—generally, the pickup/transfer date—not when it sells. If your Denver car is picked up on or before December 31, it normally counts toward this year’s tax return.