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If you contribute a car, boat, or aircraft to a charitable organization, you must determine its fair market value.
Commercial firms and trade organizations publish guides, commonly called "blue books," containing complete dealer sale prices or dealer average prices for recent model years. These guides provide estimates, including adjustments for unusual equipment, unusual mileage, and physical condition. The prices are not "official" and these publications are not considered an appraisal of any specific donated property, but they do provide clues for making an appraisal and suggest relative prices for comparison with current sales and offerings in your area.
For low value vehicle donations you can claim the fair market value up to $500 without any additional paperwork, together with the receipt we will provide at the time of the pickup.
If your vehicle is worth more then $500, your deduction will be limited to the actual sale price. We will work to get top dollar for your car donation, however most vehicles are sold "wholesale" at auctions, dealerships etc. and are frequently sold for less then the blue book value.
Vehicles in good running order or vehicles that can be significantly improved before they are sold can generally claim your car's fair market value. Please call us at 1-800-526-7050 to verify if this would be the case for your vehicle.
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