To claim your car donation on this year’s taxes, the IRS goes by the date your vehicle is physically picked up—not when you schedule it. That means your car must be towed or driven away on or before December 31 to count for this tax year. Tulsa Auto Bridge, benefiting Heritage for the Blind, recommends scheduling 3–5 business days before December 31 so we can guarantee a free pickup slot in the Tulsa Metro before the IRS cutoff.
Based here in the Tulsa area, we make it fast and local. Whether you’re in Midtown, South Tulsa, Owasso, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Sand Springs, Jenks, Catoosa, or near Downtown and Cherry Street, we can usually arrange a pickup Monday–Saturday through the holiday season. We accept most vehicles running or not, at no cost to you. You’ll get the proper tax acknowledgment, and for vehicles valued over $500, Heritage for the Blind will send you IRS Form 1098-C after the vehicle sells. Start now, beat the year-end rush, and turn your extra car into a same-year tax deduction and real support for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute form or call Tulsa Auto Bridge
2 minutesShare your contact info, vehicle details, and where in the Tulsa Metro the car is located—Downtown, South Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Owasso, Jenks, or beyond. It takes about two minutes, and you’ll immediately be in our year-end scheduling queue for a qualifying pickup before December 31.
Choose your pickup window before December 31
5 minutesOur team confirms your information and offers pickup windows Monday–Saturday, including the holiday season. To be safe, schedule your tow at least 3–5 business days before December 31 so we can get to your home, office, or storage lot in time for this year’s deduction.
Prepare your title and keys for the driver
10–15 minutesBefore your slot, locate your vehicle title (if available) and keys. Clear out personal items from the glove box and trunk. No repairs, emissions, or inspections are required—the car can be non-running or damaged. Our local tow partner handles loading it up at your Tulsa-area location.
Pickup day: your tax-deduction date is locked in
15–30 minutesWhen the tow truck arrives and removes your vehicle on or before December 31, that pickup day becomes your official IRS donation date. You’ll receive an initial written acknowledgment that you donated your car to Heritage for the Blind through Tulsa Auto Bridge.
Receive your tax receipt and Form 1098-C (if applicable)
Varies after saleYour vehicle is sold, and the proceeds support services for people who are blind or visually impaired. After the sale, we mail your final written acknowledgment—and for vehicles over $500, IRS Form 1098-C. The deduction applies to the tax year of your pickup date, even if the sale and receipt occur later.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date sets your deduction year
For IRS purposes, the donation date is when your car is actually picked up, not when you schedule online or call. If your vehicle is towed away on or before December 31, it counts as a donation for that tax year.
Schedule 3–5 business days before Dec 31
Towing calendars fill up fast in late December. To make sure we can reach your Tulsa Metro location in time, schedule your donation at least 3–5 business days before December 31 whenever possible.
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. You typically may deduct the sale price shown on that form when you itemize on your federal return.
You usually deduct the sale price
Most donors can deduct the amount the charity receives when the vehicle is sold, not the blue book value. This final sale price will be listed on your acknowledgment or Form 1098-C for your tax records.
Receipt can arrive after New Year’s
Your formal tax receipt may come weeks after your car sells, but your deduction year is still based on the pickup date. A December 31 pickup counts for that tax year even if your paperwork arrives in the new year.