In St. Louis, the hard IRS deadline for claiming a car donation on this year’s taxes is simple: your vehicle must be picked up by December 31. With Rev Up Local, working with Heritage for the Blind, you can usually get same-day or next-business-day pickup in the St. Louis Metro when you contact us before early afternoon on weekdays. We run Monday–Saturday year‑round, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s. To safely lock in a December 31 pickup slot, we strongly recommend you call or submit the 2‑minute form by December 27. Towing is always free, and your car does not need to run.
We know year‑end in St. Louis is busy—holiday traffic on I‑64, ice on I‑44, last‑minute errands from Chesterfield and Ballwin to South City and Soulard. That’s exactly why we make the process fast and local. Whether your car is in the Central West End, University City, Florissant, St. Charles, Belleville, or anywhere in the St. Louis Metro, we’ll help you donate it quickly, get your tax paperwork started, and support Heritage for the Blind’s services for people who are blind or visually impaired. You handle a quick call or online form, sign the title, and we’ll handle the rest.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesCall Rev Up Local or complete the simple online form in about two minutes. Have your location in the St. Louis Metro and basic vehicle info ready. Contact us by December 27–28 to comfortably reserve a December 31 pickup window for this tax year.
Confirm title and pickup details
5 minutesWe confirm that you have a signed vehicle title and verify your pickup address—whether you’re in South County, St. Peters, Clayton, or Belleville. We’ll review quick questions, answer any tax‑timing concerns, and lock in your pickup day and approximate time window.
Schedule your tow before Dec 31
1 dayDispatch schedules your free tow on the earliest available day—often same‑day or next‑day in the St. Louis area when you call before early afternoon. We operate Monday–Saturday, including Christmas week, with pickups available all the way through December 31, subject to open time slots.
Free pickup and handoff
20–30 minutesOn pickup day, the tow driver meets you (or your designated contact) at the car—home, work, garage, or lot. You hand over the signed title and keys, if available. Non‑running, damaged, or high‑mileage vehicles are all fine. Your donation is now complete for this tax year.
Receive your tax receipt and 1098‑C
2–6 weeksYou’ll get an initial donation receipt when your vehicle is picked up. After the vehicle is sold, Heritage for the Blind mails you a more detailed receipt and, when required, IRS Form 1098‑C. You use this documentation to claim your deduction when you file your return.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Dec 31 controls the tax year
For IRS purposes, your car donation counts in the tax year when the charity takes possession of the vehicle. That means the pickup must be completed by December 31—not just scheduled—if you want the deduction on this year’s return.
Form 1098-C for larger deductions
When your donated vehicle is sold and the claimed value is greater than $500, the charity provides IRS Form 1098‑C. This form shows the gross sale price and is what you use to substantiate your non‑cash charitable contribution with the IRS.
Deduction usually equals sale price
In most cases, the IRS limits your deduction to the amount the charity actually receives from selling your vehicle, not the Kelley Blue Book value. Your final receipt or Form 1098‑C will state this sale price for use on your tax return.
Itemizing on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation tax deduction, you must itemize deductions on your federal return using Schedule A. If you take the standard deduction, you generally cannot also claim an additional separate write‑off for your donated vehicle.
30-day detailed receipt timeline
After your car is sold, Heritage for the Blind will send you a written acknowledgment—often including Form 1098‑C—typically within about 30 days of the sale. Keep this with your tax records as proof of your charitable contribution.