Donate your car to Sunshine Shift in the Fort Myers Area by 11:59 p.m. on December 31, and you may claim a charitable tax deduction for this tax year. The IRS looks at the date of donation (when you hand over the keys/title or the tow truck picks up) – not the later sale date. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, your deduction is generally limited to the actual gross sale price of the vehicle, not the Kelley Blue Book value. Once your donated car sells, Heritage for the Blind (the 501(c)(3) your gift supports) will mail you IRS Form 1098‑C showing the sale amount you may be able to deduct if you itemize on Schedule A.
Sunshine Shift makes it simple for donors across the Fort Myers Area – from McGregor, Gateway, and Iona to Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, and North Fort Myers. We arrange free towing, usually within a day or two, even if your car doesn’t run. You get a pickup confirmation you can keep with your records as proof of your donation date, plus the required written acknowledgment. You avoid the hassle of selling, while your vehicle helps fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired through Heritage for the Blind (EIN 58-2164446). Always consult your tax professional about your specific situation.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your 2‑minute donation form or call
2 minutesEnter your basic vehicle and contact info online or call our Fort Myers Area team. You’ll choose a convenient pickup location anywhere from downtown Fort Myers to Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, or Estero and lock in your intended donation before December 31.
Lock in your donation date and pickup
5 minutesWe confirm your donation and schedule free towing, Monday–Saturday, in most Fort Myers Area neighborhoods. The pickup date – when you release the car and title – is the donation date that counts for this tax year’s deduction.
Hand over keys, title, and get pickup confirmation
10 minutesWhen the tow truck arrives, you sign the title, hand over the keys (if available), and receive a pickup confirmation. Keep this with your records as proof that you donated the vehicle before December 31 for this year’s tax return.
Receive your written acknowledgment and tax paperwork
Within 30 days after saleAfter your vehicle is sold, Heritage for the Blind mails your IRS Form 1098‑C (for sales over $500) or written acknowledgment (for $500 or less) within 30 days of the sale. This shows the sale price or fair market value used for your deduction.
Itemize on Schedule A and claim your deduction
During tax filingYou or your tax professional use Form 1098‑C or the written acknowledgment to claim your charitable deduction on Schedule A. For vehicles over $500, your deduction generally equals the gross sale proceeds reported on Form 1098‑C.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals sale price over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your deduction to the gross sale proceeds shown on Form 1098‑C – not Kelley Blue Book or your estimate of value.
Special rule for $500 or under vehicles
If your vehicle is sold for $500 or less, you may usually deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower, using the written acknowledgment Sunshine Shift sends instead of Form 1098‑C.
Form 1098‑C from Heritage for the Blind
Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) charity (EIN 58‑2164446), mails IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days after the car sells when the sale price is over $500, detailing the amount you can generally deduct.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation tax deduction, you must file Schedule A and itemize your deductions. If you take the standard deduction, you cannot also claim an additional vehicle donation deduction.
Donate by Dec 31 for this tax year
The key IRS deadline is December 31. If your vehicle is picked up and signed over by then, it’s treated as a donation this calendar year, even though the vehicle may sell and Form 1098‑C may arrive later.