In Minnesota, your car donation only counts for this tax year if the vehicle is physically picked up on or before December 31. The IRS goes by the actual pickup date, not the day you schedule. With Nordic AutoGift, operated locally on behalf of Heritage for the Blind, that means you should book your pickup 3–5 business days before December 31 to be safe. We offer free towing Monday–Saturday, even during the holiday season, and we accept running and non‑running vehicles with no inspection or repairs needed.
Whether you’re in Minneapolis or St. Paul, Duluth, Rochester, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Eagan, Maple Grove, Woodbury, or out near Brainerd, Mankato, Moorhead, and the Iron Range, Nordic AutoGift makes year‑end giving simple. You complete a fast 2‑minute form or quick phone call, we schedule a convenient pickup window, and our licensed tow partner comes to your driveway, ramp, alley, or farm. Your deduction year is locked in by the pickup date, and Heritage for the Blind mails your written acknowledgment (and IRS Form 1098‑C for vehicles over $500) after your vehicle sells. Donate your car before year‑end, clean up your Minnesota driveway, and help support services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesComplete Nordic AutoGift’s simple online form or call our Minnesota donation line. Have your title (if available) and basic vehicle info ready. This fast step gets your car into our system so we can prioritize your year‑end, tax‑deductible pickup before December 31.
Choose a pickup window before Dec 31
5 minutesOur team confirms your details and offers pickup times Monday–Saturday across Minnesota. To safely meet the IRS deadline, schedule your tow at least 3–5 business days before December 31 so a driver can physically collect your vehicle in time for this tax year.
Prepare your vehicle for towing
10–15 minutesRemove personal items, clear your plates if required by Minnesota rules, and place your keys and title (if you have it) where the driver can access them. Your car does not have to run—Nordic AutoGift’s partner will tow from driveways, streets, ramps, and rural properties at no cost.
Vehicle is picked up – tax year locked
15–30 minutesWhen the tow truck arrives and takes your car on or before December 31, that date becomes your official IRS donation date. The driver provides an initial pickup receipt. At that moment, your deduction is locked in for this tax year, even though the vehicle will sell later.
Receive your written tax acknowledgment
Within weeks after saleHeritage for the Blind processes your vehicle sale. After it sells, you receive a written acknowledgment—and for vehicles valued over $500, IRS Form 1098‑C—by mail. This document reflects the sale price and supports your Schedule A deduction for the year the vehicle was picked up.
Year-end tax deduction facts
IRS uses the pickup date
For vehicle donations, the IRS considers the donation made on the date the charity (or its agent) takes possession. Your car must be physically picked up by December 31 to claim the deduction on this year’s Minnesota federal tax return.
Dec 31 pickup equals this year’s deduction
If your car is towed away on or before December 31, you can generally deduct the donation on this tax year’s return, even if the vehicle isn’t sold—and your final acknowledgment isn’t mailed—until the following calendar year.
Written acknowledgment and Form 1098-C
Heritage for the Blind will mail a written acknowledgment after your vehicle sells. For most vehicles valued over $500, you’ll also receive IRS Form 1098‑C, showing the sale amount the IRS expects you to use when calculating your charitable deduction.
Itemizing on Schedule A
To claim a car donation, you generally must itemize deductions on IRS Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. Talk with your tax advisor to confirm whether itemizing with your Minnesota return makes sense for your overall tax situation.
30-day receipt window
The IRS expects the charity to send your Form 1098‑C or written acknowledgment within 30 days of the vehicle’s sale or significant use. That timing does not affect the tax year of your deduction; the year is set by the pickup date.