How the car donation process works
Start with the title you have
The easiest Oregon donation is a vehicle with a clean title in the donor’s name, ready to be signed over at pickup. If your car, truck, van, SUV, RV, or motorcycle is in Portland, Eugene, Salem, Bend, Hillsboro, Tigard, or another Oregon community, Cascade Car Exchange can usually arrange free towing from your home, workplace, repair shop, or storage location. Before pickup, gather the title, your keys if available, and any registration or vehicle records you have. If anything looks unusual on the title, call before signing so Heritage for the Blind can help you avoid delays.
Sign it over to Heritage at pickup
At pickup, the tow driver will bring the standard donation paperwork and confirm the vehicle being removed. You will sign the title over to Heritage for the Blind, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit beneficiary, EIN 58-2164446. Do not guess where to sign or cross anything out on the title; mistakes can slow processing. The driver and donation team can point you to the correct handoff process for your situation. After the title is properly transferred and the vehicle is picked up, donors typically do not need to make a separate DMV trip just to complete the donation.
If the title is lost, call first
Lost titles are common, especially for older vehicles parked in driveways, garages, barns, or apartment lots across Oregon. A clean title is preferred, but it may not always be required to begin the conversation. Heritage for the Blind can guide you through your state’s lost-title process and help determine whether your vehicle can still be accepted. In some cases, you may need to request a replacement title before donation; in others, alternative paperwork may be possible. The best next step is to call Cascade Car Exchange before scheduling pickup so you know exactly what is needed.
Clear any lien before donating
If a bank, credit union, finance company, or other lender is listed on the title, the lien must be satisfied before the vehicle can be donated. That usually means paying off the balance or contacting the lender to issue a lien release and provide a clear title. Cascade Car Exchange cannot accept a vehicle if someone else still has a legal claim to it. If you are unsure whether an old lien was ever released, call the lender listed on the title. Once the lien is cleared, you can move forward with the donation and free tow scheduling.
Handle names, estates, and out-of-state titles
If the title is in a deceased spouse’s or parent’s name, you may need probate documents, a small-estate affidavit, or an affidavit of heirship depending on the state and your relationship to the owner. If the vehicle is titled in someone else’s name, that titled owner generally must participate in the transfer. Oregon donors can also donate vehicles with titles from California, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, or another state; foreign-state titles are accepted when properly signed. Vehicles without titles can sometimes be accepted, so call to discuss the details before assuming you are stuck.
Key facts about car donation
Clean Oregon titles are preferred, but Heritage for the Blind can guide many lost-title situations.
Any listed lien must be paid off or released by the lender before donation.
The title is signed over to Heritage for the Blind at the time of pickup.
Foreign-state titles are accepted when ownership can be properly transferred.
Free towing is available for qualifying vehicle donations across many Oregon communities.
An IRS Form 1098-C is provided for donated vehicles sold for more than $500.