It’s happened to all of us. What started out as a match made in heaven, filled with happiness at every turn, has finally run its course. 

The romance is gone and you’re ready to kick the whole thing to the curb. It’s just a car, after all. 

Time to donate. 

You can make a lasting impact and help rebuild lives by donating your unwanted car or vehicle to Habitat for Humanity Portland Region this holiday season. Since launching the national vehicle donation program, Cars for Homes, in 2005, Habitat has accepted more than 160,000 vehicles for reselling or recycling, raising funds for Habitat to partner with local families to build stability and security in safe, affordable homes.   
 
In just the past five years, vehicle donations raised over $72 million for Habitat for Humanity’s work building and repairing homes. We accept most vehicles, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, boats, snowmobiles, farm and construction equipment — and maybe something parked in your driveway right now.  

“I hope this car can be used by someone who will restore it or use its parts,” said a Habitat car donor. “In addition to my interest in alternative fuels, I am also hopeful that housing can become more affordable and that average people can improve their chances of owning a home. Through the years, I have heard many great things about Habitat helping people in need of homes, and that’s why I’ve chosen Habitat to receive my donation.” 

How do car donations work?  

If you want to donate your car or truck, go to our donation wizard. If you want to donate any other type of vehicle, just call us at 1-877-277-4344. You’ll need to have a valid car title, free of liens, and some basic additional information about the car to set up a donation. Our team will ask about your vehicle, including the make, model, vehicle identification number (VIN) and current mileage. When your vehicle is accepted, schedule a day and time for us to pick it up. 

Advanced Remarketing Services is Habitat’s authorized partner for selling vehicles and transferring titles. They handle the title transfer, free towing, and reporting of all vehicle donations. Your vehicle does not need to be running to donate it. But, it does need to have all tires inflated so we can tow it away. There’s no cost to you. 

When you sign the title directly to Advanced Remarketing Services, you are legally transferring ownership of your vehicle to Habitat for Humanity. Once it’s picked up, you are no longer responsible for the vehicle. It’s as simple as that! 

What happens to the vehicle? 

Your vehicle will be sold on behalf of Habitat through a national network of auctions and direct buyers. All the auctions and direct buyers used by Habitat are licensed, insured, and bonded in the states where they operate. After the vehicle has been sold, you will receive an acknowledgement letter providing your vehicle sale information. 

About half of our cars are sold to licensed dealers at wholesale auctions and are reused for transportation. The other half are typically transported to auto salvage yards where all reusable car parts, batteries, tires, and fluids are removed. Vehicles that can be recycled are crushed, shredded, and recycled into steel. 

Some vehicles are sold directly to licensed auto recyclers. These recyclers are crucial environmental stewards and help to ensure end-of-life vehicles are processed safely and in environmentally friendly ways. Recycling cars keeps a huge amount of steel out of landfills, and cars recycled properly can play an important role in reducing carbon emissions in the automotive manufacturing industry by reducing the need to refine new materials. Recyling helps conserve energy, emissions, raw materials, and resources. 

How does Habitat benefit? 

Habitat receives funds for each donated vehicle according to the region donated, So your donation stays in the community. Revenue from cars donated from within Habitat Portland Region’s boundaries goes directly to support Habitat’s work in the Portland region. 

Our partner, Advanced Remarketing Services, returns a higher percentage than any other vehicle processing entity. On a monthly basis, between 84% and 87% of the gross revenue generated from vehicle sales comes to Habitat for Humanity, which helps local affiliates build and repair housing in their communities. 

In fact, Forbes has recognized Habitat for Humanity as one of the best charities to donate your car or other vehicle for two years in a row! 

Is this donation tax deductible?  

Yes! Habitat for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions, including vehicle donations, may be claimed as deductions on your federal tax return, if you itemize. The information you need will be included in the acknowledgement letter sent to you. 

So, turn that Buick into a bedroom, that Kia into a kitchen, your Lincoln into a living room – you get the idea. It’s a fast, easy, and convenient way to get rid of an unwanted vehicle and support Habitat for Humanity’s work to ensure everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home.  

In the words of one Habitat car donor: “I frequently volunteer at my local Habitat for Humanity and when I heard that I could donate my old clunker to help raise money to build homes, I was ecstatic. The process is easy and simple and I even qualified for a tax deduction!” 

Where do I start? 

Simply go to our donation wizard where you’ll find the information on the donation process. We are happy to answer any other questions you may have. Please email your questions to carsforhomes@habitat.org or call 1-877-277-4344.