How the car donation process works
You schedule a free pickup anywhere in New Hampshire
Start by telling WheelWise about your vehicle and where it is located. Free towing is available across New Hampshire, including Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Portsmouth, Dover, Rochester, Salem, Derry, Keene, and surrounding towns. Your car does not have to be perfect, detailed, or even running to be considered. After basic information is collected, a licensed towing provider is assigned and a pickup time is arranged with you. The goal is to make donation simple, especially if the vehicle is sitting in a driveway, garage, apartment lot, or repair shop.
After pickup, the vehicle is assessed for its best sale path
Once the vehicle is in the donation network, it is reviewed for condition, mileage, drivability, age, title status, and local resale potential. This assessment helps determine whether it is most appropriate for auction, salvage, or parts sale. Donors often ask whether Heritage for the Blind personally gives the vehicle to a family in need. In the standard car donation process, the vehicle is typically sold instead. That sale creates revenue for Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446, so the organization can fund programs and services for blind and visually impaired people.
Running vehicles usually go to public or dealer auction
If your donated car is running and appears to be in resalable condition, it typically goes to a public or dealer auction. This may apply to vehicles from communities such as Bedford, Londonderry, Merrimack, Hampton, or Laconia that still have market value. At auction, buyers compete to purchase the vehicle, and the final gross sale price helps determine the amount reported for tax purposes when the vehicle sells for more than $500. The auction route is designed to turn a usable donated vehicle into the strongest practical charitable proceeds.
Non-running or high-mileage vehicles may be sold for salvage or parts
A vehicle that will not start, has major mechanical problems, has very high mileage, or would cost too much to prepare for resale may be directed to a licensed salvage or parts buyer. That does not mean your donation is wasted. Older cars, damaged vehicles, and trucks with failed engines can still have value through usable parts, recyclable materials, or repairable components. This route is often the most responsible way to handle vehicles that are not realistic auction candidates, while still generating proceeds for Heritage for the Blind’s mission.
Sale proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind
After the vehicle is sold, the proceeds are directed to Heritage for the Blind, a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. Those sale proceeds are revenue for the charity and help support services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also provides resources that may help eligible people connect with benefit programs such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, Section 8, and other assistance. Donors who want to explore benefit eligibility can visit nhftb.org/finder for more information.
You receive the tax documents for your donation
Your donation may qualify for a federal tax deduction if you itemize, and the amount depends on how the vehicle is handled and sold. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, donors generally receive IRS Form 1098-C showing the gross sale price. That gross sale price is typically the amount used for the deduction under IRS rules. WheelWise helps keep the process organized, but donors should speak with a qualified tax professional for personal tax advice, especially if they have questions about itemizing or filing requirements.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is available for eligible vehicle donations throughout New Hampshire.
Running, resalable vehicles typically go to public or dealer auction after pickup.
Non-running or high-mileage vehicles are often sold to licensed salvage or parts buyers.
Proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446.
Vehicles sold for more than $500 generally receive IRS Form 1098-C.
Your donated vehicle is sold to fund services, not usually handed directly to a family.