How the car donation process works
Start with the 2-minute donation form or a quick call
Begin by completing Metro Wheels’ simple online car donation form or calling Heritage for the Blind directly. You will share basic details such as your name, contact information, vehicle year, make, model, condition, location, and whether you have the title. You do not need to know the vehicle’s value, and you do not have to make any payment. This first step usually takes about two minutes and simply gives the donation team enough information to confirm eligibility and prepare your free New York City Metro pickup.
A coordinator calls back to schedule your free pickup
After your form or call is received, a donation coordinator typically calls back within 1 to 2 business hours. They will confirm the vehicle details, answer your questions, and help choose a pickup window that works for your building, driveway, parking garage, curbside spot, repair shop, or storage location. New York donors often ask about tight streets, alternate-side parking, garages, and doorman buildings; the coordinator will note those details for the towing provider so pickup is as smooth as possible.
A licensed tow truck arrives, and you sign the title
In most New York City Metro areas, a licensed tow truck can arrive the same day or the next business day, depending on availability and access. Pickup is free, whether the vehicle runs or not. At pickup, you or an authorized representative will provide the keys if available and sign the vehicle title over as instructed. The driver will collect the vehicle from your location, including neighborhoods and suburbs across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Long Island, Westchester, and nearby New Jersey communities.
Your vehicle is moved to auction or a parts reseller
Once your car, truck, van, SUV, or motorcycle is picked up, it is transported to an appropriate auction, salvage facility, or parts reseller. The destination depends on the vehicle’s condition, age, market demand, and whether it is best suited for resale, parts, or recycling. You do not need to manage repairs, advertising, buyer calls, paperwork with a private buyer, or transportation. Metro Wheels and Heritage for the Blind coordinate the next steps so the vehicle can be processed efficiently.
Sale proceeds support Heritage for the Blind’s mission
After the vehicle is sold or otherwise processed, the proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind, a real 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. Your donation helps support services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also connects people with information about benefit programs and resources. If you or someone you know wants to check possible benefit eligibility for programs such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, or Section 8, you can visit nhftb.org/finder for a separate eligibility screening resource.
Your tax receipt is mailed after the vehicle sells
After the sale is complete, your tax documentation is mailed to you. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind provides IRS Form 1098-C. For vehicles that sell for $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment. The full donation process, from first contact to mailed receipt, typically takes about 2 to 6 weeks. Timing can vary based on pickup scheduling, auction processing, and mail delivery, but there is no cost to you at any step.
Key facts about car donation
Pickup is free throughout the New York City Metro, including boroughs, suburbs, garages, shops, and storage lots.
A coordinator typically calls within 1 to 2 business hours after your form or phone request.
Same-day or next-business-day towing is available in most metro areas when scheduling and access allow.
You sign the vehicle title at pickup, and the licensed tow provider removes the vehicle for free.
Tax documentation is mailed after sale: Form 1098-C over $500, written acknowledgment for $500 or under.
The complete process usually takes 2 to 6 weeks and costs the donor nothing.