Donate your car in Illinois by 11:59 p.m. on December 31 and your gift can count as a 2024 charitable tax deduction. With Heartland Motors Trust, your deduction is straightforward: if your vehicle sells for over $500, we mail you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of sale, and you may generally deduct the actual gross sale price (not Kelley Blue Book) when you itemize on Schedule A. If it sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and may usually deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. Always confirm with your tax professional.
Heartland Motors Trust makes year-end donating easy across Illinois—from Chicago neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Bronzeville, and Jefferson Park, to suburbs like Naperville, Aurora, Schaumburg, Evanston, and all the way through Peoria, Rockford, Springfield, and the Metro East. Non-running cars are welcome; no inspection or repairs are needed. Our 2-minute online form, free towing, and Monday–Saturday dispatch keep the process fast, so you can meet the December 31 IRS cutoff and support Heritage for the Blind’s work with people who are blind or visually impaired.
Your year-end donation timeline
Lock in your donation date
2 minutesComplete the short online form or call to donate before 11:59 p.m. on December 31. Your tax deduction year is based on the date you make the donation, not when the car is sold. You’ll get a pickup confirmation—keep this with your records.
Schedule free Illinois pickup
5 minutesChoose a convenient pickup time anywhere in Illinois—Chicago, Joliet, Rock Island, Decatur, Champaign, or your hometown. Towing is free, Monday–Saturday in most areas. The driver will provide a pickup slip you can keep as proof of the donation date.
We sell your vehicle for Heritage for the Blind
1–4 weeksHeartland Motors Trust handles the sale, even if your car doesn’t run. There’s no inspection or repairs required from you. Once sold, the gross sale price determines the deduction amount if it’s over $500, according to IRS rules.
Receive your IRS tax paperwork
Within 30 days of saleIf your vehicle sells for more than $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C by mail within 30 days of the sale. If it sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment for your records. Keep these documents with your tax files.
Claim your deduction on your tax return
At filing timeWhen you file, you generally claim your car donation on Schedule A if you itemize deductions. Use the Form 1098-C or acknowledgment from Heartland Motors Trust plus your pickup confirmation. Consult a tax professional to apply the rules to your specific situation.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals actual sale price over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your deduction to the gross sale proceeds, not Kelley Blue Book or your estimate. Heartland Motors Trust reports that amount to you on IRS Form 1098-C.
Special rule for $500-or-less vehicles
If your vehicle sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098-C. You may usually deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. Confirm the correct amount with your tax advisor.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To claim a car donation deduction, you must typically itemize deductions on IRS Schedule A. If you claim the standard deduction instead, you generally cannot also claim a separate deduction for your vehicle donation.
Form 1098-C mailed within 30 days of sale
Once your car sells, Heartland Motors Trust mails your IRS Form 1098-C (for vehicles over $500) within 30 days of the sale date. Store this with your tax records; you’ll need the sale price to support your deduction.
December 31 controls which tax year counts
For tax purposes, the key date is when you donate, not when the vehicle sells. Complete your donation by December 31 to potentially claim the deduction on that year’s return, even if the car is picked up or sold later.