How the car donation process works
Start with a 2-minute donation form or call Heritage
Begin by filling out the quick Wheel Give Back online form or calling Heritage for the Blind directly. You will share basic information: your name, contact details, the vehicle year, make, model, condition, mileage if known, and where the vehicle is located in or around Norfolk. Cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, and some other vehicles may be accepted even if they are not running. You do not need to know the final value of the vehicle before donating. The goal of this first step is simply to open the file and make scheduling easy.
A coordinator calls back within 1-2 business hours
After your form is submitted, a donation coordinator typically calls back within 1-2 business hours. The coordinator confirms the vehicle details, answers your questions, and helps choose a pickup window that works for your schedule. If the car is parked at home in Ghent, a workplace near Downtown Norfolk, a repair shop off Military Highway, or a family member's driveway in Chesapeake or Portsmouth, the coordinator can usually work with that location. You will also be reminded what paperwork to have ready, especially the vehicle title.
Your vehicle is picked up for free in the Norfolk area
A licensed tow truck is scheduled to come to your location, often same-day or next business day in most metro areas, including much of Hampton Roads. Pickup is free, whether the vehicle starts or not. At pickup, you sign the title over according to Virginia requirements, remove your personal items, and take off your license plates if required for your situation. The driver will not charge you a towing fee. If you have special access details, such as a gated lot, narrow street, apartment parking area, or naval-area security concern, share them before pickup.
The vehicle goes to auction or a parts reseller
Once the vehicle is picked up, it is transported to an appropriate sale channel, commonly an auction or parts reseller. The best path depends on the vehicle's age, condition, demand, and whether it is running. You do not need to handle repairs, advertising, test drives, negotiations, or buyer paperwork. This is one of the main reasons Norfolk donors choose donation instead of trying to sell an older vehicle privately. The vehicle is processed with the aim of generating proceeds for Heritage for the Blind while keeping the experience simple for you.
Sale proceeds support Heritage for the Blind
After the vehicle sells, the proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. Those proceeds help fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also helps connect people with benefit resources, and donors or community members who want to explore eligibility for programs such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, Section 8, and related assistance can visit nhftb.org/finder. Your unused vehicle can become more than a driveway problem; it can help support a mission that serves real people.
Your tax receipt is mailed after the vehicle sells
The full donation process typically takes about 2-6 weeks from start to mailed receipt, depending on pickup timing, sale processing, and mail delivery. After the vehicle sells, Heritage for the Blind sends your tax documentation by mail. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, you receive IRS Form 1098-C. For vehicles that sell for $500 or under, you receive a written acknowledgment. Keep this document with your tax records and consult a tax professional about how the deduction may apply to your personal situation.
Key facts about car donation
There is no cost to donate: the form, scheduling, towing, and receipt mailing are free.
Most Norfolk and Hampton Roads pickups can be scheduled for same-day or next business day.
You usually only need the vehicle title, keys if available, and access to the vehicle.
Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446.
Tax paperwork is mailed after sale: Form 1098-C over $500, written acknowledgment at $500 or under.
The entire car donation process commonly takes 2-6 weeks from start to receipt.