Donate your car to Nutmeg Auto Aid in Connecticut by 11:59 p.m. on December 31 and your donation counts for your 2024 tax return. For vehicles that ultimately sell for more than $500, your deduction is generally the car’s gross sale price — not the Kelley Blue Book value. After your vehicle sells, Heritage for the Blind (a 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446) mails you IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. For cars valued at $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and may deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. To actually use the deduction, you must itemize on Schedule A. Always consult your tax professional for advice on your specific situation.
Nutmeg Auto Aid makes it easy for Connecticut donors: free towing statewide, non‑running cars OK, no emissions or repairs required. We serve Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, Waterbury, New London, Danbury, Norwalk, and surrounding towns from West Hartford and Glastonbury to Fairfield, Milford, and Manchester. Your pickup confirmation shows your donation date — crucial for locking in this year’s deduction. You spend about two minutes on the form or phone; we handle DMV‑compliant transfer and the IRS paperwork through Heritage for the Blind, which uses the proceeds to support people who are blind or visually impaired.
Your year-end donation timeline
1. Lock in your donation date before Dec 31
2 minutesSubmit the fast online form or call Nutmeg Auto Aid and choose the earliest available pickup. Your pickup confirmation is your proof that you donated in 2024, even if the car is sold in early 2025.
2. Schedule free pickup anywhere in Connecticut
5 minutesWe arrange free towing in most Connecticut locations Monday–Saturday — from Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport to smaller towns like Enfield, Trumbull, and Groton. Non‑running, damaged, and older vehicles are welcome; no inspection or repairs are needed.
3. Sign the title, hand over the keys, keep your receipt
10–15 minutesAt pickup, you sign the title as directed, give the keys to the driver, and receive a towing receipt/confirmation. Keep this in your files as proof of the date you donated and that Nutmeg Auto Aid accepted the vehicle.
4. Vehicle sells; you receive IRS-ready paperwork
After saleAfter your car is sold, Heritage for the Blind will mail you either IRS Form 1098‑C (for vehicles over $500) or a written acknowledgment (for $500 or below) within 30 days of the completed sale. Save this with your tax records.
5. Claim your deduction when you file your return
Tax timeWorking with your tax professional, you itemize deductions on Schedule A. For cars over $500, you generally deduct the gross sale price from Form 1098‑C. For $500 or below, you may deduct up to $500 or fair market value, whichever is lower.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals sale price, not book value
For vehicles that sell for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your deduction to the actual gross sale price shown on Form 1098‑C, even if Kelley Blue Book suggests a higher value for your car.
Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500
If your donated vehicle ultimately sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind will send you IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. This form shows the gross proceeds you may be able to deduct.
Written acknowledgment for $500 or less
If the vehicle is worth or sells for $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098‑C. In that case, you can generally deduct up to $500 or fair market value, whichever is lower.
You must itemize on Schedule A
Car donations are not a separate credit; they’re a charitable deduction. To benefit, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal return. Ask your tax professional if itemizing makes sense for you.
Dec 31 controls which tax year it counts for
Your deduction year is based on the donation date, not the sale date. As long as you donate by December 31 and can document that date, the deduction is applied to that tax year’s return when you file.