Selling a Car
A new car loses significant value the second you drive it off the lot—generally between 20 and 30 percent. So when it comes time to sell your car, you want to eke out every salvageable penny. The Internet makes it easy to show your car to a vast audience of prospective buyers. This Web guide will show you where and how, and will also teach you about some other viable options, such as trading in your car or donating it to charity.
Expand All Guide SectionsPreparing to Sell a Car
The Web is cluttered with used car ads at all times, and you need to find a way to differentiate ... read more »
Sell a Car Online
Now that you’re familiar with the intricacies of selling your car, it’s time to put ... read more »
How to Trade In a Car
If you’re planning to sell your car, you’re not limited to posting an ad online. ... read more »
Car Donation
If you don’t want to sell, trade in, or consign your car, there’s another potentially more rewarding option: donate it to charity. Organizations abound that ask for car donations; they usually sell the cars themselves and give money to charity. Not only will you feel good about yourself, but chances are you’ll receive a tax deduction.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Donating your car to charity is convenient—the organization usually handles all the transport, and sometimes even your paperwork and tax forms. However, as CarBuyingTips.com cautions, there may be a better way to transform your old car into a monetary donation. Scroll down near the bottom of the page to find “Warnings About Donating Your Car To Charity.” The article states that charities often have consultants who auction donated cars for them, and that these cars are usually sold at below market value. The article advises that it may make more sense to sell the car yourself, for the highest price possible, and then donate that money to charity.
- If you do decide to donate your car to charity, be careful: make sure you are dealing with a legitimate charity, and see that your donation is being spent wisely. You check check the trustworthiness of a charity on the Better Business Bureau Web site.
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For an explanation of the process …
eHow.com
provides a quick overview on how to donate your car to charity. Read the four easy steps, learn what to look out for, and get a few tips and words of caution.
For some charities that accept car donations …
Outreach Center
provides funding support to children’s programs around the country, including programs like the United Way, Ronald McDonald House, and the National Childhood Cancer Foundation. When you donate your vehicle to the Outreach Center, the money is donated to one of these worthy programs. Learn more about making a tax-deductible donation on the “Frequently Asked Questions” page.
Kidney Cars
, a program of the National Kidney Foundation, is a used car donation program that directs donations toward fighting kidney disease and boosting the number of organs obtainable for transplant. The site asserts that in 2006, the Foundation garnered more than $11 million from about 40,000 car donations.
1-800-Charity Cars
won the Walt Disney World Outstanding Community Service Award. This program works to give disadvantaged families free cars or car services. If your car isn’t suitable to be donated to a family, due to certain deficiencies in repair and mileage, for example, then the organization will auction off your car and the money will go to the charity.
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