Donate your car in Columbus Metro by December 31 and, in most cases, you can deduct the actual sale price on your 2024 federal tax return. When your vehicle sells for more than $500, Steel Wheels (benefiting Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446) mails you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. Your deduction is the gross sale price of the vehicle, not the Kelley Blue Book value. If your vehicle is valued at $500 or less, you’ll get a written acknowledgment instead, and you may generally deduct up to $500 or the fair market value — whichever is lower. You must itemize on Schedule A to claim the deduction. Always consult a tax professional about your specific situation.
We make the year-end deadline easy for Columbus donors. Steel Wheels arranges free pickup anywhere in the Columbus Metro area — from Clintonville, Bexley, and German Village to Dublin, Westerville, Hilliard, Gahanna, Grove City, Reynoldsburg, and beyond. There’s no inspection, emissions test, or repairs required; non-running cars are fine. You’ll get a pickup confirmation as proof of your donation date, locking in your eligibility for this tax year as long as you schedule pickup by December 31. The process takes about two minutes to start online or by phone, and you’re done — we handle the rest for you.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesComplete our quick online form or call to donate from anywhere in Columbus Metro — Short North, Grove City, Dublin, Westerville and more. Provide basic vehicle info and your preferred pickup location and time. Once you submit, your year-end process has officially started.
Lock in your donation date before Dec 31
5 minutesWe confirm your free pickup and email or text you the details. Keep this confirmation as proof of your donation date. As long as the donation is initiated by December 31, it counts toward this tax year, even if the actual sale happens later.
Free pickup anywhere in Columbus Metro
1 day–1 weekOur towing partner meets you in your neighborhood — from German Village and Bexley to Hilliard and Reynoldsburg. The driver provides a pickup confirmation. There’s no cost, no inspection, and non-running vehicles are OK. You keep a copy for your records as proof of transfer.
We sell your vehicle and report the sale
Varies by saleSteel Wheels arranges the sale of your vehicle, with proceeds benefiting Heritage for the Blind. Once it sells, we know the exact gross sale price. That number — not Kelley Blue Book — is what typically determines your tax deduction for vehicles over $500.
Receive IRS tax paperwork from Steel Wheels
Within 30 days of saleIf your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Steel Wheels mails you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. For $500-or-less vehicles, you receive a written acknowledgment. Keep these with your records to claim your deduction when you file.
Claim your deduction on Schedule A
At tax filingAt tax time, give your 1098-C or acknowledgment to your tax professional or use it when you prepare your own return. You must itemize on Schedule A to claim a car-donation deduction. Always check with a tax pro about your specific Columbus, Ohio tax situation.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals sale price over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, your federal tax deduction is generally the vehicle’s gross sale price, not its Kelley Blue Book value. Steel Wheels reports this on IRS Form 1098-C, which you use when you file your return.
Vehicles at $500 or below
If your car is valued at $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098-C. You may usually deduct up to $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower. Keep this acknowledgment with your tax records.
You must itemize on Schedule A
Car-donation deductions are not automatic. To benefit, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal return instead of taking the standard deduction. A tax professional can help you decide which method saves you more in your situation.
Form 1098-C mailed within 30 days of sale
After Steel Wheels sells your donated vehicle, we mail your official IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days. This form lists the sale date and gross sale price, which the IRS uses to verify your claimed deduction for donations over $500.
Dec 31 controls the tax year
The key deadline is your donation date, not the sale date. As long as you donate (transfer the vehicle) by December 31, your deduction applies to that tax year, even if the car sells and Form 1098-C arrives early in the following year.