In Oregon, the IRS deadline for claiming your car donation on this year’s taxes is simple: your vehicle must be picked up by 11:59 p.m. on December 31. With Cascade Car Exchange, most donors who contact us by December 27–28 can still get a guaranteed slot for a December 31 pickup. We schedule Monday through Saturday, all the way through Christmas week, and in most metro areas we can arrange same-day or next-business-day towing when you call before early afternoon on a weekday. You just need a signed title, a quick 2-minute call or online form, and we handle the rest—free.
We’re local to Oregon donors. Whether your car is in Portland (from Sellwood and Alberta to Hillsdale and St. Johns), Salem, Eugene, Gresham, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Bend, Medford, or smaller communities along I‑5 and the coast, Cascade Car Exchange coordinates free pickup for Heritage for the Blind. Your vehicle can be running or not, parked in a driveway, on the street, or at a repair shop—no repairs or inspection needed. As long as we complete the tow by December 31, your tax deduction counts for this year and you’ll receive a donation receipt for your records.
Your year-end donation timeline
Step 1 – Check your title and basic info
2 minutesGrab your Oregon vehicle title and confirm it’s in your name and signed where indicated. Note the car’s location (home, work, shop) and whether it runs. That’s all we need to start scheduling your year-end pickup for Heritage for the Blind.
Step 2 – Call or complete the 2-minute online form
2 minutesReach Cascade Car Exchange by phone or use our simple online form. Tell us your Oregon location (Portland, Eugene, Salem, Bend, etc.), vehicle details, and your ideal pickup window. This locks in your request before the December 31 IRS deadline.
Step 3 – Confirm your pickup date and time
2 minutesOur scheduling team contacts you quickly—often within hours—to offer the earliest available time. Call by December 27 for the best chance at a guaranteed December 31 slot. We tow Monday–Saturday, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
Step 4 – Free tow anywhere in Oregon, car or no‑start
Day of pickupOur professional towing partner meets you—or follows your instructions for a key handoff—to pick up your vehicle. It can be non-running, damaged, or high-mileage. Towing is always free, from Portland suburbs to rural Oregon roads, with no surprise fees.
Step 5 – Receive your tax receipt and finalize your deduction
Within weeksAfter your vehicle is sold, Heritage for the Blind mails you a written acknowledgment and, when required, IRS Form 1098‑C. This shows the gross sale price and is what you use to claim your charitable deduction when you file your federal return.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Dec 31 controls which tax year you can claim
For vehicle donations, the IRS looks at the date the charity takes possession. If Cascade Car Exchange completes your pickup by December 31, the deduction applies to this tax year. A January tow counts for next year’s return, even if you called in December.
Deduction is usually based on the sale price
Heritage for the Blind will sell your donated vehicle. In most cases, your federal tax deduction equals the actual sale price, not a price guide estimate. That amount appears on your written acknowledgment and, when required, on IRS Form 1098‑C.
IRS Form 1098‑C for larger deductions
If your car sells for more than the IRS threshold for vehicle donations, Heritage for the Blind issues Form 1098‑C. You attach this form to your federal return when claiming the deduction. For smaller sales, the acknowledgment letter generally provides the details you need.
You must itemize on Schedule A to benefit
To actually use your car-donation deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal Form 1040. If you take the standard deduction, the donation still supports Heritage for the Blind but won’t change your federal tax bill.
30-day acknowledgment requirement
By IRS rules, the charity must send you a written acknowledgment, usually within 30 days after the vehicle is sold or transferred. Keep this with your tax records; it documents your donation and the amount you’re allowed to claim as a deduction.