Here’s the bottom line for Norfolk donors: to claim your vehicle donation on this year’s taxes, the IRS requires that your car be picked up by December 31—not just promised or scheduled. With Wheel Give Back, dispatch runs Monday–Saturday all year, including Christmas week. In most metro areas, including Hampton Roads, we can often pick up the same day or next day when you contact us before early afternoon on a weekday. To safely lock in a December 31 pickup slot, call or submit the 2‑minute form by December 27–28, with your signed title ready.
Wheel Give Back partners with Heritage for the Blind, a trusted 501(c)(3) supporting people who are blind or visually impaired. Your car, truck, SUV, or van is towed free of charge anywhere in Norfolk and surrounding Hampton Roads communities—whether it runs or not. We regularly serve Ghent, Ocean View, Downtown, Ward’s Corner, Military Highway, Berkley, East Beach, Naval Station Norfolk, plus nearby Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and Portsmouth. No inspection, emissions, or repairs are needed. Just a quick call or form, a signed title, and we handle the rest so you can help a great cause and secure your deduction before the clock strikes midnight on December 31.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start with a 2-minute call or online form
2 minutesFrom anywhere in Norfolk or greater Hampton Roads, submit our short online form or call us. Share your vehicle’s basics, where it’s parked, and how to reach you. This locks you into our year-end scheduling queue so we can prioritize your December pickup date.
Choose your pickup window before Dec 31
5 minutesOur team reviews Norfolk-area availability and offers you the earliest open slot—often same-day or next-day on weekday requests. To guarantee a December 31 pickup option, contact us by December 27–28. We confirm your day and a pickup time window that works for you.
Prep a signed Virginia title and car access
10 minutesFind your Virginia title and sign it where indicated for a donation. The vehicle can be in a driveway, on the street where legal, or in an apartment lot in places like Ghent or Ocean View. It doesn’t have to run or pass inspection; just make sure we can reach and tow it.
Free towing anywhere in Norfolk & Hampton Roads
30–60 minutes at pickupOn pickup day, our driver meets you at your Norfolk address or nearby city, loads your vehicle, and completes a quick handoff. There’s no cost to you—towing is always free, even for non-running or damaged vehicles. Your donation directly supports Heritage for the Blind.
Receive your tax receipt and keep it for filing
Within 30 days after saleAfter your car is sold, Heritage for the Blind mails you a written acknowledgment, and for eligible donations, IRS Form 1098-C. This shows the gross sale price that forms the basis of your deduction when you itemize on Schedule A for this tax year.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Dec 31 pickup = this year’s deduction
For the IRS, the key date is when the charity takes possession of your vehicle. If Wheel Give Back completes pickup by December 31, your donation counts for this tax year—even if the car sells and paperwork finishes in the new year.
You’ll receive written proof for your records
Heritage for the Blind sends you a written acknowledgment after donation, typically within 30 days of the vehicle’s sale. Keep this receipt with your tax files; it documents the vehicle details, the date of contribution, and the charity’s information.
IRS Form 1098-C for larger deductions
For qualifying vehicle donations the charity issues IRS Form 1098-C. It lists the gross proceeds from the vehicle’s sale or other required information. You attach this form (or the information it contains) to your federal return when you claim the deduction.
Deduction usually equals the sale price
In many cases, the IRS limits your charitable deduction to the gross sale price the charity receives when your car is sold. There are specific exceptions—such as when the charity significantly uses or improves the vehicle—but most donors deduct the reported sale amount.
Itemize on Schedule A to claim the benefit
To claim a car donation on your federal taxes, you must itemize deductions using Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. Keep your receipt and 1098-C (if issued) with your tax records to support the charitable contribution you report.