8/11/2009 How to avoid getting taken for a ride when donating a car to charity


The ploy: a homeless child or starving puppy peers down at you from a highway billboard. They need your help. If you simply donate that old car sitting in your driveway, you could provide food, shelter, education, or even life to a needy soul. The problem: the billboard is actually owned by a used-car seller, a "charity" that keeps an enormous percentage of the profit for its own benefit, or an organization that uses the money for a purpose never implied in the ads.

Car donation is a wonderful thing. It really can provide food, shelter, education, and even the hope of a better life to those in need. You just need to know which programs are legit and which are rip-offs. Don't let vague mission statements and catchy radio jingles lure you in. In order to avoid getting duped by a false charity, follow this simple checklist:

1. Make sure the charity you're working with is legitimate. You can find a comprehensive list at www.charitynavigator.com
2. Choose an organization with well-recognized work. Be especially concerned about "charities" with cute sounding names, or organizations with the word "car" or "auto" in the name -- they may not have any charitable function except taking car donations from donors.
3. Google the car donation program's name with the word "scam." You'd be surprised how many people donate to companies that are widely known to be dishonest.
4. Ask how much the charity will receive. Find out how much of the gross proceeds go back to the charity. If the organization will only list the percentage of net proceeds, then your donation could be largely wasted.
5. Ask how and where the money will be spent. This question should be easily answered. Beware of programs that promise to send proceeds to an organization without having a direct relationship. Find out what percentage of revenue the program keeps for "operating costs."
6. Ask how the vehicle will be handled. You'll want to know that the vehicle will be picked up and transported by properly licensed and insured towing companies, and that the legal transfer of the vehicle will be handled by a licensed dealer contracted by the charity (or in some cases under the charity's own vehicle license).
7. Sign the title directly over to the charity or their agent. Do not, under any circumstances, leave the "buyer" section of the title blank. By leaving the title blank, you allow anyone to transfer the title directly from you to the next buyer. As a result, you may remain liable for the vehicle, and the charity might not get any credit for your donation.

Donation Wizard works with the nation's most reputable and respected charities, including Habitat for Humanity, National Public Radio, Arthritis Foundation, March of Dimes, One Laptop per Child, Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Foundation, and Feed the Children.

Donation Wizard consistently returns between 75 and 80% of the gross dollar back to its charities. No national charitable car donation program returns a higher percentage. The proceeds from just one car donation could pay for windows for a family in need of decent housing, food for a starving child, medical care and research for an ailing patient, or shelter for a stray dog. Donation Wizard accepts almost all vehicles. To donate a car, truck, boat or RV, call 1-877-957-2277 toll-free or visit www.donationwizard.com.


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