How the car donation process works
Start with the 2-minute form or call
Begin with the 2-minute online donation form or call Heritage for the Blind directly. You will share basic details: your name, pickup address in the Birmingham Metro area, phone number, vehicle year, make, model, mileage if known, and whether the vehicle runs. Do not worry if you do not have every answer; the team can help you fill in missing information. There is no obligation and no fee to submit your donation request. Once the request is in, Heartfelt Rides starts coordinating the pickup around your schedule.
Get a fast scheduling callback
A donation coordinator typically calls back within 1-2 business hours after your request is received. During that call, the coordinator confirms your Birmingham Metro pickup location, checks vehicle access, answers title questions, and offers available pickup windows. You can ask anything before you commit, including how the tow works at an apartment, workplace, storage lot, driveway, or curbside spot. The goal is to make the next step easy: a free pickup time that fits your day and requires minimal interruption.
Free local pickup and title signing
On pickup day, a licensed tow truck arrives at the donor location you approved. In most metro areas, including many Birmingham-area neighborhoods and suburbs, same-day or next-business-day pickup is available when scheduling and access allow. You do not pay the driver, and you do not need to move the vehicle to a shop. At pickup, you sign the vehicle title over as instructed. Remove personal items, license plates if Alabama requirements apply to your situation, and have your keys available if you have them.
Your vehicle is moved for resale
After pickup, the vehicle is transported to an auction or a parts reseller, depending on condition, demand, and what is likely to create the best charitable result. Running cars, high-mileage vehicles, damaged vehicles, and non-running vehicles may all follow different resale paths. You do not have to negotiate with buyers, handle repairs, place listings, meet strangers, or arrange delivery. Heartfelt Rides and Heritage for the Blind coordinate the post-pickup process so your donation can be converted into support for the mission.
Sale proceeds support Heritage for the Blind
When the vehicle sells, net proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446, helping fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also helps connect people with benefit resources such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, Section 8, and related programs. If you or someone you know wants to check benefit eligibility, visit nhftb.org/finder. Your donated vehicle may no longer fit your life, but it can still help move important services forward.
Receive your mailed tax receipt
After the vehicle sells, Heritage for the Blind mails your tax receipt. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, donors receive IRS Form 1098-C. For vehicles that sell for $500 or under, donors receive a written acknowledgment. The full donation timeline usually takes about 2-6 weeks, depending on pickup timing, resale processing, and mail delivery. There is no cost to you at any step. Keep your receipt with your tax records and consult a tax professional about your specific deduction situation.
Key facts about car donation
Pickup is free for donors throughout Birmingham Metro, including many homes, workplaces, apartments, and storage locations.
Most Birmingham Metro pickups can be scheduled for same-day or next-business-day service when availability allows.
You sign the vehicle title at pickup, so ownership transfer starts before the vehicle leaves.
Receipts are mailed after sale: Form 1098-C over $500, written acknowledgment for $500 or under.
The full donation process typically takes 2-6 weeks from request to mailed tax paperwork.
There is no charge to donate, no towing bill, and no repair requirement before pickup.