How the car donation process works
You donate and schedule a free Oregon pickup
Start by telling Cascade Car Exchange about your vehicle, including the year, make, model, mileage, title status, and whether it runs. We help arrange free towing from many Oregon locations, including neighborhoods and suburbs around Portland, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Oregon City, Albany, Corvallis, Grants Pass, and Redmond. You do not need to clean or repair the car first. Once pickup is scheduled, a towing provider collects the vehicle at a time that works for you, and the donation process moves to the assessment stage.
The vehicle is assessed after pickup
After pickup, the vehicle is reviewed to determine the best resale path. This assessment looks at basic condition, mileage, whether the car starts and drives, visible damage, age, market demand, and likely resale value. A dependable car with a clean title and resalable condition may be handled very differently from a non-running sedan, a high-mileage SUV, or a damaged pickup. The goal is not to promise a specific outcome. The goal is to choose the channel most likely to generate proceeds for Heritage for the Blind.
Running, resalable vehicles usually go to auction
If your donated car is running and in condition that buyers are likely to want, it typically goes to a public or dealer auction. Auctions help expose the vehicle to interested buyers, including dealers and other purchasers looking for used cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, or SUVs. Cascade Car Exchange does not assign the car to a family or guarantee it will be repaired for a specific person. Instead, the vehicle is sold, and the gross sale proceeds become revenue for Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446.
Non-running or high-mileage vehicles may be sold for parts
Not every donated vehicle makes sense for auction. If a car does not run, has severe mechanical issues, has very high mileage, or would cost more to repair than it is worth, it is typically directed to a licensed salvage or parts buyer. That may mean the vehicle is recycled, dismantled, or used for usable parts according to buyer practices and state requirements. This still creates value. Even an older vehicle in poor condition can produce proceeds that go directly to Heritage for the Blind.
Proceeds support Heritage for the Blind services
Once the donated vehicle is sold, the sale proceeds are directed to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. Those proceeds are revenue that helps Heritage serve people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also provides connections to benefit resources; donors or community members who want to check potential eligibility for programs such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, or Section 8 can visit nhftb.org/finder. Your vehicle becomes a practical way to support mission-focused services.
You receive tax documentation after the sale
After the vehicle sells, you receive the appropriate donation receipt and tax documentation. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, donors generally receive IRS Form 1098-C showing the gross sale price. In that situation, your charitable deduction is generally based on the gross sale price reported on the form, subject to IRS rules and your personal tax situation. Cascade Car Exchange cannot provide tax advice, so you should speak with a qualified tax professional if you have questions about claiming your deduction.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is available for many donors across Oregon, from Portland metro communities to smaller towns.
Running vehicles in resalable condition typically go to public or dealer auction after assessment.
Non-running, damaged, or high-mileage vehicles typically go to licensed salvage or parts buyers.
Sale proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446.
Vehicles selling for over $500 generally generate IRS Form 1098-C for the donor.
Your deduction is generally based on the gross sale price when the vehicle sells for over $500.