How the car donation process works
You Start the Donation and Schedule Free Pickup
After you tell Wheels for Good about your vehicle, a towing partner helps schedule a free pickup at a convenient Kansas City Metro location. That may be your home in Midtown, a workplace near Crown Center, an apartment in River Market, or a suburb such as Raytown, Liberty, Shawnee, or Lenexa. You do not need to make the vehicle perfect before pickup. Donors often give cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, motorcycles, and other vehicles in a wide range of conditions. The important first step is simply sharing accurate details so the next stage can be handled correctly.
The Vehicle Is Assessed After Pickup
Once the donated vehicle is picked up, it is reviewed for condition, mileage, age, drivability, title status, and likely resale value. This assessment helps determine the best way to turn the vehicle into the strongest practical return for Heritage for the Blind. A clean, running vehicle may have one path, while a non-running vehicle with mechanical issues may have another. This is why the answer is not always the same for every Kansas City car donation. The process is designed to choose the selling channel that makes sense for that specific vehicle.
Running Vehicles Typically Go to Auction
If your car is running and in resalable condition, it will typically be offered through a public or dealer auction. Auctions allow qualified buyers to bid on vehicles based on market demand, condition, mileage, and repair needs. Wheels for Good does not promise a specific sale price, because the final value is determined by the buyer market. What matters for donors is transparency: the gross sale price is the amount used for your tax deduction when the vehicle sells for more than $500, and that sale creates revenue for Heritage for the Blind.
Older or Non-Running Vehicles May Be Sold for Parts or Salvage
Not every donated vehicle is a good candidate for resale on the road. If a car is non-running, severely damaged, very high-mileage, or too costly to repair, it will typically be sold to licensed salvage or parts buyers. That may sound less exciting than giving the keys to a family directly, but it can still create meaningful value. Even vehicles that no longer drive can have usable parts, recyclable materials, or salvage value. The goal is to convert the vehicle responsibly into proceeds for Heritage for the Blind.
Proceeds Support Heritage for the Blind Services
After the vehicle is sold, the proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. These sale proceeds are revenue that helps Heritage for the Blind fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also helps connect people with benefit information, including resources related to SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, Section 8, and other assistance programs. Donors who want to explore potential benefit eligibility can visit nhftb.org/finder for guidance and next steps.
You Receive Tax Documentation After the Sale
Your donation may qualify for a federal tax deduction because Heritage for the Blind is a recognized 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446. If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, your deduction is generally equal to the gross sale price, and IRS Form 1098-C is issued for your records. If the vehicle sells for $500 or less, different IRS rules may apply. Wheels for Good cannot provide personal tax advice, so donors should consult a qualified tax professional about their specific situation and how to claim the deduction.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is available throughout the Kansas City Metro for qualifying car donations.
Running vehicles in resalable condition typically go to public or dealer auction.
Non-running or high-mileage vehicles are typically sold to licensed salvage or parts buyers.
Sale proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446.
For vehicles sold over $500, donors receive IRS Form 1098-C for the gross sale price.
Your donated vehicle is not automatically given to a family; it is sold to fund services.