Donating your car for a tax deduction this year? In Fort Lauderdale and all of South Florida, the IRS deadline is firm: your vehicle must be picked up on or before December 31 to count for this tax year. With Cruise for Cause, our charity partner Heritage for the Blind schedules pickups Monday–Saturday all through December, including Christmas week. In most metro areas, call before early afternoon on a weekday and we can usually arrange same-day or next-day towing. To safely lock in a December 31 pickup slot, call or submit our 2-minute form by December 27 (December 28 at the latest). Your title must be signed before pickup, and towing is always free—running or not.
We know year-end in Fort Lauderdale is busy—between holiday travel, visitors, and traffic from Las Olas to the beaches. Cruise for Cause makes your car donation simple whether you’re in Victoria Park, Coral Ridge, Rio Vista, Harbor Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Wilton Manors, or out toward Sunrise, Plantation, and Hollywood. You get a straightforward process, a clear tax receipt, and your old vehicle is gone before the New Year. Proceeds support Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) helping people who are blind and visually impaired. If you’re aiming for a deduction this year, the clock really does stop at midnight December 31. Start now and secure your pickup.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesFrom anywhere in Fort Lauderdale or South Florida, call us or complete the quick online form. We’ll ask for basic vehicle details, your contact info, and where the car is located—driveway, condo garage, or street parking is fine.
Lock in your year-end pickup date
5 minutesTell us you need this year’s tax deduction. Our dispatch (Monday–Saturday, including Christmas week) will offer the earliest slots—often same-day or next-day if you call before early afternoon. Call by December 27–28 to guarantee a December 31 slot.
Prepare your signed Florida title
5–10 minutesBefore the tow truck arrives, sign your Florida title as the seller. Have your ID ready and remove plates and personal items. No inspection or repairs are required; vehicles in any condition are accepted for free towing in the Fort Lauderdale area.
Free tow anywhere in South Florida
30–60 minutes at pickupOn your scheduled day, our professional towing partner will meet you at home, work, or even the airport long-term lot if allowed. Pickup must be completed by December 31 for the donation to count this tax year. You pay nothing for towing.
Receive your tax receipt and file
Within 30 days of saleHeritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3), will mail you an official tax acknowledgment, and for eligible donations, IRS Form 1098-C details. You’ll use this to claim your deduction when you itemize on Schedule A of your federal return.
Year-end tax deduction facts
December 31 is the real IRS cutoff
For your donation to count this tax year, the vehicle must be picked up and your ownership transferred by 11:59 p.m. on December 31. Simply calling in December is not enough—the tow has to be completed.
You’ll receive written proof of donation
Heritage for the Blind sends a written acknowledgment after your vehicle is picked up and processed. Keep this with your tax records; it’s your official proof that you donated the car to a qualified 501(c)(3) charity.
Form 1098-C for larger deductions
If your vehicle sells for more than the IRS reporting threshold, Heritage for the Blind will issue IRS Form 1098-C. This form shows the gross sale price, which the IRS generally uses to determine your allowable deduction.
Deduction is usually the sale price
In most cases, your federal tax deduction equals the amount the charity receives when your vehicle is sold, not the Blue Book value. The sale amount appears on your 1098-C and is what you report when you file.
Claiming your deduction on Schedule A
To use your car donation as a federal tax deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. Keep your receipt and any 1098-C form with your records when you file.