To claim your car donation on this year’s taxes, the IRS goes by the pickup date, not the date you schedule. That means your vehicle must be physically picked up on or before December 31 to qualify as a deduction for this tax year. With Valor Wheels here in the Albuquerque Metro, Heritage for the Blind provides fast, free towing Monday–Saturday, including during the holiday season. To be safe, schedule your pickup at least 3–5 business days before December 31 so we can secure a time slot and get your vehicle off your driveway in time.
Whether you’re in Nob Hill, the Northeast Heights, Westside, South Valley, Far North, or just off I-40 in Midtown, Valor Wheels makes year-end giving simple. The online form takes about two minutes, we accept non-running vehicles with no inspection or repairs needed, and you’ll get the written tax acknowledgment after the vehicle sells. The deduction year is locked in by the pickup date here in Albuquerque, so if you want this year’s deduction, now is the moment to act.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your 2-minute online form or call Valor Wheels
2 minutesFrom anywhere in the Albuquerque Metro, go online or call Valor Wheels. Have your title (if available), VIN, and address handy. Tell us if the car runs or not—non-running vehicles are fine. The sooner you contact us before December 31, the more pickup options we’ll have.
Choose a pickup window before December 31
5 minutesOur team will connect you with Heritage for the Blind’s towing dispatcher, who operates Monday–Saturday. Ask for a pickup date on or before December 31. In late December, aim for at least 3–5 business days’ lead time so we can confirm your Albuquerque-area slot.
Confirm details and lock in your tax year
5 minutesYou’ll receive a confirmation with the scheduled pickup date and time frame. That confirmed date is what determines your tax year—your deduction counts for the year in which the vehicle is actually picked up, not when you scheduled it.
Prepare the car and hand over keys/title at pickup
10 minutesOn pickup day in Albuquerque, clear personal items from the car and have the keys and title ready (if required in your situation). The tow driver will load your vehicle—running or not—at no cost to you. You’ll receive an initial donation receipt from Heritage for the Blind.
Receive your tax acknowledgment after the vehicle sells
No action neededAfter your vehicle is sold, Heritage for the Blind will mail you a written acknowledgment, and if it sells for more than $500, IRS Form 1098-C. The deduction year remains the pickup year, even though the final paperwork arrives later.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date sets your deduction year
For the IRS, your donation is made on the date Heritage for the Blind’s tow truck actually picks up your vehicle. A pickup on or before December 31 counts for this tax year, even if you scheduled days or weeks earlier.
Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500
If your donated vehicle is sold for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind will issue IRS Form 1098-C. This form shows the gross sale price, which is generally the maximum amount you can deduct for the vehicle donation.
You generally deduct the sale price
In most cases, your allowable deduction is the amount Heritage for the Blind receives when your car is sold, not its blue book value. This sale amount is reported on the acknowledgment and, when applicable, on Form 1098-C.
Itemizing on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation tax deduction, you must itemize your deductions using Schedule A on your federal tax return. If you take the standard deduction, you generally cannot claim a separate vehicle donation deduction.
30-day acknowledgment mailing window
Heritage for the Blind sends your written acknowledgment—often including Form 1098-C—after the vehicle is sold. This typically occurs within about 30 days of the sale. The tax year is still based on the pickup date, not when the letter arrives.