You can still lock in a 2024 tax deduction in Kentucky by donating your car to Ride for Good as long as the vehicle is picked up on or before December 31. With Heritage for the Blind (a 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446) as our charity partner, your donation date for IRS purposes is the actual pickup date—not when the car is sold. Start now: complete our secure, 2-minute online form or call, we’ll schedule your free towing, and you’ll receive your written acknowledgment after the vehicle sells.
We serve donors across Kentucky—from Louisville (St. Matthews, Shively, Jeffersontown) and Lexington (Hamburg, Beaumont, Chevy Chase) to Northern Kentucky (Covington, Florence, Newport), Bowling Green, Owensboro, Paducah, and beyond. Your car doesn’t need to run, pass inspection, or even have current registration. Our local towing partners come to your home, office, or storage lot, usually the same day or next business day in metro areas. You sign the title at pickup, we handle the rest, and proceeds support services for people who are blind or visually impaired through Heritage for the Blind. To make sure your donation counts for this tax year, schedule a pickup date on or before December 31—December slots in Kentucky fill quickly.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute form or call Ride for Good
2 minutesEnter your vehicle and contact details in our short online form or call Ride for Good for immediate help. You’ll choose your preferred pickup window and note that you need the vehicle picked up in Kentucky on or before December 31 for this year’s tax deduction.
Get a coordinator call-back to lock in your pickup date
Within 1–2 business hours on weekdaysA donation coordinator calls you back (often much faster) Monday–Friday to confirm details and set up your free tow. Tell us your deadline; we’ll offer the earliest available slots in your Kentucky area to ensure pickup by December 31 whenever possible.
Free licensed tow truck arrives in Kentucky
Same-day or next business day in most metro areasIn Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky, and other cities, our licensed towing partner usually arrives same-day or next business day. Rural areas may take a bit longer, so the earlier you schedule in December, the easier it is to secure a pre–Dec 31 pickup.
Sign the title at pickup to complete your donation
5–10 minutesAt your driveway, apartment lot, or workplace, you hand over the keys (if available) and sign the Kentucky title to Heritage for the Blind. Once the tow truck takes possession on or before December 31, that pickup date becomes your official IRS donation date.
We sell your vehicle; you receive your tax paperwork
Within 30 days of saleYour car is transported, processed, and sold. After the sale, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C or a written acknowledgment in the mail within 30 days of the sale date. This document shows the sale amount and is what you use to claim your deduction.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date is your IRS donation date
For car donations, the effective donation date is when the charity (through its tow company) takes possession. If your car is picked up in Kentucky on or before December 31, your donation applies to that tax year, even if the sale happens later.
You’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C or acknowledgment
After your vehicle sells, Heritage for the Blind sends you Form 1098-C or a similar written receipt within 30 days of the sale. This shows key details, including the gross sale price, which you or your tax preparer will use when filing.
Deduction usually equals the sale price
In most cases, the IRS allows you to deduct the vehicle’s actual sale price, not the blue-book value. Your 1098-C will list the amount the car sold for; that is typically the deduction you can claim when you itemize on your federal return.
Itemizing and Schedule A are required
To benefit from a car donation deduction, you must itemize deductions on your federal tax return using Schedule A. If you take the standard deduction, you generally won’t be able to claim an additional tax benefit for the donated vehicle.
30-day rule for your official receipt
The charity must send a 1098-C or written acknowledgment within 30 days of the sale date. Keep this with your tax records; it documents the donation, including vehicle information and sale price, in case the IRS ever asks for verification.