How the car donation process works
You donate online or by phone and choose free Kentucky pickup
The process begins when you start your donation with Ride for Good and provide basic vehicle details, such as the year, make, model, condition, location, and title status. Pickup is arranged at no cost to you in many Kentucky areas, including neighborhoods like the Highlands and St. Matthews in Louisville, Hamburg and Beaumont in Lexington, and communities from Northern Kentucky to Western Kentucky. You do not need to deliver the vehicle yourself. A licensed towing provider contacts you to schedule a convenient pickup time.
Your vehicle is picked up and assessed after towing
After pickup, the vehicle is reviewed to determine the most practical resale path. The assessment may consider whether it starts, runs, drives safely, has major mechanical issues, has high mileage, or has collision, flood, or title concerns. This step helps avoid guesswork and places the vehicle where it can generate the best available sale proceeds. Ride for Good does not promise that a donated vehicle will be repaired and given away. The standard goal is to convert the vehicle into charitable revenue for Heritage for the Blind.
Running vehicles usually go to auction
If your donated car is running and appears to be in resalable condition, it will typically be sent to a public or dealer auction. That includes many everyday vehicles donated by Kentucky drivers, from commuter sedans in Lexington to pickup trucks in rural counties and SUVs around Louisville suburbs. At auction, buyers compete for the vehicle, and the final gross sale price determines the amount reported for tax purposes when the vehicle sells for more than $500. The objective is straightforward: sell the vehicle efficiently and create revenue for Heritage for the Blind.
Non-running or high-mileage vehicles may be sold for salvage or parts
If the vehicle does not run, has very high mileage, is too costly to repair, or is better suited for dismantling, it will typically be sold to a licensed salvage or parts buyer. This can still create meaningful proceeds for the charity, even when the car has been sitting, needs a transmission, has body damage, or will not pass inspection. Rather than asking you to pay for repairs or removal, Ride for Good helps turn an unwanted vehicle into support for Heritage for the Blind’s mission.
Sale proceeds fund Heritage for the Blind services
Once the vehicle is sold, the sale proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) charity, EIN 58-2164446. These proceeds are charitable revenue that helps fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also connects people with benefit resources, including SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, Section 8, and related assistance programs; donors or community members can check eligibility resources at nhftb.org/finder. Your donated vehicle does not need to be perfect to help. The value comes from converting it into support for the mission.
You receive tax documentation after the vehicle sells
After the sale is complete, you receive documentation for your records. If your 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. If the vehicle sells for $500 or less, different IRS rules may apply. Ride for Good cannot provide tax advice, so it is wise to speak with a tax professional about your specific return. You can donate with confidence knowing the paperwork follows the actual sale outcome.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is available for many donors throughout Kentucky, including major cities, suburbs, and smaller communities.
Running, resalable vehicles typically go to public or dealer auction after pickup and assessment.
Non-running, damaged, or high-mileage vehicles are typically sold to licensed salvage or parts buyers.
Proceeds from the vehicle sale go to Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446.
For vehicles selling over $500, donors receive IRS Form 1098-C showing the gross sale price.
Heritage for the Blind is a real 501(c)(3) supporting blind and visually impaired Americans.