How do you get rid of an old car?

[Cookin4Love]

On top of everything else, DD's car broke down. Apparently, the timing chain broke. Since it was a high-miles, older, not-so-great transportation-only car, it's not worth spending $800 for the repair only to find out whether it needs a new engine (most likely) for another $3k. We're trying to find a salvage yard to take it with no luck. Any ideas?

[zwieback]

If you're considering getting a replacement car, sometimes car dealers have a "push it, tow it, pull it" trade-in incentives. Of course, you won't get much but, if it's a car that you're pretty much just considering junking anyway, it might be something to look into. I've never done anything like that so, it might be more hassle than it's worth. Other than that, I was thinking the salvage/junk yard thing.

[Laura]

Many organizations like Goodwill, Big Brothers/Big Sisters will come take your car, and give you a tax receipt for it. All you have to do is call. I don't believe the cars don't need to be running as they use them to teach mechanical skills.

[MrsReber]

I was going to suggest donating the car, also. I know I've heard that the kidney foundation (I'm pretty sure it's them) also will take donated cars. Here we have an ad for 1-877-Karsforkids. Don't know if they're national or not.

[Gumbeaux]

I agree with donating it. Have the place that you are donating it to send you all the paperwork ahead of time.

Be sure to turn your plates back into to DMV and cancel the insurance on it before the vehicle leaves your property.

[Cookin4Love]

The Kidney Foundation is accepting the car as a donation. Thanks for the good ideas.

[Member10000]

I thought you could only donate a car that was running? :confused: Whatever happened to those ads you used to see in the newpaper along the lines of "we'll pay you $xx to tow your old car"?

[Gumbeaux]

I thought you could only donate a car that was running? :confused:

You can donate cars that are not running. Some places will send a tow truck to pick the car up. The parts are woth something to them and what's left can be sold as scrap metal.

http://www.willowcreek.org/cars.asp




.

[Ms. Chevious]

I donated a car to the Red Cross - it was not running, they came and towed it away. Was very easy to do and a great tax write off.

[foodlady]

Another option is craig's list. (Just google craig's list in your city and see if it exists in your area!)

You can post free to the classifieds.....and you'd be suprised what people will pick up!

[Wendy w]

I donated a car to the Red Cross - it was not running, they came and towed it away. Was very easy to do and a great tax write off.


We did the same with my Mom's '79 Chrysler Cordoba, only I can't remember which charity we donated it to. We were just grateful to get rid of it.

[momqat]

Special Olympics will also take cars, though each state seems to have their own website, so it's best to google it (special olympics car donation). Also Habitat for Humanity will accept cars, too.

[rosen]

Another place to think about donating to is a local high school trade or tech center. These kids are always needing/looking for cars to work on. You won't get any cash, but will know that you are helping to train students that want to go into a trade.

[T.G.]

ms. chievious: very generous!

[jmarie]

We gave a car that wasn't running to the Kidney foundation. We also got a tax write off. :D We didn't realize it at the time, but a former employer owned a car lot in a neighboring town and they sold the car to him for $300.00. He sold the car and made some profit on it. It looks like it was a win-win situation for EVERYONE involved.

T.G., we also give to our church and those tithes and offerrings are also tax write offs. Is that why we do it? NO. We would do it anyway. But it sure is a blessing that the government recognizes it at tax time.
Joyce

PS Cookin4love, be sure to hang onto that receipt, if you donate the car, as it will come in handy. There are rules in place to keep you from overestimating, but a few bucks here and a few bucks there can add up. :D

[doggerham]

My CPA recommended an Intuit (makers of Quicken & TurboTax) product called It's Deductible! This handy software lets you enter your receipts as you go, has a big database of items and values. My CPA will be very happy with me next tax time.

http://www.itsdeductible.com/

[ErinM]

Man, those are all good suggestions!

I was going to go with the old classic...leave it somewhere, and make sure it can't follow you home! Thus, you have gotten rid of it!

:D

Think about it for awhile...I thought it was funny!

[Canice]

About 20 years ago I thought I could sell my car to a junkyard (it was actually not in bad shape at all!) -- and the best I could do was pay someone 50 bucks to take it off my hands :rolleyes:

The tax laws changed this year, so you won't get the kind of write-off previously granted, but as others have said, you're giving to charity and getting rid of the darned car! In addition to the organizations noted above, I gave one car to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, one to my local SPCA, and one to my local public radio station. None of the organizations cared whether the car was in running condition.

[Canice]

Sorry, Cookin4Love: I just noticed that you've already arranged your donation!

[Cookin4Love]

Man, those are all good suggestions!

I was going to go with the old classic...leave it somewhere, and make sure it can't follow you home! Thus, you have gotten rid of it!

:D

Think about it for awhile...I thought it was funny!

We DID have a conversation (just in jest) about getting AAA to tow it to the middle of the desert somewhere. ;) We also lamented that we couldn't even leave it somewhere with the engine running and the keys in the ignition since it wouldn't run. (Just to make sure nobody gets all outraged--we would NEVER do that. It was just one of those crazy, giggly conversations.)

As for the donation, it was DDs car in her name, and she doesn't make enough to itemize, so the tax deduction point is moot. I just needed to get rid of it expeditiously, as I am about at the end of my tolerance for extra things to deal with right now!

[doggerham]

How about freecycle.org?

[Aubergine]

then, go to Kelley's Blue Book online, find our the actual worth of the car, and park it in the yard/on the street/ wherever with a very noticeable "FOR SALE" sign. you'd be amazed how many persons would be happy to buy a car like that, just to work on and get into running order. we just did this with a car a few months ago.

another option is that she can sign the title to you; the car can be sold for minimal dollars on paper. then, you would have the pay the minimal sales tax to your state, but you get to claim the deduction if you donate.

[Lrimerman]

In our state if you sell to a parent/child they waive the taxes. DH bought a car from his dad before he moved to Panama permanently (his dad moved, not us) and paid no taxes.

Check online and see what your state rules are, might be worth it to transfer it and then donate, or if you really don't care than just donate it and forget about the deduction.

I am thinking about getting that software.

Lisa