Donate your car in Hawaii by 11:59 p.m. on December 31 and you may claim a tax deduction on this year’s return. With Island Wheels, your deduction is based on what your vehicle actually sells for—not Kelley Blue Book. If it sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind (our 501(c)(3) partner, EIN 58-2164446) will mail you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. If it sells for $500 or less, you’ll get a written acknowledgment and you may generally deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower, as long as you itemize on Schedule A.
We make it easy across Hawaii—from Honolulu, Kaimukī and Hawaiʻi Kai to Waipahu, Mililani, Kapolei, Pearl City, Kailua, Kāneʻohe, Hilo, Kona, Līhuʻe and beyond. You get a free pickup, usually within a few days, Monday–Saturday. Non-running cars are OK; no safety check or repairs needed. Your pickup confirmation is proof of your donation date, and Island Wheels and Heritage for the Blind handle the rest of the paperwork. Donate now, beat the December 31 IRS cutoff, and support vital services for people who are blind or visually impaired—right from your driveway.
Your year-end donation timeline
1. Lock in your donation date
2 minutesComplete our fast online form or call Island Wheels and choose the earliest pickup date that works for you. As long as your vehicle is donated (pickup scheduled and accepted) by December 31, your donation counts toward this year’s taxes. Keep the confirmation for your records.
2. Schedule free Hawaii pickup
5 minutesOur towing partner calls to confirm a pickup window anywhere on Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi or Hawaiʻi Island—Honolulu condos, Kapolei homes, Hilo driveways and more. No inspection or repairs needed; running or not, we’ll tow it at no cost to you, usually within a few days.
3. Hand over keys and title
10–15 minutesOn pickup day, sign your Hawaiʻi title and release the vehicle. The driver gives you a pickup receipt—this is critical proof of your donation date for the IRS. From there, Island Wheels works with Heritage for the Blind to process your car and prepare your tax paperwork.
4. Vehicle sells and paperwork is issued
Varies by saleYour vehicle is sold, and the gross sale price is reported. If it sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. If it’s $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment with the required IRS details.
5. Claim your deduction on your return
During tax filingAt tax time, you use Form 1098-C or your written acknowledgment plus your pickup receipt to support your deduction. You’ll generally itemize on Schedule A to claim it. Always consult a tax professional to understand how the deduction applies to your specific situation.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals sale price, not Blue Book
For most car donations, the IRS limits your deduction to the vehicle’s gross sale proceeds. That’s the amount Island Wheels and Heritage for the Blind receive when your car is sold, not Kelley Blue Book or what you originally paid.
Over $500 requires IRS Form 1098-C
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind will mail you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. You generally use this form to substantiate your deduction when you file your federal income tax return.
$500 or less uses written acknowledgment
If your vehicle sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098-C. In that case, you may generally deduct up to $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower, assuming you itemize deductions.
You must itemize on Schedule A
Car donations are usually claimed as a charitable deduction on Schedule A of your Form 1040. If you take the standard deduction instead of itemizing, you typically can’t claim an additional deduction for your donated vehicle.
Dec 31 sets which tax year it counts for
The IRS keys off your donation date, not when the car sells. If your vehicle is donated by December 31, it normally counts for that tax year, even if it sells and your Form 1098-C arrives early in the following year.