These and many other emotions are often voiced to our donor care team when a vehicle with sentimental value is donated. It’s no surprise that when a vehicle has been part of the family for many years it can be a bit of a process to let it go. It usually carries with it the hope that someone else will have similar attachment to it, or see the value that it brings because of the memories and service it has provided.

When you click the “Donate my car” button…

Sometimes the thought of recycling a vehicle with that kind of attachment to it is difficult. So, we’re grateful we have the option to auction vehicles to extend their life!

Our team feels the responsibility of ensuring donated vehicles are evaluated and processed for the best possible outcome. This is so for both the donor and the charity. How are those decisions made? It is very case-by-case. Because we treat each vehicle with respect and recognize that it can be a significant decision to just to let it go. Donating it to a charity is next level! Therefore, we are diligent in staying current with metal prices and in trends that may impact the outcome. We want your answer to the question, “Donate my car?!” to support your vision of contributing to a cause. Your donation makes a difference for others. That is the foundation of what we do.

Across the country we strive to secure agents with a heart for charities. We often receive feedback about some of our agents being absolutely FABULOUS. As Clyde describes in his own words, “I was so impressed with the service and professionalism of not only Donate A Car Canada but the men they sent to pick up my car. It took two efforts to get the car from the underground parking. I will most definitely suggest Donate A Car Canada to my friends and neighbours. Thanks again for such good service.”

Donate my car? Absolutely! My donation will help the cause I care about!

After over two decades in business with a national presence, it is both rewarding and exciting to see the widespread impact you, our donors, are having on thousands of Canadian registered charities. We love sending monetary gifts, ever month, to the causes that you are passionate about!

Our answer to the question of, “Donate my car? How can I let her go?” is that your vehicle, whether you’re emotionally attached to it or can’t wait to get rid of it, makes a difference when you choose to send it off to be used for a greater good. Way to go!

Contact and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! From there, you’ll be able to keep up to date on our program as well as see posts that showcase our amazing donors and charities across the country!

The post Donate My Car, My Precious Car?! appeared first on Donate A Car.

Auctioneer a blend of magic and motivation

When vehicles are donated through the Donate a Car Canada program, they are either re-sold, or recycled.

The re-sale process is always managed as-is and to the highest bidder. Sometimes that means our agents are working the phones and spreading the word about a sale-ready car, truck, van, SUV, or motorcycle. They may even be promoting an RV or a boat!

Often, re-selling happens at a regional auction house. What happens at a car auction? The auctioneer (the person calling the sale) is at the heart of this endeavor. Their magic can happen right at the yard with interested buyers on scene to proffer a bid. More and more, online bidding is opening up the field for even more interested buyers.

Curious to hear how that may play out? We’ve just had an exciting Charity Car Auction! If you’ve been following along you know that a Calgary group of dealerships donated four classic vehicles for the Canadian Red Cross. Here’s just a taste of how that all came together.

Auctioneer brings it all home for donor’s charity of choice

Click on each of the following. ‘Give a listen to what happens at a car auction when a vehicle goes up on the block:

1968 Suzuki Cobra T500

1989 Jaguar SJX Convertible

1972 Chevrolet Cheyenne

1966 Ford Thunderbird

What happens at a car auction if I donate my vehicle?

Your first step toward auction is our online donation form. This will take you less than 10 minutes to fill in:

Based on the information you provide, we will determine how best to process your donated vehicle. If it is in driveable condition, with reasonable mileage, and lookin’ good, we may assign it to auction.

Then, just sit back and wait for your confirmation email (with lots of goodies about your tow agent). The agent (either a local auction house, area recycler, or other re-sale agent) will call you to make pick-up arrangements that suit you best.

What happens at the car auction is a matter of time and process. The agent will assign your donated vehicle to the sale day they deem most likely to see the highest sale return.

They may promote your vehicle on their website, or spread the word in other ways.

You may have the opportunity to follow along online.

On sale day your donated car, truck, van, SUV, or motorcycle will be put up for bids, as-is, to the highest bidder. The auction house awaits and processes payment from the buyer. They then send the net proceeds to our accounting department here at Donate a Car Canada.

What about my tax receipt?

From there it’s just a matter of time until we disburse your gift to your charity. You can select any Canadian charity as your car donation recipient. You read that right: ANY charity in Canada can receive your vehicle donation proceeds!

Once we have payment from our agent, we disburse your gift. Your tax receipt is issued via our partnering program, CanadaHelps. This typically happens within one to two weeks of your charity receiving their donation. Tax receipts are emailed. If there is ever any issue opening the receipt, or if it is misplaced, we can simply and quickly have a new copy re-issued!

‘More questions about what happens at a car auction? We’re here to answer all we can. We can’t wait to work with you in bringing a valuable donation for the cause you love!

The post “Can I get $11,500?” | What happens at a car auction? appeared first on Donate A Car.

I love my car. It’s been good to me. As a single mom I was grateful every day for how safe I felt in it, how lucky I was to have it, and now I have to let it go. I knew I’d cry but I wanted it to be in the privacy of my own home, no one else knowing, not right before heading into a business meeting.

Whoever hit my car has no idea how he/she has impacted my life. The decision now of finding a different car, can I manage a payment, lost work time and the emotional upheaval. Nicely done. “Recycle your ride” is good advice, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to follow!

Another staff member’s car was hit and run last month, so we’re well versed in the details of insurance, waiting, left wondering who would be so irresponsible.

We want to see you recycle your ride, and we love seeing hundreds of charities benefit from the gift of a car that’s ready to go from the road to becoming a legacy — but letting go is hard to do!

I share these moments because at Donate A Car we truly do understand what it means to let go of a vehicle, to recognize that it’s no longer useful, and that all the details involved in that process can be tedious and time consuming. We’re mindful of how hard it can be when the tow truck driver arrives in his jolly good mood while you’re trying to hold it together. We know that it’s just a material possession, but one that was useful and meant something to you.

Never doubt that on the other end of the phone or through our online process that there are caring individuals processing your donation, doing our best to ensure the right and best outcome for your car and for your charity. We get it. So, whether you recycle your ride, or find a private buyer or recipient, thank you for considering the donation option!

The post It’s a Sad, Sad Day: When “Recycle Your Ride” is About More Than Metal and Tires appeared first on Donate A Car.