How the car donation process works
You start with a simple Fort Lauderdale donation request
Tell Cruise for Cause about your vehicle, where it is located, and the best way to reach you. We help donors across Fort Lauderdale and the South Florida region, including Wilton Manors, Dania Beach, Pompano Beach, Davie, Sunrise, and Oakland Park. Cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, and many other vehicles may be accepted whether they run or not. You do not need to know the vehicle’s value before you donate. The important first step is sharing basic details so pickup can be coordinated and the vehicle can be evaluated properly after it is collected.
Free towing is scheduled at a convenient local pickup spot
Once your donation is accepted, free towing is arranged at a time that works for you. Pickup may be available from a home, condo, workplace, repair shop, storage lot, or other accessible location in the Fort Lauderdale area. You remove your personal items, have the title ready when required, and the towing provider takes the vehicle away at no cost to you. This is often the moment donors feel the biggest relief: the unwanted car is gone, and the next step is handled by the donation program.
The vehicle is assessed after pickup
After pickup, your donated vehicle is reviewed to determine the most practical resale path. The assessment may consider condition, mileage, whether it starts and drives, repair needs, age, market demand, and salvage value. Cruise for Cause does not promise that every vehicle will be repaired or given directly to a family. Instead, the vehicle is routed in the way that is expected to generate reasonable proceeds for Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446. This straightforward approach helps turn many types of donated vehicles into charitable revenue.
Running vehicles usually go to public or dealer auction
If your car is running and in resalable condition, it will typically be sold through a public or dealer auction. Auction buyers may include dealers, wholesalers, mechanics, exporters, or individual buyers depending on the sale venue. A vehicle does not have to be perfect to be auctioned, but it generally needs enough resale potential to make auction the sensible choice. When the vehicle sells, the gross sale price becomes the basis for donor tax reporting when the sale is over $500, and those proceeds become revenue for Heritage for the Blind.
Non-running or high-mileage vehicles usually go to salvage or parts buyers
If the car is not running, has very high mileage, severe damage, or would cost more to repair than it is worth, it will typically be sold to a licensed salvage or parts buyer. That may mean the buyer recycles usable components, scrap metal, or other materials in accordance with applicable rules. This route can still create value from a vehicle that might otherwise sit unused in a Fort Lauderdale driveway or parking space. Even older, damaged, or non-running vehicles can help generate proceeds for Heritage for the Blind services.
Proceeds support Heritage for the Blind services
After the sale, proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. The sale proceeds are the charity’s revenue from your donation and help fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage for the Blind also helps connect people with benefit resources, and donors or families who want to check possible eligibility for programs such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, or Section 8 can visit nhftb.org/finder. Your donated vehicle becomes a practical way to support a mission that matters.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is available for accepted vehicle donations in Fort Lauderdale and throughout the South Florida region.
Vehicles are assessed after pickup to determine the most appropriate sale channel based on condition and value.
Running vehicles in resalable condition typically go to public or dealer auction.
Non-running, damaged, or high-mileage vehicles typically go to licensed salvage or parts buyers.
Proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446.
For vehicles sold over $500, donors receive IRS Form 1098-C showing the gross sale price.