How the car donation process works
Start with the 2-minute form or call Heritage for the Blind
Begin by completing the quick online donation form for Revive Rides or by calling Heritage for the Blind directly. You will share basic information about the vehicle, including year, make, model, mileage if known, condition, location, and whether you have the title. Cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, and some non-running vehicles may qualify. This first step is not complicated and does not require you to know the vehicle’s value. It simply gives the donation team what they need to confirm pickup options in Boston and the surrounding Greater Boston area.
A coordinator calls back within 1–2 business hours
After your form is submitted, a donation coordinator typically calls within 1–2 business hours to review your details and answer questions before you commit. This is the time to confirm the pickup address, talk through title questions, mention parking limitations, or explain whether the vehicle is in a garage, driveway, apartment lot, or on a Boston street. The coordinator will help schedule a free tow at a time that works for you. There is no cost to you at this step or at any point in the donation process.
Your free tow is scheduled for pickup
In most metro areas, including Greater Boston, a licensed tow truck can often arrive the same day or the next business day, depending on availability and vehicle access. Pickups may be arranged at your home, workplace, repair shop, or other approved location in places such as South Boston, Roxbury, Medford, Malden, Waltham, Revere, or Dedham. At pickup, you sign the title over as instructed. Please remove personal belongings, license plates if required by Massachusetts rules, and any toll transponder before the driver arrives.
The vehicle is transported for auction or resale
Once the tow driver has the signed title and the vehicle is released, the car is transported to an auction facility or, when appropriate, to a parts reseller. You do not have to advertise the vehicle, meet buyers, pay towing fees, or negotiate a sale price. The donation team handles the next stage for you. The final sale path depends on the vehicle’s condition, age, mileage, and market demand. Whether your car runs or not, the goal is to turn it into support for the nonprofit mission.
Sale proceeds support Heritage for the Blind
After the vehicle sells, proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. Heritage for the Blind uses donated vehicle proceeds to help fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Your Boston car donation can turn an unwanted vehicle into meaningful nonprofit support without the hassle of selling it yourself. Revive Rides is designed to keep the donor experience clear and simple while ensuring the charity receives the benefit of the sale.
Your tax receipt is mailed after the vehicle sells
Your tax documentation is mailed after the vehicle is sold, not at the moment of pickup. If the vehicle sells for more than $500, you will receive IRS Form 1098-C. If it sells for $500 or less, you will receive a written acknowledgment. The overall process, from first contact to mailed receipt, typically takes about 2–6 weeks, depending on pickup timing, sale processing, and mailing. Keep your receipt with your tax records and consult a tax professional if you have questions about claiming a charitable deduction.
Key facts about car donation
Pickup is free for eligible donated vehicles throughout Boston and many Greater Boston neighborhoods and suburbs.
A coordinator usually calls within 1–2 business hours after you submit the 2-minute form.
In most metro areas, towing can be scheduled same-day or the next business day.
You sign the title over at pickup; Heritage for the Blind handles the remaining sale process.
Tax receipts are mailed after sale, with Form 1098-C issued for vehicles selling over $500.
There is no cost to the donor at any step of the Revive Rides donation process.