How the car donation process works
Tell Wheel Forward About Your Vehicle
Start by sharing basic information about the car, truck, van, SUV, motorcycle, or other eligible vehicle you want to donate in the San Diego Metro area. You do not need to understand charity processing or tax rules before you begin. Wheel Forward guides you through the details, confirms the vehicle information, and helps arrange the next step. Donors from neighborhoods such as North Park, Pacific Beach, Clairemont, National City, Santee, Carlsbad, and Vista can begin from home, knowing the donation supports Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446.
Schedule Free Pickup Across San Diego Metro
After your donation is started, free towing is arranged at a convenient location in the San Diego region. Your vehicle can usually be picked up from a home, workplace, repair shop, driveway, parking area, or other accessible location. Whether you are near Mission Valley, Poway, La Mesa, Imperial Beach, Encinitas, San Marcos, or Lemon Grove, the goal is to make donating easier than selling privately or paying for repairs. You receive guidance on what to have ready so the handoff feels clear and stress-free.
Your Vehicle Is Sold to Create Charitable Proceeds
Once the vehicle is picked up, it is processed and sold according to its condition and marketability. The key point for mission-motivated donors is simple: 100-percent of the vehicle sale proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind. Those proceeds help the charity continue services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Instead of letting an unused or unwanted vehicle sit in a garage, driveway, or repair lot, your donation turns it into funding that supports real assistance and resource connections.
Proceeds Fund Services for Blind and Visually Impaired People
Heritage for the Blind uses vehicle donation proceeds to support services for people who are blind or visually impaired, including help connecting individuals with government benefit programs. These may include SSI, SSDI, LIHEAP, Section 8, Medicare Extra Help, and Medicaid. For people navigating vision loss, disability benefits, energy assistance, housing support, health coverage, or prescription help, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. Donation proceeds help fund the charity’s ability to provide guidance and access to resource pathways.
Donors and Families Can Check Benefit Eligibility
If you, a loved one, or someone in your community wants to explore possible assistance programs, Heritage for the Blind offers an eligibility finder at nhftb.org/finder. This tool can help people review programs such as SSI, SSDI, LIHEAP, Section 8, Medicare Extra Help, Medicaid, and other benefits that may be relevant. Your San Diego car donation helps support the broader mission behind these connections, giving people who are blind or visually impaired a clearer starting point when they need help.
Receive the Tax Documentation You Need
Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. Donations to 501(c)(3) charities are generally tax deductible for donors who itemize deductions. If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, your deduction is based on the gross vehicle sale price, and IRS Form 1098-C is provided for your records. Wheel Forward helps donors understand the documentation process, but donors should consult a qualified tax professional for advice about their individual tax situation.
Key facts about car donation
Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity, EIN 58-2164446.
100-percent of vehicle sale proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind.
Free towing is available for eligible vehicle donations throughout San Diego Metro.
Proceeds fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
For vehicles selling over $500, donors receive IRS Form 1098-C.
Benefit eligibility information is available through Heritage at nhftb.org/finder.