How the car donation process works
Start with what you have
Before scheduling your Birmingham Metro pickup, look for the current title, registration, lien release, death certificate, or any ownership documents you already have. A clean, signed title is the simplest way to donate, but Heartfelt Rides understands that older cars, inherited vehicles, and long-parked vehicles often come with paperwork questions. Tell us the title state, whose name is printed, and whether there is a lender listed. If you also want to explore benefit programs connected through Heritage for the Blind, visit nhftb.org/finder to check resources such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, and Section 8.
Use a clean title when available
If you have the title and there is no active lien, the process is usually straightforward. At pickup, the vehicle owner signs the title over to Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446. The tow driver brings the pickup paperwork and confirms the vehicle details before towing it away at no cost. Do not sign in the wrong box or erase anything if you are unsure; title corrections can create delays. Whether your vehicle is in downtown Birmingham, Five Points South, Avondale, Irondale, or Pelham, the goal is a simple, documented transfer at your pickup location.
Call if the title is lost or missing
A lost title does not automatically prevent donation. Heritage for the Blind can help you understand your state’s replacement-title process and what information may be needed before a vehicle can be accepted. In some situations, vehicles without titles can still be accepted, depending on the age of the vehicle, state rules, and available ownership records. Because requirements vary, the best next step is to call before pickup. This is especially helpful for vehicles that have been sitting in a driveway, garage, apartment lot, or repair shop around the Birmingham Metro.
Resolve liens and name issues first
If a lender, bank, or finance company is listed on the title, the lien must be satisfied before donation. Contact the lender and ask how to obtain a lien release or released title. Heartfelt Rides cannot accept a vehicle that is still legally tied to an unpaid loan. If the title is in someone else’s name, the titled owner usually must sign. If the owner is a deceased spouse or parent, you may need probate documents, a small-estate document, or an affidavit of heirship, depending on the state. Call first so Heritage for the Blind can guide you.
Complete the handoff at free pickup
Once the paperwork path is clear, Heartfelt Rides schedules free towing at a convenient Birmingham Metro location, including homes, offices, repair shops, and storage lots when access is available. Foreign-state titles are accepted, so an Alabama pickup can often move forward even if the title was issued in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, or another state. At pickup, you sign the title over to Heritage for the Blind and receive donation documentation. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, Heritage provides IRS Form 1098-C. Typically, no DMV visit is required after the title handoff.
Key facts about car donation
A clean title is preferred, but lost-title situations are often workable with the right state guidance.
Any listed lien must be released before the vehicle can be donated through Heartfelt Rides.
The title is signed over to Heritage for the Blind at pickup, not to the tow driver personally.
Out-of-state titles are commonly accepted for Birmingham Metro pickups when ownership is clear.
Vehicles without titles can sometimes be accepted; call first to review the vehicle and paperwork.
Free towing is included, and IRS Form 1098-C is issued when a vehicle sells for over $500.