Donating Your Car: The Best Times to Do it in 2026

Donating is an excellent way to get rid of a car without incurring towing, selling, or repair expenses.

Make sure the charity you donate to will pick up your car free of charge, and that you’ll get tax benefits and any other incentives the charity is offering. Of course, there’s always the satisfaction one feels when you know your donation is going to a good cause.

Fixing your car?

Sometimes, an old or damaged car is worth fixing.

You’ll want to consult a mechanic to see what the problem is and how much it will cost for repairs to make your car roadworthy again.

But sometimes, a car is either beyond repair or just too expensive to repair.

That’s where Kars4Kids comes in.

When should you donate your car?

Here are some common issues that might lead you to say “bye” to your car:

Different times of the year offer different reasons to donate.

Holiday Season

You can get rid of that old car cluttering up your driveway to make room for your holiday guests to park – in fact, we get more donations in December than in any other month!

Springtime

Part of your annual spring cleaning.

Before the New Year

The deadline for making a tax-deductible car donation is December 31. Your receipt, which you’ll need for your tax deduction, is dated according to when you initiate the donation—whether online or by phone—not when the car is picked up. So if you submit your donation before December 31, , the receipt will reflect that date and can be used for your tax filing, even if the vehicle isn’t picked up until .

So . . . when is it the right time to donate your car to charity?

Every car we receive is assessed by our team, to determine how to get the most value from each donation while ensuring the largest possible tax benefit for you, the donor, no matter the season or the condition of your vehicle. Kars4Kids Accepts Vehicle Donations in All 50 States