To claim a 2024 car donation tax deduction, the IRS only cares about one date: your donation date. When you donate your vehicle to RideRescue in the Little Rock Metro on or before December 31, your deduction applies to this tax year—even if the car sells later. For vehicles that ultimately sell for over $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C after it sells, and your deduction is the actual gross sale price—not Kelley Blue Book. For vehicles that sell for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and may deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. You must itemize on Schedule A to claim the deduction.
RideRescue makes the process simple for donors throughout Little Rock—whether you’re in Hillcrest, The Heights, Midtown, Chenal Valley, West Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Maumelle, Bryant, or Benton. We provide free pickup, Monday–Saturday dispatch, and we accept most vehicles, even if they’re not running. You’ll receive a pickup confirmation you should keep as proof of your donation date, plus the final tax paperwork after the sale. Your car helps fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired through Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Have questions about your specific tax situation? Consult your tax professional—then schedule your pickup in just two minutes.
Your year-end donation timeline
1. Lock in your donation date before Dec 31
2 minutesSubmit our quick online form or call from anywhere in the Little Rock Metro—Downtown, West Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Maumelle, Bryant, Benton, and more. Your deduction year is based on the donation date, so completing this step by December 31 is what secures your 2024 tax deduction.
2. Schedule free pickup that fits your schedule
5 minutesOur dispatch team operates Monday–Saturday in the Little Rock area. Choose a convenient pickup time at your home, workplace, or storage lot. The vehicle doesn’t need to run, and you don’t need to clean it or handle repairs or inspections—we’ll take it as-is at no cost to you.
3. Sign the title, hand over the keys, get confirmation
10–15 minutesAt pickup, you’ll sign the title over to RideRescue’s authorized towing partner. You’ll receive a pickup confirmation; keep this as proof of your donation date for your records. This date is what the IRS uses to determine that your donation counts for the 2024 tax year.
4. We sell the vehicle and mail your tax paperwork
Within weeks after saleAfter towing, your vehicle is sold. If it sells for over $500, we mail IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. If it sells for $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment instead. Keep these documents with your tax records for filing time.
5. Claim your deduction on Schedule A at tax time
During tax filingAt filing time, work with your tax preparer or software to itemize deductions on Schedule A. Use the gross sale amount from Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500, or up to $500/fair market value (whichever is lower) for lower-value vehicles, according to your acknowledgment.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Form 1098-C for cars sold over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, RideRescue mails you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. This shows the charity, your information, and the gross sale price you’ll use when you itemize your deduction.
Deduction equals actual sale price, not KBB
For vehicles sold over $500, the IRS lets you deduct the gross sale proceeds—the price the car actually sells for—rather than a guidebook value like Kelley Blue Book. Your Form 1098-C lists this sale amount for your tax records.
Special rule for $500-or-less vehicles
If your car sells for $500 or less, you can generally deduct up to $500 or its fair market value, whichever is lower. RideRescue sends a written acknowledgment with the details you’ll need; this usually replaces Form 1098-C for these lower-value donations.
You must itemize on Schedule A
Car donations are charitable contributions. To benefit, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. Talk with your tax professional or use reputable tax software to see which option saves you more overall.
Dec 31 donation date controls the tax year
The IRS cares about when you donate, not when the car sells. As long as your vehicle is donated—title signed and pickup confirmed—by December 31, your deduction is for that tax year, even if the sale and Form 1098-C arrive later.