If your vehicle is picked up on or before December 31 in Minnesota, that pickup date is your IRS donation date—and it locks in your deduction for this tax year. With Nordic AutoGift and Heritage for the Blind, you can start in about two minutes. Complete a simple online form or call, get a call back in 1–2 business hours to schedule, and in most Minnesota metro areas your car can be towed away free the same day or next business day. Non-running, no current registration, no recent inspection—still okay.
We understand year-end crunch in Minnesota: snow in Minneapolis and St. Paul, tight schedules in suburbs like Bloomington, Maple Grove, Woodbury, Eagan, and busy drives from Duluth to Rochester. Our local towing partners work Monday–Saturday across the Twin Cities metro, greater Minnesota corridors like St. Cloud, Mankato, and Brainerd, and surrounding communities. Your vehicle is picked up by a licensed tow truck at your home, office, or a safe lot, the title is signed on the spot, and you receive your tax acknowledgment by mail after the sale. December pickup slots fill up quickly—start now so your donation counts for this year.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute form or call Nordic AutoGift
About 2 minutesSubmit our secure online form or call Nordic AutoGift on behalf of Heritage for the Blind with your Minnesota location, basic vehicle info, and how to reach you. It’s all you need to start the donation process and position your car for a pre–December 31 pickup and this year’s tax deduction.
Coordinator calls you back to schedule free pickup
Within 1–2 business hours on weekdaysA donation coordinator contacts you to confirm details and offer the earliest available free tow times. In the Twin Cities and most larger Minnesota communities, we can often schedule same-day or next-business-day pickup. You choose a time window that works for you before December 31.
Licensed tow truck picks up your vehicle in Minnesota
Same day or next business day in most metrosA fully licensed tow truck meets you at your home, work, or storage lot anywhere in Minnesota we serve—Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Rochester, St. Cloud, and more. The tow is completely free. The actual pickup date (on or before Dec 31) becomes your IRS donation date for this tax year.
Sign the title at pickup and hand over the keys
5–10 minutes at the truckAt the time of pickup, you sign your Minnesota title over to Heritage for the Blind with guidance from the driver and coordinator. No emissions or safety inspection is required, and the vehicle does not need to run or be currently registered. You keep any personal items; we take the vehicle.
Vehicle is sold and tax paperwork is mailed
Receipt mailed within 30 days of saleYour donated car is transported and sold. Once the sale is complete, Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS-compliant acknowledgment paperwork—typically Form 1098-C or a written acknowledgment—within 30 days of the sale. This documents your deductible amount for your federal income tax return.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Dec 31 pickup = this year’s tax year
For IRS purposes, the date your vehicle is picked up by our licensed tow truck is the donation date—not the sale date. If your car is physically picked up on or before December 31, it generally counts as a donation for that tax year.
Form 1098-C for higher-value deductions
If your vehicle sells for more than the IRS threshold, Heritage for the Blind issues IRS Form 1098-C. This form shows the gross sale price, which is usually the maximum amount you can claim as a charitable deduction when you itemize.
Written acknowledgment within 30 days of sale
After your vehicle is sold, Heritage for the Blind mails a written acknowledgment or Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. Keep this with your tax records—it’s your official proof of the donation and the deductible value for your return.
Deduction typically equals sale price
In most cases, the amount you may deduct is limited to the vehicle’s selling price at auction or private sale, not the Kelley Blue Book estimate. The IRS requires charities to report that actual sale price on your acknowledgment or Form 1098-C.
Itemizing on Schedule A
To claim a vehicle donation, you usually must itemize deductions using Schedule A with your federal tax return. If you do not itemize, you generally cannot take a separate deduction for your donated car. Consult your tax advisor for your situation.