Sell a Vehicle Privately, or Donate it?

There are pros and cons to donating vs opting to sell a vehicle privately. We, of course, are superfans of donating! Who doesn’t love to do good for a beloved charity while also tending the environment and supporting local business? But economics being what they are, we well understand the need to make the choice that fits your current circumstance. Here are some considerations…

What happens when I donate a vehicle?

First, we have live humans answering an actual phone line every day (1-877-250-4904)! That noted, many folks call in whilst in the middle of the important decision: Should they sell a vehicle privately? Should they donate it for the charity they love?

A beautiful extension of the Donate a Car Canada program is that when you donate your unused, unwanted vehicle, you can choose ANY Canadian charity to gift. The net proceeds from the re-sale/recycling of your car, truck, van, SUV, or motorcycle goes directly to the charity.

There are zero costs or tasks left to the charity. We manage all aspects of the donation process. CanadaHelps manages the actual receipting process. This allows your chosen cause to continue doing the work they’re missioned with — no distractions!

And what about you? How is it good for you? Beyond the joy of giving (which you know is a happy buzz!), there are a few key wins:

Your free tow

Within hours of completing your donation form, one of our agents will call you to arrange free pick up of your vehicle. These crews are highly adaptive and will work with you to serve within the time frame that serves you best. These professionals know their stuff. They’ll assist with everything from proper registration paperwork and transfer of ownership to the care and keeping of your property when they come for the vehicle.

That tax receipt

Once your vehicle is picked up and re-sold or recycled, it’s just a matter of accounting completion. You will be kept apprised of where things are at in your process all along the way, including letting you know when your gift has actually been disbursed to your charity of choice. The receipt will arrive to your inbox shortly thereafter. You’ll receive a link for accessing copies of the tax receipt if your original is somehow misplaced, too. And we’ll be a click, an email, or a phone call away if you have any questions about this process at any point along the way.

The reassurance that this service is here for the long haul

Donate a Car has been at this for 20 years! Many vehicle donors return twice, three times, or many-many more! We’ve had business fleet vehicle donors come back one year after another to donation a handful of vehicles at a time. Others experience a change in family circumstances. We have carefully tended process around estate vehicle donation and other extenuating circumstances. We are a personalized, compassionate, and joy-filled service. Honouring each donor and their gift as unique is what we do!

So, why would I opt to sell a vehicle privately instead?

Dollars to donuts, if you sell a vehicle privately you may see a slightly stronger dollar amount than will be reflected in a vehicle donation tax receipt. There are few reasons for this:

When re-selling a vehicle through auction or via another bidding process, agents simply do not see Blue/Black Book values. This is often because the sales reflect what the precise current market will support.

There are some fees incurred in the running of the business end of things. Donate a Car Canada is a business that serves from coast to coast. We keep our costs low through several key means: our team is lean, and we all work from home. Because we are an online service, our running supplies are also minimal. That said, we do have employees (the reason you can talk to a funny and fabulous human when you call in, and you’ll get a personal note when you email).

Our agents cannot afford to donate their truck, fuel, and staff costs. Some of the value of the vehicle will need to go to the agent providing service. The cost of business for ourselves and for our agents are a factor in the donation outcome.

Simplifying life one vehicle at a time

If times are tight and pennies are pinched, the choice to sell a vehicle privately may be the route for you. But if there’s some wiggle room in the budget, donation may be the perfect service for you! One way of assessing that is considering how “full” your own bottle is. If your bills are met, you have the freedom to pick up a coffee from time to time, and maybe a vacation is in the plans, donation may be one way for you to extend care in your community.

If the bills are well in hand, trips are a no-brainer, and there’s lots of room to give in the bank account, giving in this way might be an easy Yes!

So, if you’re done with it, do good with it! The process is simple, quick, and free! If you have more questions, pop over to our FAQ’s. If you’d rather talk to one of our team, find us at 1-877-250-4904, Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 5:00 MT.