How to Choose a Car Donation Charity in Canada
Before you hand over the keys, you deserve to know who will benefit and how your donation will be handled.
If you’re searching for the best car donation charity in Canada, start with a few practical questions. Is the charity registered? Where do the proceeds go? How does the tax receipt work?
Here are five things to check when choosing where to donate your car.
- Check the charitable registration number
Start by identifying the organization receiving your donation and issuing your tax receipt.
The Canada Revenue Agency recommends confirming that the organization you want to support is registered. Use the charity search linked in the CRA’s guide to giving to check. A familiar name or professional website can be a starting point, but checking the record gives you something concrete to rely on.
Homeless Cars is a registered Canadian charitable foundation. Our charitable registration number is 77012 3131 RR0001, which you can use when looking us up.
- Find Out Who Benefits From Your Vehicle
Choose a cause you care about, then look for specific information about the organizations receiving support. Ask whether proceeds stay locally, support programs elsewhere in Canada or fund work internationally. Knowing where your contribution goes helps you choose a program that reflects your priorities.
At Homeless Cars, net proceeds support charity partners in or around the community where the vehicle was donated. All funds stay in Canada. Although you’d hope this were the case for all vehicle donation charities, many send funds elsewhere, and it can take looking at the fine print to determine what the deal is.
You can meet our charity partners, like North York Harvest Food Bank pictured here; and learn more about the work your vehicle donation helps fund.
- Understand the tax receipt
Ask who will issue your official donation receipt, how its value will be determined and when you should expect it. If a program advertises a minimum receipt amount, confirm what applies to your vehicle before making your decision.
Homeless Cars can always appraise your vehicle prior to the time of pickup to ensure a fair amount is assigned and you can get the most for your donation. Homeless Cars issues official donation receipts in the month following the donation.
- Look for clear answers about the process
A useful charity website should help you understand what happens after you donate.
Through Homeless Cars, the funding supports our charity partners. The vehicles themselves are not given directly to people experiencing homelessness.
Depending on the quality of your vehicle, it can be sold for parts, scrap, or resale. Homeless Cars ensures that the vehicle will be processed in the most sustainable and suitable way possible, and your tax receipt will reflect this.
Our frequently asked questions covers paperwork, pickup preparation and what happens next.
Donate your car and support the community
An unused car can help fund the local organizations people turn to when they need support. If helping neighbours facing homelessness or food insecurity matters to you, we would be glad to answer your questions and help you take the next step.
Complete our online vehicle donation form or call 1-833-465-7227 to get started. You can also email info@homelesscars.ca