How the car donation process works
Start with the 2-minute form or a phone call
Begin by completing Revive Ride's quick online vehicle donation form or by calling Heritage for the Blind directly. You will share basic details such as your name, Missouri pickup address, contact information, vehicle year, make, model, approximate condition, and whether you have the title. You do not need to know the vehicle's value, and it is okay if it needs work or will not start. This first step simply gives the donation team enough information to open your file and prepare the free pickup.
A coordinator calls within 1-2 business hours
After your form is submitted, a donation coordinator typically calls back within 1-2 business hours. This is your chance to ask questions before committing, confirm where the vehicle is located, and choose a pickup window. Missouri donors can usually schedule pickup from a home, apartment lot, workplace, repair shop, storage location, or another accessible address. If the vehicle is in a busy area such as downtown Kansas City, the Central West End, Clayton, Columbia near campus, or a gated community, the coordinator will help plan the easiest access.
Free pickup is scheduled at your Missouri location
A licensed tow truck is assigned for your pickup, and in most Missouri metro areas, same-day or next-business-day pickup may be available. There is no towing charge, no pickup fee, and no hidden cost to you. At pickup, you or the authorized titleholder will sign the Missouri title over as instructed by the coordinator. Please remove personal belongings, plates if directed, and any garage access items before the driver arrives. The driver will load the vehicle safely and provide pickup documentation for your records.
Your vehicle goes to auction or a parts reseller
Once the tow is complete, the vehicle is transported to an auction facility, salvage location, or parts reseller, depending on its age, condition, mileage, and market demand. A running sedan in St. Charles may follow a different path than a non-running truck in the Ozarks, but the goal is the same: convert the donated vehicle into proceeds for the charity. You do not need to negotiate, advertise, meet buyers, or handle repair decisions. The donation program manages the sale process for you.
Sale proceeds support Heritage for the Blind
After the vehicle sells, the proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind, a real 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. Heritage uses vehicle donation support to help fund services and assistance for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also connects people with benefit resources, including SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, Section 8, and other programs; donors or loved ones who want to explore benefit eligibility can visit nhftb.org/finder. Your unwanted car, truck, van, SUV, or motorcycle can help move that mission forward.
Your tax receipt is mailed after the sale
The full donation timeline is typically 2-6 weeks from your first contact to the mailed tax receipt, depending on pickup timing and how quickly the vehicle sells. If the vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind will mail IRS Form 1098-C. If it sells for $500 or under, you will receive a written acknowledgment instead. Keep your receipt with your tax records and speak with a tax professional about how the charitable deduction may apply to your situation. Revive Ride keeps the process simple through the final step.
Key facts about car donation
Pickup is free anywhere the tow provider can safely access the vehicle in Missouri.
Most metro pickups can be scheduled same-day or next business day, depending on availability.
You sign the title at pickup; the coordinator can review the signing instructions first.
Vehicles over $500 receive IRS Form 1098-C after sale; $500 or under receive written acknowledgment.
The process usually takes 2-6 weeks from donation request to mailed tax receipt.
Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446.