How the car donation process works
You schedule a free Greater Cincinnati pickup
Start by telling Revive Wheels about your car, truck, van, SUV, motorcycle, or other eligible vehicle. We help arrange free towing at a time that works for you, whether the vehicle is parked in a driveway in Oakley, at an apartment in Mount Auburn, outside a workplace downtown, or at a family home in Northern Kentucky. You do not need to repair, clean, or advertise the vehicle. Once pickup is scheduled, the tow provider collects the vehicle and gives you the initial donation receipt for your records.
The vehicle is assessed after pickup
After towing, the vehicle is reviewed for condition, mileage, age, drivability, title status, and likely resale value. This assessment determines the most responsible way to convert your donated car into funding for Heritage for the Blind. A running vehicle in decent condition may have strong auction potential. A damaged, non-running, very high-mileage, or older vehicle may create more value through licensed salvage or parts channels. The goal is not to keep the car on a lot; it is to turn the donation into proceeds that support the Heritage mission.
Resalable vehicles usually go to auction
If your donated vehicle is running and appears resalable, it typically goes to a public or dealer auction. There, buyers bid based on the vehicle’s condition and market demand. This is common for Cincinnati-area donations that still have useful life but are no longer needed by the owner. Revive Wheels does not promise a specific sale price, and Heritage for the Blind does not use made-up impact numbers. The actual gross sale price becomes important for your tax paperwork if the vehicle sells for more than $500.
Non-running cars may be sold for salvage or parts
Not every donated car is a good fit for auction, and that is completely okay. Vehicles with major mechanical issues, collision damage, missing parts, flood concerns, or extremely high mileage are often sold to licensed salvage yards or parts buyers. This helps create value from a vehicle that might otherwise sit unused in a Cincinnati driveway, garage, alley, or parking space. Even when a car cannot be driven again, its sale proceeds can still support Heritage for the Blind services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Sale proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind
Once the vehicle is sold, the proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. Those sale proceeds are revenue for Heritage and help fund programs and services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also helps connect people with benefit information, and donors or families who want to check possible eligibility for support programs such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, or Section 8 can visit nhftb.org/finder. Your unwanted vehicle becomes practical mission funding.
You receive the tax documents you need
After the sale is complete, you receive the appropriate tax documentation. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, your tax deduction is generally equal to the gross sale price, and IRS Form 1098-C is provided. Keep this form with your tax records and consult a tax professional if you have questions about your individual return. The process is designed to be straightforward: donate the vehicle, complete the free tow, wait for the sale, and receive documentation tied to the actual sale result.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is available throughout Greater Cincinnati for most accepted vehicle donations.
Running vehicles in resalable condition typically go to public or dealer auction.
Non-running, damaged, or high-mileage vehicles usually go to licensed salvage or parts buyers.
Proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446.
For vehicles sold over $500, IRS Form 1098-C reports the gross sale price.
You do not need to repair the vehicle before donating through Revive Wheels.