Donate your car to Drive Forward Jax anywhere in the Jacksonville Metro by December 31 and you may deduct the value on this year’s federal tax return. Here’s how it works: if your vehicle sells for over $500, your deduction is the actual gross sale price (not Kelley Blue Book). After the vehicle sells, our partner charity Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. If the vehicle is worth $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and may generally deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. To use the deduction, you must itemize on Schedule A. Always consult your tax professional about your specific situation.
Drive Forward Jax makes year-end giving simple for donors across Jacksonville—whether you’re in Riverside/Avondale, San Marco, Mandarin, the Beaches (Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach), Northside, Southside, Arlington, Orange Park, or St. Johns County. We schedule free towing, often within a few days, Monday–Saturday, for running or non-running vehicles. You’ll get a pickup confirmation as proof of your donation date, which is what matters for the December 31 IRS cutoff. We handle the paperwork logistics with Heritage for the Blind, so you can support people who are blind or visually impaired and lock in your potential tax deduction with almost no hassle.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute donation form or call
2 minutesShare your contact info, basic vehicle details, and where it’s located in Jacksonville Metro—whether that’s Downtown, Southside, Westside, or the Beaches. Submitting the form or calling doesn’t lock you into anything; it simply starts the donation process so we can get your pickup scheduled before the December 31 deadline.
Confirm your free pickup date in Jacksonville
5 minutesOur team reviews your info and calls you to schedule free towing, Monday–Saturday, anywhere in the Jacksonville area. We work around your schedule, and the vehicle doesn’t need to run or be inspected. Once your date is set, you’re on track for a same-year donation if pickup occurs by December 31.
Prepare your title and keys for the driver
10 minutesBefore pickup, locate your title and keys. If you have questions about title issues in Florida, ask us when we call. On pickup day, the towing driver will walk you through a simple release. You’ll receive a pickup confirmation—keep this as proof of your donation date for tax purposes.
Vehicle sells and you receive your IRS paperwork
Varies by saleAfter towing, the vehicle is sold for Heritage for the Blind. If it sells for over $500, they’ll mail IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. If it’s $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment with the details you’ll need for your tax records.
Claim your deduction when you file your return
When you do taxesGive your pickup confirmation and 1098-C (or written acknowledgment) to your tax professional or keep them with your tax files. If you itemize on Schedule A, you may generally deduct the gross sale price (or up to $500/FMV for low-value vehicles), subject to IRS rules and your individual tax situation.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals gross sale price over $500
For vehicles that sell for more than $500, the IRS generally lets you deduct the actual gross sale price, not Kelley Blue Book or your estimate. Heritage for the Blind reports that sale price on Form 1098‑C, which supports your claimed deduction.
Special rule for $500-or-less vehicles
If your donated vehicle is valued at or sells for $500 or less, you usually may deduct up to $500 or its fair market value, whichever is lower. You’ll receive a written acknowledgment instead of an IRS Form 1098‑C, and you keep it with your records.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To claim any charitable car donation deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal return. If you take the standard deduction, you generally cannot add a separate car donation deduction. Ask your tax preparer which option benefits you most.
Form 1098‑C and 30-day mailing rule
When your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind must mail IRS Form 1098‑C to you within 30 days of the sale. That form shows the sale price and other required details, and you’ll use it when you file your return.
Dec 31 controls which tax year it counts for
For tax purposes, the key date is when you donate, not when the car sells. If the vehicle is picked up on or before December 31 in Jacksonville, the donation is generally treated as occurring in that tax year, even if it sells—and your 1098‑C arrives—the following year.