Giving Tuesday brings us together

“GivingTuesday is a global movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.” How will you get involved on December 2, 2025?

So many ways to participate this December

Look no further for ways to share this Giving Tuesday! Donate a Car Canada processes donations for any Canadian charity! Each one will offer ways that you can help. Just as you. Where you are. Today!

Many of us are not in a position to give financially. No problem! The smallest acts of kindness bring meaningful relief. Your innate Goodness? It matters! Share it in the way that you are best able. A written note, or a pot of soup. An offer of childcare, or pet sitting. A simple, authentic smile.

‘Have your feet under you and feeling some financial freedom? Canadian charities will put your dollars and cents to excellent work. Caring, skilled men, women, and children are manning the wheel at our charities. What they need more than anything? The finances to keep things in motion. Your financial offering can make such a difference.

On the other hand, some charities will accept gifts-in-kind — that lightly used couch, coat, or pair of shoes will help!

Get Intentional

Give where you feel the love! CanadaHelps is a fabulous resource in selecting charities to support.

The cause that has most-helped you or your loved ones may be just the place to start this Giving Tuesday. If vulnerable pets or our remarkable Canadian wildlife tug at your heartstrings, give them a paw (or talon…or fin) up!

In giving creatively, you might even think about the impact your gift has on more than one level. Giving your lightly used household items, or a vehicle, means practical help to the recipient. That kind of giving does more! It reduces waste and is helpful environmentally. It clears your own space (possibly aiding in your own wellbeing). The benefits touch into your life, the life (lives) of your recipient, and the broader world.

Your Giving Tuesday

We’d love to see you this Giving Tuesday! Pick your charity and do up our quick donation form (it takes less than 10 minutes to fill out). Your charity not on our list? No problem! Just let us know and we’ll direct your gift to the cause you love! We’ll have you set up with your free tow and on your way to a tax receipt in short order!

That free tow will be managed efficiently, and with care. Typically, donated vehicles are picked up within 1 – 3 business days. You’ll be called in advance to ensure timing that suits you well.

The gift on top of the gift in all of this? Just as there is no cost to you, there is no cost to your charity of choice. We are here to ensure this full process is managed on behalf of yourself and your charity so that you can all keep doing what you need to do!

In anticipation of making a big difference together…

The post Giving Tuesday | Your Car, Your Charity of Choice! appeared first on Donate A Car.

"Everything was so wonderfully simple. Emails were returned promptly and the mechanic was great. It was one of the easiest transactions that I had to do as far as the passing of my Father and coping with my Daughters illness(coping with my loved one's estate). We all live in different cities, yet no one had to be on sight and for that I will be forever grateful. Thank you." 

~ Honda donor for humane society

Estate vehicle donation: Why leave a legacy in this way?

Managing the estate vehicle donation process is part of our every day here at Donate a Car Canada. If you are looking for our quick, simple, how-to, just scroll down to, “Common questions,” or to the bottom of this post. You’ll see, “The 1-2-3 of estate vehicle donation.” We can assist in managing your own estate, or that of a dear one.

If you are still researching your options for this kind of donation, we appreciate that process.

Estate vehicle donation is a personal and intentional decision. Donors come to it in so many different circumstances. We have experience in supporting estates where there has been a long illness, and those where death is untimely. A few years ago a donor donated her vehicle because she was terminally ill and had chosen to go the route of medically assisted death so that she wouldn’t be suffering through the lengthy health battles.

One of our staff recalls,

She was such a lovely woman and, because we knew the date that she’d chosen for her passing, we organized the paperwork being signed and set up the tow schedule for her vehicle around that so that it was all taken care of before she passed. This way her loved ones didn’t have to worry about any of it.

We can absolutely help to organize the donation ahead of time so that family members and loved ones are prepared to activate the donation once the time comes.

Legacy giving to match your unique circumstance

Much of our estate vehicle donation process is built around those filling the roll of executor/trix, or Power of Attorney. In these circumstances, the one tasked with settling the estate often chooses a charity that reflects the one who has died.

At the time of this writing we are processing donations for thirteen families. The charities chosen reflect the lifelong loves of the vehicle owners. Nature, wildlife, and local animal shelters will be beneficiaries of these gifts! Other families are gifting charities that have served them in the final days and months of their loved one’s time. Local hospice, Cancer, Diabetes, heart health, and mental health organizations will be helped by these estates.

When the one we love leaves a vehicle behind

“I’m the executrix for my loved one’s estate. He left us a 1998 Honda. How can I donate it?”

Estate vehicle donation is a simple and capably tended process here. We facilitate hundreds of such gifts every year; we well understand that your circumstances are unique. No two estates settle out in quite the same way. If you are an executor/trix, or have power of attorney, you have a LOT on your heart and mind. Furthermore, you have likely been asked the same questions by virtually every professional you have encountered! There have probably been a few speedbumps along the way.

We are here to make donating your loved one’s vehicle quick, easy, free, and loving. Equally important? We are here to help extend their legacy.

I’m planning my own estate car donation

You may be coming to us in the process of your own estate planning. We are here to come alongside you with care, efficiency, and even a little good humour when the moment is right.

Common questions about donating an estate car

For quick answers to your estate vehicle donation questions, we welcome your call at 1-877-250-4904. This is a live phone line (with real, funny, kind, and knowledgeable people on this end), Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm MT.

Here are a few most commonly asked questions about estate donation:

1) How do we fill in your form to show that it’s an estate vehicle?

The online donation form has a menu that will allow you to select the estate vehicle donation option. There are also empty spaces on the form where you can offer as much, or as little, detail as you wish. Some donors even make special notes to the charity on the form! For example, they might say something like, “I would like to make this donation in honour of my dad. He cared so much about the arts, and I know that this gift to Rosebud Theatre would mean a lot to him.”

2) What paperwork do you need for us to donate the car?

Typically, all that is required is the vehicle registration. If the vehicle is being recycled, a copy will suffice. If the car is in a condition to be re-sold, the original document will be required.

We will provide an email trail of every detail of your donation process so that you have clear documentation for the estate.

3) If we can’t find keys/registration for the car, will you still take it?

Yes. In most cases our agents are able to provide service even if the keys or registration are missing. We will walk you through the process on your own unique estate vehicle donation. Please note: if the keys and registration are missing it will likely mean that the vehicle will need to be recycled. We cannot re-sell vehicles without proper documentation.

4) We live in a different city/province from the vehicle. Do we have to be there when it’s picked up?

No, you do not need to be present at tow time. That said, in British Columbia and Quebec there are some extra documents required when letting go of a vehicle. These require signing by those with authority to do so. This may mean that this paperwork will need to be sent to our agents by regular mail.

5) Can I have the tax receipt issued in my own name (instead of it going to the estate)?

It depends if the estate has been closed yet or not: 

If the final taxes on the estate have not been completed yet, the tax receipt must be issued in the estate’s name.

If the final taxes are done, then the spouse/next of kin is considered the legal owner of the vehicle. In this case the tax receipt can be made in their name.

Your charity of choice

The cause that your loved one cared about is ready to receive their estate car donation. You can choose any Canadian charity as the recipient for this gift! For some, this is a healing part of the complexity of grief. Knowing that the heartwork of their mum, dad, sibling, or child is being helped offers comfort.

In some cases, the owner of the car may have been ill for a time. If that is true for you, a donation can be made to a charity that is involved in research and care specific to that disease. Cancer, diabetes, and heart disease causes are top-of-heart for many donors. The hospice that offered end of life care can also be named.

On the other hand, you and your family may wish to spread cheer in a different way. If you can imagine a cause, Canada has a charity to support it! Sharing your loved one’s car donation with The Donkey Sanctuary might bring a little kick to the process.

The 1-2-3 of estate vehicle donation

Every vehicle donation is unique to the Giver, but there are a few things that are steady-on.

1. Our donation form will take you less than 10 minutes to complete. We can do it over the phone for you if you prefer to connect with a caring person. Just call in to 1-877-250-4904 and we’ll take quick and thorough care! The form will allow you to name yourself as the POA/Executor/Trix, or simply as next of kin. There are times when the gift must be made in the name of the estate. Sometimes it will be simple to have the donation issued in the name of the next of kin. We can assist with this if you are unsure.
2. Then, sit back and wait for the tow agent to call: Your free tow typically happens within 1 – 5 business days. The agent will call and discuss options that suit you best. This will be made as simple for you as possible. If you live in a location where this is more complicated, we’ll have your back on that, too!
3. Finally, our agent will pay us. Your charity of choice then receives the net proceeds from the re-sale or recycling of the vehicle. You receive your tax receipt by email. In addition, you will receive emails at each important juncture of the donation process. This includes the tax receipt, of course. All will ensure that you have a healthy email trail for estate purposes as well.

Next steps

By now you may have gathered: we are just a click or a call away.

We are here to make this aspect of caring for your loved one seamless and simple.

‘Not quite ready to donate? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! There you will get an overall feel for how we care for each other and our charities. This is a caring community, here to serve you.

The post Estate Vehicle Donation | Legacy Giving appeared first on Donate A Car.

Seniors giving back…again and again

Seniors in Canada are quick to donate their vehicle. Choosing charities that are meaningful to them is important. They often donate with their children, grandchildren, and pets top-of-mind. Health issues can be a motivating factor, too. Some are community focused, choosing to donate to museums, historical societies or local concerns. Faith-based and hospice charities make the list as well!

Whatever the cause, they find freedom of choice in the process. Their generosity is also met with respect and understanding for what the donation of their vehicle may mean. Some are donating a vehicle because they know that they will no longer be driving. Others are in a position to move on to a replacement vehicle.

Circumstance and caring make a good match! However you come to the decision donate a car, truck, SUV, van, or motorcycle you can be sure the re-sale or recycle outcome will go to the charity you wish it to.

Returning the serve for seniors

Donate a Car Canada prides itself on offering outstanding donor support. One of the ways we do that is through timely, cheerful communication. And the best way to offer that? Well, when the phone rings, we answer it!

This simple service affords us the freedom to engage in one-on-one, personalized partnership with you, the donor. Seniors can find this particularly important. Could they easily do the online donation form? Absolutely! But do they have to? No. Fifteen minutes on the phone will see a donated vehicle set up for a call from a towing agent.

Which brings us to the next level of exceptional donor care: our tow agents. Our supporting crews (in very Canadian province) are quick with their own phone calls. They provide good-humoured, efficient, and courteous care when providing your free tow.

Focusing on seniors when you donate

If you are not-quite-a-senior, yet, and wish to pay it back to the seniors in your own life, select a charity that reflects that! Your own vehicle donation can benefit any one of hundreds of organizations whose work it is to support the senior in your life! Visit our charities page and search, “seniors” for more!

Legacy giving — estate planning, and estate settling

If you are a senior planning your own estate, consider how your vehicle may aid the charity you care about. At the time of this writing I am working on my own will. One of my most valuable assets (because the vehicle industry has gone just crazy this past few years!) is actually my Toyota Corolla!

In planning the distribution of my estate I am giving careful thought to where I would like my vehicle to go. By donating it, I could ensure that my beneficiaries are not left making that decision for me. I would also ease their workload by just a little if I take care of this piece of the puzzle for them.

For many of our donors, a dear one has already passed away. We have a quick guide to this process here: “Estate Vehicle Donation | Legacy Giving“

Chevy Equinox for the Canadian Red Cross | A donor’s story

A.K. came to us in a pickle: he was responsible for a recycle-ready Equinox that was stuck in an underground parkade. He needed it moved, and he was having trouble sorting through the paperwork:

Thank you for helping me out on this and I’m looking forward to the receipt
on the amount donated to the selected Charity. As for feedback, happy to
provide some feedback below;

I would like to thank everyone involved for helping me out with the
donation of my late stepfather’s car. The process was easy, I’ve got
multiple calls from various people who were coordinating everything with me
to make this as easy as possible, since I wasn’t in Canada at the time and
my mother was not fluent in English.

Everything went very well, better than I expected and really also didn’t know what to expect. Fingers were crossed that in the end, it all went smoothly which it did by 1000%.

“The tow driver was very kind to my mother…”

I do have to point out that the person who came to pick up the vehicle, the tow driver, (was) an amazing person. He was very kind to my mother, helped her walk down a steep ramp into the underground garage and just took his time with everything, explaining everything to my mom, and not giving up when the vehicle didn’t want to start at first. He even called me to make sure we understood everything, and since we forgot to pull the plates off after he dropped the vehicle, he called the second time to confirm we didn’t need the plates from the car. The tow driver said he could drop them off without a problem.

Just the class and friendliness the driver had, just awesome! You guys should let his towing company know he needs a raise or a bonus check for his work he does daily.

Everything went super well and I appreciate the ability and opportunity to donate the car without issues. I really didn’t know what I was going to do with it since I don’t need a car, my mom doesn’t drive, and it sat in the same spot for the past 2 years. Thank you Donate a Car Canada! Thank you!

The 1-2-3 of seniors vehicle donation

Every vehicle donation is unique to the Giver, but there are a few things that are steady-on.

1. Our donation form will take you less than 10 minutes to complete. We can do it over the phone for you if you prefer to connect with a caring person. Just call in to 1-877-250-4904 and we’ll take quick and thorough care! The form will allow you to name a POA/Executor/Trix, or next of kin. There are times when the gift must be made in the name of the estate. Sometimes it will be simple to have the donation issued in the name of the next of kin. We can assist with this if you are unsure.
2. Then, sit back and wait for the tow agent to call: Your free tow typically happens within 1 – 5 business days. The agent will call the person you name as “tow contact” and discuss options that suit best. This will be made as simple for you as possible. If you live in a location where this is more complicated, we’ll have your back on that, too!
3. Finally, our agent will pay us. Your charity of choice then receives the net proceeds from the re-sale or recycling of the vehicle. You receive your tax receipt by email. In addition, you will receive emails at each important juncture of the donation process. This includes the tax receipt, of course. All will ensure that you have a healthy email trail for estate purposes as well.

Next steps

By now you may have gathered, we are just a click or a call away.

We are here to make this seamless and simple.

‘Not quite ready to donate? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! There you will get an overall feel for how we care for each other and our charities. This is a caring community, here to serve you.

The post Seniors Serving; Serving Seniors appeared first on Donate A Car.