The Frustrated Commuter: Want to dispose of your car? Why not donate it?

Presenting a guest blog post by our friend Daniel Frank, of GiveACar in the UK

If you’ve ever been stuck in traffic surrounded by huge numbers of cars, then you will have hoped for a reduction in the number of cars on the road. However, even if we persuade people to cycle, take public transport or car share, then we still have to solve the problem of car disposal for the cars we get out of circulation. If you’ve determined that you no longer need your car, or if your car is no longer roadworthy, the problem is your car is too a large object just to leave in the garage or on the driveway. Selling the car privately can be a complex affair, and may incur income tax penalties. So what options are there?

Well, one option to consider is that of car donation. Car donation takes several forms; for example, in the US a car might be passed on to those in need who couldn’t otherwise afford one, or used by the charity itself. Alternatively, and somewhat more popularly, in Canada and the UK, cars are often sold for scrap or at a car salvage auction and the money given to the donor’s choice of charity.

In addition, both the US and Canada give the donors a tax receipt for donating their cars to approved charities. So if you want to dispose of your old car, you can even get some money back from it, while helping a great cause.

Having said all this, you do need to be careful and avoid scams. In the US you should check that the charity is eligible to receive donations and talk to them to ensure how much is gained through your car donation. In the UK, you can check for programs approved by the Fundraising Standards Board like Giveacar, which specifically targets scrap cars.