The Cars 4 Causes Blog. Car Donation Program Nationwide.

“Can I donate my car if it’s not running?” is another common question we hear at Cars 4 Causes. We address this question in our Car Donation FAQs , but thought we would discuss it more in depth here since we get asked about it numerous times throughout the day.

We accept most car donations whether they are running or not. Your car still has value even if it’s not running. The value of the car is not solely determined on whether it runs or not. There are others factors such as the year, make and model. Some cars, even after being in an accident are worth a good sum of money. It may not be worth it to you to fix it up and get it running, but it may be worth it to someone else.

We take in a broad spectrum of vehicles (including cars, trucks, RVs, boats and motorcycles) and have multiple programs where we direct our donated cars. Some cars are turnkey and can be sold as is. Some cars need minor repairs so they can be sold as affordable transportation. Some cars have seen the end of their life and end up being recycled. All the donated cars we take in have value, even the ones we end up recycling. No car donation is too small for a charity.

Tags: Donate Non-Running Car

How to donate a car is a common question we hear at Cars 4 Causes. There are really 3 easy steps to the process. We obtain your vehicle information, pick up your donated car, and then we sell it. When you donate a car to Cars 4 Causes, you will receive a tax deductible charity car donation receipt.

Step 1 - Vehicle Information

Provide us with some information about the car you want to donate. You can do this by either filling out the car donation form on our website or simply calling us at 800-766-2273. You will be asked for a description of your car.  It is helpful if you have the license plate number, the vehicle identification number (VIN), and approximate mileage handy.

Step 2 - Tow Your Donated Car at NO COST to YOU

Once we have your vehicle information, we will have a tow company contact you to arrange a convenient time for pick up. At the time of pick up, you will receive a receipt stating that we picked up your car. We can usually have your car picked up within 24 hours. You may also choose to drop off your car at one of our locations.

Step 3 - We Sell Your Car

Once your vehicle is sold, you will be sent an official donation receipt stating that you made a tax deductible charity car donation.  It will also include the sale price of your donated car.

Tags: How to Donate Car

100% of your car donation goes directly to charity when you donate to Cars 4 Causes®!

How is that possible, you ask?

Cars 4 Causes® is a charity. We are a 501(c)[3] non-profit organization. Therefore, all of the proceeds from the sale of your vehicle will be going directly to charity. If you have another cause you wish to support, we will gladly share the proceeds with the charity of your choice.

This may not be true of other car donation programs, so be sure to ask before you donate.

Tags: 501(c)3, Car Donation FAQ, non-profit organization

This blog post is the first in a series to help answer questions we get on a daily basis. Although we cover these in our Car Donation FAQ’s, this blog allows us to get more in depth and answer questions posted in the comments - so please feel free to ask your questions here as well.

So, What Kind of Car, Truck, RV or Motorcycle can I donate you ask?

Cars 4 Causes® accepts all types of vehicles for donation. If it has wheels or a rudder, a motor or a battery, chances are you can donate it.

Cars, trucks (regular and commercial), boats, recreational vehicle’s, personal watercraft, golf carts, motorcycles, motorized chairs and mobility scooters, riding lawnmowers, and even horse trailers are potential donations. We also accept heavy equipment and other motorized off-road vehicles such as ATV’s and dune buggies.

Cars 4 Causes® does have a donation approval process. We require contact information and a brief description of the vehicle in order to finalize each donation. We accept a wide range of vehicles from those in mint condition to those some might consider junk cars. You can donate your car even if it is not running. We evaluate each vehicle on its own merits and decide whether it will fit into one of our programs. We may request pictures of rare or unique items offered for donation in order to make a more informed decision (The more info you can provide up front, the quicker we can make a determination of whether your item is something we can accept). That being said, we accept most of the vehicles that people like you want to donate to us. So even if you don’t think your vehicle is worth donating, give us a try, we just might surprise you!

Please contact us if you have questions about whether we can accept your vehicle. To donate your vehicle now, please fill out the online vehicle donation form or contact one of our Donations Specialist by calling 800-766-2273 (CARE).

Tags: Car Donation FAQ's, donate motorcycle, donate RV, donate truck, donated car, motorhome donation, What Kind of Vehicle Can I Donate

Of the top 25 most stolen cars according to CCC Information Systems, a company that tracks theft and vehicle damage for the auto insurance industry, there is one car that makes the list six times. The study shows the Acura Integra model years from 1998 - 2001 as the most stolen and least recovered car of the twenty-five. This list was compiled from 350 property and casualty insurers in North America.

The reason the Acura is seen so frequently on the list is due to the swapability of many of the parts, and the engines themselves into other cars. The Acuras are being stolen, then the serial numbers ground off the engines. These popular double-overhead cam engines are then put into Hondas.

The reason? According to the Los Angeles Police Dept., it’s street racing. Illegal street racers run their cars hard until parts fail, then steal Acuras for the replacement parts. Acuras are easy to steal, and it is a cheaper way to repair their car compared to buying and installing a replacement engine. Street racing has become increasingly popular in metropolitan coastal cities in recent years. The trends towards certain makes and models being most-stolen has a direct correlation to the rise in popularity of car models used for street racing.

In addition, in Los Angeles, there is also a large market for older model Toyotas and Hondas because those makes tend to be more reliable and stay on the road longer than most, therefore are more desirable.

BMW’s 2001 M-series Roadster tops the list even though there were only 5,000 registered in the US at the time of the report’s release. This make and model made the list due to its popularity with car thieves. There was one stolen for every 200 on the road.

Surprisingly, large SUVs, mostly high-end luxury models also made the list despite high gas consumption, mostly due to the fact that these cars hold their value. The Cadillac Escalade, for example placed 23rd. It’s wheels and tires alone can be worth $10,000.on the street, while small cars that can be chopped up and sold for parts were the majority of cars stolen. Many of the older model SUVs did not have a computer chip anti-theft device installed at the factory which accounts for their popularity with thieves. Even a mid-1990’s model SUV can be worth in the tens of thousands on the underground markets.

The top 10 most stolen vehicles, least recovered list for 2006 according NICSB (the National Insurance Crime Bureau), was headed by 1995 Honda Civic.The 1990 Acura Integra placed 10th.

Tags: Acura Integra, Most Stolen Car