In Louisville, the IRS looks at one thing for your year-end car donation: the date your vehicle is actually picked up. To claim a deduction for this tax year, Bluegrass Auto Gift must have your car physically towed away on or before December 31—scheduling alone is not enough. That’s why we urge donors to book their pickup 3–5 business days before year-end, especially around Christmas and New Year’s, so we can guarantee a 2024 pickup date in most Louisville Metro neighborhoods.
Bluegrass Auto Gift partners with Heritage for the Blind, a trusted 501(c)(3) that funds services for people who are blind or visually impaired. We provide fast, free towing across Louisville Metro—whether you’re in the Highlands, St. Matthews, Jeffersontown, Shively, Okolona, PRP, Newburg, Valley Station, Downtown, or across the river in Southern Indiana. Running or not, no inspection, no repairs needed. You’ll receive your written acknowledgment (and IRS Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500) after the vehicle sells, but your deduction year is locked in by the pickup date. Start now—our secure online form takes about two minutes, and our Monday–Saturday dispatch can still get you in before the December 31 deadline.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your 2‑minute Louisville donation form or call
2 minutesEnter your contact info, vehicle details, and preferred pickup time, or call to donate by phone. Have your title handy if possible, and choose a date several days before December 31 to give us room to schedule towing within Louisville Metro.
Confirm your pickup date before December 31
5–10 minutesOur team quickly calls to confirm details, answer tax-year questions, and lock in a pickup day and window. To secure a 2024 deduction, we’ll prioritize a pickup on or before December 31 anywhere in Louisville Metro, subject to holiday availability.
Prepare the vehicle and title on pickup day
10–15 minutesRemove personal items, take off your license plates if required by Kentucky, and sign the title as instructed. The tow driver will handle the rest—no repairs or cleaning needed, and non-running cars in Louisville and surrounding suburbs are welcomed.
Vehicle is towed — your tax year is locked in
Pickup dayWhen the tow truck takes possession of your car on or before December 31, that date becomes your official IRS donation date. That’s what determines whether your deduction counts for this tax year or the next, regardless of when the car is sold.
Receive your receipt and, if applicable, Form 1098‑C
Within weeks after saleYour vehicle is sold, and Heritage for the Blind mails you a written acknowledgment. For cars that sell for more than $500, you’ll also receive IRS Form 1098‑C. You’ll use this documentation when itemizing deductions on your federal tax return.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date controls your tax year
The IRS treats the date your vehicle is actually picked up as the official donation date. If your Louisville car is towed away on or before December 31, you can generally claim the deduction for that tax year, even if it sells later.
Schedule 3–5 business days before Dec 31
Year-end slots fill up fast in Louisville Metro. Scheduling your pickup 3–5 business days before December 31 gives us time to assign a tow, work around holidays, and still complete your pickup before the tax-year cutoff in most cases.
Form 1098‑C for vehicles over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind will issue IRS Form 1098‑C. This form shows the sale date and gross proceeds, which typically set the limit of your charitable deduction when you itemize.
Deduction usually equals sale price
In most cases, your allowable deduction is the amount Heritage for the Blind receives when your car is sold. Exceptions may apply if the charity keeps and materially uses the vehicle, so always review the 1098‑C and consult your tax advisor.
Itemizing on Schedule A is required
To benefit from a federal tax deduction for your Louisville car donation, you must itemize charitable contributions on Schedule A. If you take the standard deduction, you generally cannot claim an additional write‑off for your vehicle donation.