In Michigan, the IRS deadline is firm: your donated vehicle must be picked up on or before December 31 to count for this tax year’s deduction. With Great Lakes Givers and Heritage for the Blind, we run pick‑ups Monday–Saturday all through December, including Christmas week. In most Michigan metro areas we can schedule 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 our 2‑minute form by December 27–28. Your tow is always free, and we accept vehicles in almost any condition—as long as you have a signed Michigan title.
We’re truly local to Michigan donors. Whether you’re in Detroit, Southfield, Livonia, Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Warren, Sterling Heights, Troy, Novi, Farmington Hills, or up the road in Muskegon, Saginaw, or Bay City, we help you turn an unused vehicle into a meaningful year‑end tax deduction. Proceeds support Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) serving people who are blind or visually impaired. Answer your year‑end tax question now, then cross one more thing off your December list—schedule your free Michigan pickup today.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesCall Great Lakes Givers or complete our quick online form with your contact info, Michigan location, and basic vehicle details. No emissions test, photos, or repairs required. Just tell us where the car is and that you want it picked up before December 31.
Choose your pickup day and deadline
5 minutesOur dispatch team confirms your preferred pickup date and time window. In Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, and most metro areas we offer same‑day or next‑day slots on weekday calls before early afternoon—through December 31, including Christmas week.
Prepare your signed Michigan title
10 minutesLocate your Michigan vehicle title and sign it where indicated for a donation/transfer. We’ll tell you exactly how to fill it out under Michigan SOS rules. Having the signed title ready at pickup is essential for us to legally accept the vehicle and issue your tax receipt.
Free tow anywhere in Michigan
1–3 daysOn your scheduled day, a professional towing partner arrives—at your home, work, or storage lot—from Metro Detroit to West Michigan, Mid‑Michigan, and beyond. Non‑running, damaged, or high‑mileage vehicles are fine. There is no cost to you for the tow, ever.
Get your tax receipt and support Heritage for the Blind
Within 30 days after saleAfter your vehicle is sold, Heritage for the Blind mails you an IRS‑compliant receipt, generally within 30 days. This receipt includes the gross sale price used to calculate your deduction. Keep it with your tax records when you file and itemize on Schedule A.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Dec 31 pickup = this tax year
For the IRS, the key date is when the charity takes possession of the vehicle, not when you call. If your pickup happens on or before December 31, it counts toward this tax year’s potential deduction.
Your deduction is usually the sale price
In most cases, the amount you can deduct equals the vehicle’s gross sale price obtained by Heritage for the Blind, not the Kelley Blue Book value. That final sale price appears on the written receipt we mail to you.
IRS Form 1098-C for larger donations
For vehicle donations over the IRS threshold, Heritage for the Blind issues Form 1098‑C or a similar acknowledgment. You attach this to your federal return to substantiate your claimed deduction, especially for higher‑value vehicles.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a vehicle donation, you typically need to itemize deductions on IRS Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. Talk with your tax preparer to see whether itemizing makes sense in your situation.
30‑day written receipt requirement
The charity generally has 30 days from the sale or significant use decision to send your written acknowledgment. Heritage for the Blind mails this to the address you provide; keep it in your Michigan tax records with your other donation receipts.