Every car, truck, or SUV owner wonders at some point: should I sell, keep, or donate my vehicle? All three options have advantages depending on resale value, the current market, tax deduction laws, and other variables.  How do you know which is best for you at a given time? Here are a few tips to help decide whether you should sell, keep, or donate your car, truck, van, boat, or motorcycle to charity.

Is it Time to Sell My Vehicle?

American cars now last an average age of 11.5 years, so selling your vehicle before it hits 100,000 miles can increase your return.

Points to Consider:

  1. Mileage milestones:

Selling your vehicle 3,000 to 5,000 miles before these milestones hit can save you costly repairs.

  1. Your vehicle’s “true cost of ownership
    • Projected repairs
    • General maintenance
    • Other expenditures such new tires

Sell your vehicle if the total cost to keep the car is more than the trade-in value.

  1. Your stage in life
    • If your current vehicle no longer makes sense for your life, it may be time for a better vehicle suited to your needs. While a two-seater sports car is fun to drive, it’s not ideal for a budding family.

Should I Keep My Vehicle?

Maybe you own a car, truck, SUV, or van that you love and dread parting ways with it. You might enjoy this vehicle so much you’re willing to pay the increasing maintenance costs that coincide with its age.  Consumer Reports provides a great guide of how much your vehicle will cost if you want it to last 200,000 miles or beyond. You can also ask a mechanic to inspect your car and forecast repair costs in order to make an informed decision.

How does it rate?

Research your car’s reliability ratings with J.D. Power, Consumer Reports, and U.S. News & World Report. If your vehicle receives great scores, it’s one more reason to keep it!

Keeping your current car has its perks:

  • No car payments
  • Lower insurance premiums
  • An opportunity to save more money for your next car

I Want to Donate My Vehicle

Maybe you’re looking for an option other than selling or keeping a used vehicle. An option that puts the vehicle to good use. There is a way to do that. Various non-profits accept vehicle donations. Donating your vehicle can:

  • Earn you a tax deduction
  • Fund a non-profit’s mission
  • Save you the time and hassles of advertising and selling the vehicle
  • Give you the satisfaction of helping those in need

Donating your vehicle can be fast, easy. Check out Greater Non Profits web site to research charities.

Donate Your Car, Truck, SUV, RV, Boat, or Motorcycle to Rawhide

Many Rawhide programs for at-risk youth are funded through vehicle donations. On average, Rawhide donors receive a 48% higher tax deduction, and Rawhide has one of the highest dollars-to-program ratios among non-profits. See how we use these funds.

Other reasons to donate to Rawhide include:

  • Free pick up at your convenience
  • We accepts all cars, running or not
  • Rawhide also considers motorcycles, boats, RVs, campers, and more as donations

If you have decided that donating your vehicle is the best choice, consider Rawhide. As Bart Starr once said, “I can’t think of a better legacy to leave our children than contributing to Rawhide and giving youth and families a brighter future.”

This car donor shares her story: