To lock in a 2024 car donation tax deduction in Minnesota, your vehicle must be donated by 11:59 pm on December 31. With Nordic AutoGift, your deduction is based on the actual sale price of your vehicle, not Kelley Blue Book. When your car sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind (our 501(c)(3) partner, EIN 58-2164446) will mail you IRS Form 1098-C. If it sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment you can use to deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. You must itemize on Schedule A to claim the deduction.
Nordic AutoGift makes year-end donating easy across Minnesota—from Minneapolis, St. Paul, Edina, and Bloomington to Rochester, Duluth, St. Cloud, Mankato, Moorhead, and the Iron Range. We offer free towing statewide, Monday–Saturday dispatch, and we accept most vehicles even if they don’t run—no inspection or repairs needed. Your pickup confirmation acts as proof of your donation date, and we handle the sale and tax paperwork. Proceeds support Heritage for the Blind’s services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Donate now, beat the New Year’s Eve rush, and get your Minnesota tax savings started.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your 2-minute donation form or call
2 minutesShare your Minnesota location (from Minneapolis to Duluth), basic vehicle info, and how to reach you. This locks in your intent date for a 2024 deduction as long as it’s before 11:59 pm on December 31. No title questions or tax forms to solve right now.
Choose a convenient free pickup time
5 minutesOur towing partner calls to schedule free pickup anywhere in Minnesota—Twin Cities, suburbs like Maple Grove or Eagan, or outstate areas. We dispatch Monday–Saturday. Non-running and damaged vehicles are fine. You’ll get a pickup confirmation—keep this as proof of your donation date.
Sign and hand over keys at pickup
10 minutesOn pickup day, you sign the title where instructed and hand over the keys. The driver gives you a simple towing or pickup receipt. This confirms we took possession of the vehicle and ties your donation to the tax year if arranged by December 31.
We sell your vehicle and report the price
Varies after pickupNordic AutoGift handles the sale—auction, wholesale, or recycling—depending on what brings the best return. Once it sells, Heritage for the Blind determines the gross sale proceeds, which is usually what you can deduct if it’s over $500, instead of any book value estimate.
Receive your IRS tax paperwork by mail
Within 30 days of saleIf the vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. If it sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment instead. Use this plus Schedule A when you file; ask your tax professional how it applies to you.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals sale price, not book value
For most donated vehicles sold by Heritage for the Blind for more than $500, the IRS generally lets you deduct the gross sale proceeds shown on Form 1098-C. This replaces Kelley Blue Book or other value guides in most situations.
Special rules for $500 or less vehicles
If your vehicle sells for $500 or less, your written acknowledgment lets you generally deduct up to $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower. No Form 1098-C is issued in that case—just keep the acknowledgment and your pickup proof.
Form 1098-C mailed within 30 days of sale
When your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind mails IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale date. That form lists the sale price and other details your tax preparer needs to properly claim the deduction.
Must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation tax deduction, you must generally itemize deductions on Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. A tax professional can help you compare which approach saves you more on your Minnesota and federal taxes.
Dec 31 controls the tax year of the gift
For tax purposes, your donation is tied to the year you make it—typically when you transfer the vehicle or clearly complete the donation process, not the day it sells. Donating by December 31 means the deduction usually applies to that tax year.