Donate your car to Coastal Wheels in Melbourne before 11:59 p.m. on December 31, and you can generally deduct the sale price on this year’s tax return. Here’s how it works: if your vehicle sells for more than $500, Coastal Wheels (supporting Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446) will mail you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. Your deduction is the car’s gross sale price, not Kelley Blue Book, and you’ll claim it only if you itemize on Schedule A. If your car is valued at $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment you can use to deduct the lower of $500 or fair market value.
We keep the process fast and local-feeling for Space Coast donors. Whether you’re in Suntree, Viera, West Melbourne, Palm Bay, or near the Eau Gallie Arts District, we arrange free towing, usually Monday–Saturday. You don’t need to repair, clean, or even have the car running. You’ll get a pickup confirmation to prove your donation date for the IRS, then your tax receipt after the vehicle sells. Have questions about how the deduction applies to you? We always recommend confirming details with your tax professional—then come back here and schedule your pickup in just two minutes.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute online form
2 minutesEnter your contact info, basic vehicle details, and your Melbourne or Space Coast pickup address (Suntree, Viera, Palm Bay, West Melbourne, or nearby). Submitting the form is the first step to locking in a year-end donation before the December 31 IRS deadline.
Confirm your donation and pickup date
5 minutesA Coastal Wheels coordinator contacts you to confirm the title situation and schedule free towing. Choose a convenient pickup window, usually Monday–Saturday. Be sure to pick a time on or before December 31 if you want this year’s tax deduction.
Complete pickup and keep your confirmation
15–30 minutesOur driver meets you at home, work, or a storage lot anywhere around Melbourne, the beaches, or the wider Space Coast. You hand over the keys and signed title (if available). You’ll receive a pickup confirmation—keep this as proof of your donation date for your tax records.
Vehicle sells and we process your tax paperwork
VariesCoastal Wheels arranges sale of your vehicle. If it sells for more than $500, we prepare IRS Form 1098-C. If it’s $500 or less, we prepare a written acknowledgment. In both cases, your paperwork reflects the actual sale details the IRS requires.
Receive your 1098-C or acknowledgment by mail
Within 30 days of saleWithin 30 days after the car sells, you’ll receive Form 1098-C (for sales over $500) or a written acknowledgment (for $500 or less). Save this with your tax records so you and your tax professional can correctly claim your deduction on Schedule A.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals sale price, not book value
For most car donations over $500, the IRS says you deduct the vehicle’s gross sale price, not the Kelley Blue Book estimate. Your Form 1098-C from Coastal Wheels lists that sale price for your tax return.
Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500
When your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Coastal Wheels mails you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. This official form documents the sale price and charity information for your itemized deduction.
Special rule for $500-or-less vehicles
If your donated car is $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098-C. In that case, you may generally deduct the lower of $500 or the car’s fair market value, subject to IRS rules.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation tax deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal tax return. If you take the standard deduction, you usually cannot claim an additional write-off for your donated vehicle.
Dec 31 controls which tax year it counts
Your donation counts for this tax year if the vehicle is donated—picked up or transferred—on or before December 31. Keep your pickup confirmation from Coastal Wheels as proof of the donation date for your records.