In Maryland, the IRS rule is clear: your vehicle must be picked up on or before December 31 to qualify as a car donation for this tax year. With Chesapeake Chariots, powered by Heritage for the Blind, you can still make the deadline. We schedule pickups Monday–Saturday all year, including Christmas week, and in most Maryland metro areas we can arrange same-day or next-business-day towing when you contact us before early afternoon. To be safe, call or submit our 2-minute form by December 27–28 to guarantee a December 31 slot, assuming your title is signed and ready.
We’re local to Maryland donors—from Baltimore City neighborhoods like Federal Hill, Canton, and Hampden to suburbs like Towson, Columbia, Ellicott City, and Owings Mills; from the D.C. metro in Silver Spring, Rockville, Bethesda, and Bowie to Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Waldorf, Hagerstown, Salisbury, and the Eastern Shore. Your car, truck, SUV, or van is towed free of charge, running or not; no inspection or repairs are needed. Heritage for the Blind handles the paperwork and sends your tax receipt after sale. If you’re looking at the calendar and wondering if you can still make the cutoff, the answer is yes—as long as your pickup is completed by December 31. Start now and lock in your Maryland year-end tax deduction.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesCall Chesapeake Chariots or complete our simple online form in about two minutes. In Maryland, we’ll ask for basic vehicle details, your location (Baltimore, D.C. suburbs, Eastern Shore, Western MD, etc.), and your preferred pickup window so we can target a pre–Dec 31 date.
Confirm your December 31 tax-year deadline
2 minutesOur team reviews your information and confirms that your tow can be completed by December 31. Call by December 27–28 to virtually guarantee a Dec 31 slot in most Maryland metro areas, especially around Baltimore, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties.
Schedule your free Maryland pickup
5 minutesWe connect you with our towing partner and set a firm date and time, Monday–Saturday, including Christmas week. In many Maryland locations, we can often offer same-day or next-day pickup when you contact us before early afternoon on a weekday.
Prepare your signed Maryland title
5–10 minutesTo lock in your deduction, you’ll need a properly signed Maryland vehicle title ready at pickup. The tow driver will guide you on handing it over. There’s no emissions test, no repairs, and no cleaning required—just remove personal items and plates if needed.
Vehicle is towed free, donation is locked in
Pickup dayOnce your vehicle is picked up on or before December 31, your donation counts for this tax year. Heritage for the Blind handles the sale and sends you a tax receipt—often worth dollar-500-plus—typically within 30 days of the completed sale.
Year-end tax deduction facts
December 31 is the official IRS cutoff
For Maryland donors, your car must be donated and picked up by December 31 to claim the deduction for this tax year. If the tow happens on January 1 or later, the deduction applies to the following tax year instead.
Your deduction equals the sale price
In most cases, the IRS lets you deduct the actual sale price Heritage for the Blind receives for your vehicle, not the blue-book value. You’ll use the receipt you receive after the vehicle is sold to report this amount on your return.
IRS Form 1098-C for larger donations
If your vehicle sells for more than the IRS threshold, Heritage for the Blind provides IRS Form 1098-C. You attach this form to your federal return when you itemize your deduction on Schedule A, along with your regular tax records.
You’ll receive your receipt within about 30 days
After your car is picked up and sold, Heritage for the Blind mails a written acknowledgment—often within about 30 days of the sale. This document shows the sale price and is what you’ll use to support your charitable deduction.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation tax deduction, Maryland donors must itemize deductions on Schedule A of their federal tax return. If you take the standard deduction, you generally cannot separately deduct your vehicle donation.