Donate your car in Lexington to Bluegrass Wheels by December 31, and your gift can count toward this year’s tax return. Here’s how it works: we schedule your free pickup, you keep the tow receipt as proof of your donation date, we sell your vehicle, then Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS Form 1098-C if it sells for more than $500. Your deduction is the actual gross sale price — not Kelley Blue Book — and you claim it by itemizing on Schedule A. If your vehicle is valued at $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment so you may generally deduct up to $500 or your vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower. Always confirm your specific situation with a tax professional.
Bluegrass Wheels makes year-end giving simple for Lexington Metro donors. Whether you’re in Chevy Chase, Beaumont, Hamburg, Masterson Station, Nicholasville, Georgetown, Richmond, or right downtown near Rupp Arena, we’ll arrange free pickup — running or not, no inspection or repairs needed. You avoid the hassle of selling, support Heritage for the Blind’s services for people who are blind or visually impaired, and get the paperwork you need for tax time. If you’re watching the calendar and want your deduction this year, now is the time to lock in your December 31 deadline.
Your year-end donation timeline
1. Lock in your donation date
2 minutesSubmit the quick online form or call Bluegrass Wheels from anywhere in the Lexington Metro. We’ll confirm your basic vehicle details and preferred pickup location. Your deduction year is based on the donation date, so getting on the schedule before December 31 is key.
2. Schedule fast, free pickup in Lexington
5 minutesOur towing partners pick up in Lexington, Nicholasville, Georgetown, Richmond, Versailles, and surrounding areas Monday–Saturday. You choose a convenient day and time window. Vehicles don’t need to run and don’t need a current inspection or repairs.
3. Sign title and keep your pickup confirmation
5–10 minutesAt pickup, you sign the title as instructed and hand the keys to the driver. They’ll give you a pickup confirmation or tow slip. Keep this with your records as proof of your donation date for your tax files.
4. We sell your vehicle for Heritage for the Blind
Varies by saleBluegrass Wheels manages the sale of your donated car, truck, SUV, or van. Once it sells, the gross sale price becomes the key number for your tax deduction, subject to IRS rules. You don’t deal with buyers, listings, or paperwork hassles.
5. Receive your tax paperwork by mail
Within 30 days of saleIf your vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind mails IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. If it’s $500 or under, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment. Save this with your records to claim your deduction when you file.
6. Claim your deduction on your tax return
At tax timeWhen you file, itemize your deductions on Schedule A. Use the 1098-C or acknowledgment from Heritage for the Blind and consult a tax professional to confirm how much you can deduct and where to report it on your federal return.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Your deduction equals the sale price
For vehicles sold by Bluegrass Wheels for more than $500, the IRS generally lets you deduct the actual gross sale proceeds shown on Form 1098-C, not the Kelley Blue Book or your own estimate of value.
Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500
If your car sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. This form reports the sale price and is the key document the IRS looks for to support your deduction.
Special rule for $500 or under
If your vehicle is $500 or under, you receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098-C. You may generally deduct up to $500 or the fair market value of the car, whichever is lower. Keep that letter with your tax records.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal return. If you take the standard deduction, you won’t get an additional tax break from your vehicle donation.
Dec 31 controls which tax year
The key deadline is your donation date, not the sale date. As long as your car is donated (picked up or signed over) by December 31, it generally counts for that tax year. Keep your pickup confirmation as proof of timing.