In Maryland, your car donation only counts for this year’s IRS deduction if the vehicle is physically picked up on or before December 31. Scheduling alone is not enough — the IRS donation date is the actual pickup date. With Chesapeake Chariots, benefiting Heritage for the Blind (a 501(c)(3)), you can get it done fast. Our team runs Monday through Saturday during the holiday season, so when you schedule 3–5 business days before year-end, we work to secure a pickup slot that locks in this year’s deduction.
We provide free towing anywhere in Maryland — from Baltimore City, Towson, Columbia, Ellicott City, and Westminster to Annapolis, Bowie, Waldorf, Rockville, Silver Spring, Hagerstown, Salisbury, and the Eastern Shore. No inspection, emissions, or repairs are needed; we’ll accept most vehicles, even if they’re not running. After your car sells, Heritage for the Blind mails you the written acknowledgment (and IRS Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500) for your records, but your deduction year is based on the pickup date. Don’t wait until the last minute: complete our quick 2-minute form or call now so we can get your Maryland pickup done by December 31.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your 2-minute donation in Maryland
2 minutesEnter your contact info, Maryland pickup address, and basic vehicle details in our secure 2-minute form or give us a quick call. Tell us you need pickup by December 31 so we prioritize your year-end tax deadline.
Choose your preferred pickup window
5 minutesOur scheduling team, operating Monday–Saturday through the holiday season, contacts you to set a convenient pickup day and time. To protect your deduction, schedule at least 3–5 business days before December 31 whenever possible.
Prepare your title and access for towing
10 minutesBefore the truck arrives, locate your title and clear personal items from the car. We’ll guide you on signing the title according to Maryland rules. Non-running vehicles are fine — just make sure the tow truck can access where it’s parked.
Vehicle pickup on or before Dec 31
15–30 minutesThe tow driver comes to your Maryland location — home, work, or a repair shop — and tows your vehicle at no cost. The IRS treats this physical pickup date as your official donation date for that tax year.
Receive your tax acknowledgment and Form 1098-C
VariesHeritage for the Blind sells your vehicle, then mails you a written acknowledgment. For vehicles over $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C. The deduction year is the pickup year, even if the paperwork arrives later.
Year-end tax deduction facts
IRS donation date is the pickup date
For car donations, the IRS uses the date your vehicle is actually picked up, not the day you call. To claim the deduction for this year, your Maryland pickup must happen on or before December 31.
Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500
If Heritage for the Blind sells your donated vehicle for more than $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C. This form shows the sale date and gross proceeds, which generally set the maximum amount you can deduct.
Your deduction is usually the sale price
In most cases, your allowable deduction equals what Heritage for the Blind receives from selling your car. You then report that amount when you itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal income tax return.
Written acknowledgment typically within 30 days of sale
After your vehicle is sold, Heritage for the Blind mails the required written acknowledgment (and 1098-C when applicable), generally within 30 days of the sale. Keep this with your tax records to support your deduction.
Dec 31 pickup = this tax year’s deduction
Even if your acknowledgment or Form 1098-C arrives in the new year, your deduction belongs to the year in which the vehicle was picked up. A December 31 Maryland pickup counts for that calendar year’s taxes.