How the car donation process works
You start with a simple donation request
When you are ready to donate through Metro Wheels, you provide basic details about the vehicle, including year, make, model, mileage, title status, location and whether it runs. Donors across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Harlem, Astoria, Flushing, Riverdale, Park Slope, Yonkers and nearby New York City Metro communities can request free towing. You do not need to know in advance whether the car will be auctioned, salvaged or parted out. The goal is to move the vehicle efficiently, document the donation properly and help Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446, receive the resulting sale proceeds.
Your vehicle is picked up at no cost
After your donation is accepted, a towing provider schedules a free pickup at a time and location that works for you. In New York City, that might be a curbside space in Washington Heights, a driveway in Queens, a building garage in Midtown, a lot in the South Bronx or a home in Staten Island. The tow is free whether the vehicle starts or not. Once the vehicle is removed, it is routed for review. This assessment happens after pickup, so donors are not asked to make technical decisions about repairs, auction value or salvage potential.
Running, resalable vehicles typically go to auction
If the donated car is running, complete and in resalable condition, it typically goes to a public or dealer auction. Auction buyers may include dealers, wholesalers, rebuilders or individuals, depending on the sale channel and vehicle condition. Metro Wheels does not promise a specific buyer or sale amount, and the vehicle is not usually assigned directly to a family in need. Instead, the car is converted into revenue. The gross sale proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446, to support services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Non-running or high-mileage vehicles may be sold for parts
Not every New York donation is a road-ready vehicle. Some cars have engine trouble, accident damage, missing parts, flood history, very high mileage or inspection issues. When a vehicle is not a strong auction candidate, it is typically sold to a licensed salvage or parts buyer. That buyer may dismantle the vehicle, recycle usable components or process the remaining materials according to applicable rules. This is still a valuable donation path because the sale proceeds become charitable revenue for Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446, rather than leaving an unwanted car unused.
Proceeds fund Heritage for the Blind services
After the vehicle sells, the proceeds are directed to Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446, a recognized 501(c)(3) organization serving people who are blind or visually impaired. Sale proceeds are the revenue generated from your donation, whether the vehicle sold at auction or through a salvage or parts channel. Heritage also connects people with information about benefit programs such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help and Section 8; donors or families who want to check eligibility can visit nhftb.org/finder. Your unwanted vehicle becomes practical funding for mission-driven support.
You receive tax documentation after the sale
Your tax deduction is generally based on what the vehicle sells for, not a guessed value. If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, you should receive IRS Form 1098-C showing the gross sale price, which is the amount used for your potential tax deduction. Keep that form with your tax records and consult a tax professional for advice about your specific situation. Metro Wheels helps keep the process straightforward: free tow, post-pickup assessment, sale through the appropriate channel and documentation tied to the actual sale.
Key facts about car donation
Vehicles are assessed after pickup, so donors do not need to decide auction, repair or salvage status.
Running vehicles in resalable condition typically go to public or dealer auction for the strongest available return.
Non-running, damaged or high-mileage vehicles typically go to licensed salvage or parts buyers.
Proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446.
For vehicles sold over $500, IRS Form 1098-C reports the gross sale price for tax records.
Towing is free for accepted New York City Metro car donations through Metro Wheels.