If your car is picked up by December 31 in Greater Boston, your donation counts for this tax year—no matter when it’s sold. With Revive Rides, the fastest path is simple: spend about two minutes on our secure online form or call to start. A Heritage for the Blind coordinator calls you back quickly to schedule a free tow on your timeline, including many same-day or next-business-day pickups. Your physical pickup date is what the IRS looks at, not the later sale date—so acting now is what locks in this year’s deduction.
Revive Rides coordinates free, licensed towing across Greater Boston—whether you’re in Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, South Boston, East Boston, Brighton, Roxbury, Allston, the Back Bay, or suburbs like Cambridge, Somerville, Quincy, Brookline, Medford, Malden, or Waltham. Your car doesn’t need to run, pass inspection, or have current registration. At pickup, you simply sign the title over; the vehicle is transported and sold to support Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) helping people who are blind or visually impaired. Then you receive written proof for your taxes. December pickup slots fill fast in Boston, so if you’re ready to donate, start now.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2‑minute form or call Revive Rides
2 minutesShare your contact info, where the car is located in Greater Boston, and basic vehicle details. This locks in your intent and gets you into the pickup queue. You choose your preferred days and times; nights and weekends are fine to submit the form.
Coordinator calls back to schedule free pickup
Within 1–2 business hoursA Heritage for the Blind coordinator calls you—often within 1–2 hours on weekdays—to confirm details and set your tow time. In most Boston-area locations, they can offer same-day or next-business-day pickup, including many Saturday slots in busier weeks.
Tow truck arrives at your Boston address
Same day or next business day in most areasA licensed, insured tow partner comes to your home, garage, or lot—whether that’s in Somerville, Dorchester, Cambridge, or elsewhere around Greater Boston. The towing is completely free to you, and non-running, damaged, or failed-inspection vehicles are all welcome.
Sign the title and complete the donation
About 5–10 minutes at pickupYou hand over the keys (if you have them) and sign the title over on the spot. The tow driver or coordinator helps ensure everything is filled out correctly. The date the vehicle is physically picked up is treated as your IRS donation date.
Vehicle is sold and your tax paperwork is mailed
Within 30 days of saleYour car is transported and sold to benefit Heritage for the Blind. Within 30 days of the sale, you’re mailed IRS Form 1098‑C or a written acknowledgment you can use with your tax return. Keep this with your records when you file and itemize your deduction.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date is your donation date
For car donations, the IRS looks at when you actually hand the vehicle over. If your Revive Rides tow happens on or before December 31 in Greater Boston, the gift is considered made in that tax year.
Form 1098‑C documents your deduction
After your car is sold, Heritage for the Blind sends IRS Form 1098‑C or a written acknowledgment within 30 days of the sale. This shows the sale amount and is the key document you keep with your tax records.
Deduction usually equals sale price
In most cases, your charitable deduction is the gross sale price of the vehicle, not its Blue Book estimate. The sale amount is what will be reported on Form 1098‑C and used when you claim the deduction.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To actually benefit from a car-donation tax deduction, you generally need to itemize deductions on Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. A tax preparer or advisor can help you see which option saves you more.
30‑day receipt rule after sale
The charity must send your 1098‑C or written acknowledgment within 30 days of selling the vehicle, not 30 days from pickup. That means your paperwork may arrive in the new year, even if your donation counts for the prior tax year.