How the car donation process works
Start with the 2-minute form or a call
Begin by completing the quick CarLift Utah online donation form or calling Heritage for the Blind. You will provide basic details such as your name, contact information, vehicle year, make, model, condition, location, and whether you have the title. You do not need a professional appraisal or repair estimate to get started. If your car, truck, SUV, van, or motorcycle is sitting in a driveway, parking garage, apartment lot, or business lot in the Salt Lake Metro, include that pickup location so the coordinator can plan the tow properly.
A coordinator calls back within 1-2 business hours
After your form is submitted, a donation coordinator will typically call you back within 1-2 business hours during normal business times. This call is short and practical. The coordinator confirms your vehicle information, answers questions, reviews pickup access, and helps select a convenient tow window. If you are in Downtown Salt Lake City, Liberty Wells, Glendale, Holladay, Taylorsville, Bountiful, or another nearby community, the goal is to make pickup simple around your schedule. There is no cost to schedule the tow and no obligation to pay any service fee.
Free pickup is scheduled at your Salt Lake Metro location
In most metro areas, a licensed tow truck can arrive the same day or the next business day, depending on availability, weather, traffic, and your preferred time window. You do not have to drive the vehicle anywhere, and it generally does not need to be running. Please remove personal belongings, take off license plates if Utah requirements or your DMV situation call for it, and have your keys and title ready. The driver will meet you at the vehicle, verify the pickup, and guide the handoff.
You sign the title over at pickup
At pickup, the donor signs the title over so the vehicle can be legally transferred and sold. The tow driver or coordinator will explain where to sign, but you should avoid filling in buyer details or making corrections until instructed. If your title is missing, damaged, or has a lien listed, ask the coordinator before pickup so you know what is needed. Signing the title is usually the only required donor action at the vehicle handoff. Once the paperwork is complete, the tow truck removes the vehicle free of charge.
The vehicle goes to auction or a parts reseller
After pickup, the vehicle is transported to an auction facility or, when appropriate, a parts reseller. The destination depends on the vehicle condition, age, demand, and resale path most likely to produce value for the charity. A clean, running vehicle may be sold differently than a non-running vehicle with usable parts. You do not have to manage the sale, negotiate with buyers, or wait at an auction. CarLift Utah and Heritage for the Blind handle the post-pickup process so your donation can be converted into charitable proceeds.
Your tax receipt is mailed after the sale
Once the vehicle sells, sale proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446, to help fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Your tax documentation is then mailed to you. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind provides IRS Form 1098-C. For vehicles that sell for $500 or under, you receive a written acknowledgment. The full donation-to-receipt timeline is typically 2-6 weeks, depending on sale timing and mail delivery.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is included for donors throughout Salt Lake City and most Salt Lake Metro communities.
A coordinator usually calls within 1-2 business hours after your donation form is submitted.
Same-day or next-business-day pickup is often available in most metro areas, schedule permitting.
You sign the title at pickup, and the licensed tow driver removes the vehicle at no cost.
Tax documentation is mailed after the vehicle sells, usually within the 2-6 week process window.
Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446.