How the car donation process works
You start the donation and schedule a free Illinois tow
The process begins when you tell Heartland Motors Trust about your vehicle and where it is located in Illinois. Free pickup is available in communities such as Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, Evanston, Oak Park, Schaumburg, Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington-Normal, and many surrounding areas, subject to local tow scheduling. You do not need to drive the vehicle to a drop-off site. Once pickup is arranged, a towing partner collects the car and moves it into the donation processing system so it can be evaluated for the best resale or salvage path.
Your vehicle is assessed after pickup
After pickup, the vehicle is reviewed for condition, mileage, drivability, age, title status, and likely resale value. This assessment helps determine whether it should be offered to buyers as a running vehicle or routed to a licensed salvage or parts buyer. A clean, running sedan from Naperville may be handled differently than a high-mileage work truck from Peoria or a non-running SUV from Rockford. The purpose is always the same: choose the practical sales channel that can help generate proceeds for Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446.
Running, resalable vehicles usually go to auction
If your donated car runs and appears to be in resalable condition, it will typically be sent to a public or dealer auction. Auctions allow qualified buyers to bid based on the vehicle’s real condition and local market interest. The vehicle might be purchased by a dealer, reseller, mechanic, or individual buyer, depending on the auction format. This is often the most efficient way to convert a usable Illinois vehicle into sale proceeds, while keeping the process straightforward for the donor and beneficial for Heritage for the Blind.
Non-running or high-mileage vehicles may be sold for salvage or parts
Not every donated vehicle is a good candidate for auction. If a car does not run, has very high mileage, needs major repairs, or has limited resale appeal, it is typically sold to a licensed salvage buyer or parts buyer. That does not mean the donation has no value. Parts, scrap materials, and salvage demand can still create proceeds. For donors in Illinois with an old car in a driveway, garage, alley, or parking space, this can be a simple way to remove the vehicle and still help fund a charitable mission.
Sale proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind
Once the vehicle sells, the gross sale proceeds become revenue for Heritage for the Blind, a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. Those proceeds help fund services and support for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also helps connect people with benefit resources, and donors or families who want to check potential eligibility for programs such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, or Section 8 can visit nhftb.org/finder. Your unwanted vehicle becomes a practical funding source for that work.
You receive the tax paperwork after the sale
After the vehicle is sold, you receive documentation for your records. If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind provides IRS Form 1098-C, and your tax deduction is generally equal to the vehicle’s gross sale price. This is one reason the post-pickup sale process matters: the final selling price determines the deduction for vehicles over $500. Keep your paperwork with your tax records, and consider speaking with a tax professional if you have questions about your specific filing situation.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is available for Illinois donors, with pickup scheduled through local towing partners.
Vehicles are assessed after pickup to determine the best auction, salvage, or parts sale path.
Running vehicles in resalable condition typically go to public or dealer auction.
Non-running, damaged, or high-mileage vehicles typically go to licensed salvage or parts buyers.
Gross sale proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446.
Vehicles selling for more than $500 receive IRS Form 1098-C for the donor’s tax records.