In New York City Metro, the IRS goes by the date your vehicle is physically picked up—not the day you call. To take your car donation deduction on this year’s taxes, Metro Wheels must complete pickup on or before December 31. We strongly recommend you schedule your free tow at least 3–5 business days before December 31 so we can secure a holiday-season slot. Heritage for the Blind, a registered 501(c)(3) (EIN 58-2164446), operates Monday–Saturday throughout the holidays, so your car, truck, SUV, or van can still make the cutoff if you act now.
Metro Wheels serves donors across the New York City Metro area—from the Upper West Side, Harlem, Midtown, and the East Village to Astoria, Flushing, Jackson Heights, and Bayside in Queens; Williamsburg, Park Slope, and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn; the South Bronx, Riverdale, and beyond. We also pick up in nearby suburbs like Yonkers, White Plains, and Hempstead. Your vehicle doesn’t need to run, pass inspection, or be repaired; we’ll tow it free, handle all paperwork with Heritage for the Blind, and mail your written acknowledgment after the vehicle sells. But the deduction year is locked in by the pickup date, so if you want this year’s tax benefit, now is the time to schedule.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute donation form or call Metro Wheels
2 minutesShare your contact info, New York pickup address, and basic vehicle details. It takes about two minutes online or by phone. Be clear you need pickup completed by December 31 so our team prioritizes your year-end tax deadline in the NYC Metro area.
Choose a pickup window before December 31
5 minutesOur dispatch (Monday–Saturday) will call to confirm a pickup day and time that works for you. To safely beat the IRS cutoff, schedule your tow at least 3–5 business days before December 31, especially in busy NYC boroughs and nearby suburbs.
Prepare the title and clear access for the tow truck
10–15 minutesLocate your vehicle title and remove personal belongings. Park the car where the tow truck can reach it in your New York neighborhood—street, driveway, or garage. Your vehicle doesn’t need to run or be inspected; Metro Wheels handles the rest.
Complete pickup by December 31 to lock in this year
15–30 minutesOn pickup day, sign the title over and receive an initial towing receipt. The IRS counts this pickup date. As long as we’ve towed your car on or before December 31 anywhere in the New York City Metro area, your deduction applies to this tax year.
Receive your written acknowledgment and tax paperwork
VariesAfter Heritage for the Blind sells your vehicle, you’ll get a written acknowledgment by mail. For vehicles valued over $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C. Even if that arrives next year, the deduction year remains the one in which pickup occurred.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date = deduction year
For the IRS, the donation happens when Metro Wheels actually picks up your vehicle, not when you call or fill out the form. A pickup on or before December 31 in New York means the deduction applies to that tax year.
Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500
When Heritage for the Blind sells a donated vehicle worth more than $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C. It reports the gross proceeds from the sale, and that amount generally becomes the limit for your charitable deduction.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To claim your car donation, you need to file Schedule A and itemize deductions. If you take the standard deduction, you can’t also claim the vehicle donation, even if you received a 1098-C from Heritage for the Blind.
Receipt can arrive the following year
Heritage for the Blind sends your written acknowledgment, and 1098-C when required, after the vehicle sells. Even if the paperwork arrives in the new year, the deduction year remains tied to the actual pickup date of your vehicle.
Non-running vehicles still qualify
Your car does not need to run or pass New York inspection to qualify as a donation. Metro Wheels can tow non-running or damaged vehicles at no cost, and you may still take a deduction based on IRS rules for charitable vehicle donations.