How the car donation process works
You schedule a free Norfolk-area pickup
Start by submitting your vehicle information to Wheel Give Back. You do not need to know whether your car should go to auction, salvage, or parts; that determination happens after pickup. Free towing is available in Norfolk and across the Hampton Roads area, including nearby Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Hampton. A towing partner will contact you to arrange a convenient pickup time. Donors commonly give cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, motorcycles, and other vehicles, whether they are running or not.
The vehicle is assessed after pickup
After your donated vehicle is picked up, it is reviewed for condition, mileage, drivability, age, title status, and likely resale value. This assessment helps determine the best sales channel. A clean, running vehicle from a Norfolk driveway may be handled differently than a high-mileage vehicle that has been sitting near a garage in Chesapeake or Portsmouth. The purpose is not to create confusion for the donor; it is to responsibly convert the vehicle into proceeds for Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446.
Running, resalable vehicles usually go to auction
If your car runs and appears to be in resalable condition, it typically goes to a public or dealer auction. Auctions allow buyers to bid based on market demand, mileage, condition, and repair needs. Some vehicles may receive basic handling or preparation, but major repairs are not guaranteed and are only considered when they make practical financial sense. Most donated vehicles are converted into cash through sale rather than directly given to a family, because sale proceeds are the revenue that funds Heritage for the Blind programs.
Non-running or high-mileage vehicles may be sold for parts
If your donated car is not running, has significant mechanical issues, has collision damage, or has very high mileage, it is typically sold to a licensed salvage or parts buyer. That does not mean your donation has no value. Parts, recyclable materials, and salvage value can still generate proceeds for the charity. For Norfolk donors with an older commuter car, storm-worn vehicle, or failed inspection, this is often the most efficient way to turn the vehicle into support for blind and visually impaired people.
Proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind
Once the vehicle is sold, the gross sale proceeds are reported and directed to Heritage for the Blind, a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446. Those sale proceeds support Heritage services for Americans who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also helps people explore benefit resources, and donors or neighbors who want to check eligibility for programs such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, or Section 8 can visit nhftb.org/finder. Your Norfolk donation becomes mission revenue, not an unused car sitting in your driveway.
You receive the tax paperwork after sale
After the vehicle sells, you receive the documentation needed for your records. If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, your tax deduction is generally equal to the gross sale price, and IRS Form 1098-C is provided. This form reports the sale information to help you claim the appropriate deduction if you itemize. Wheel Give Back cannot give tax advice, so donors should consult a tax professional, but the process is designed to be straightforward and transparent from pickup through sale.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is available across Norfolk and nearby Hampton Roads communities, from Ocean View to Chesapeake and Portsmouth.
Running vehicles in resalable condition typically go to public or dealer auction after pickup and assessment.
Non-running, damaged, or high-mileage vehicles are typically sold to licensed salvage or parts buyers.
Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446, and receives the vehicle sale proceeds.
Vehicles selling for more than $500 generally generate IRS Form 1098-C for your tax records.
Donors do not have to choose the sale path; the vehicle is assessed to pursue the best return.