Donating Your Used Car in Charleston, West Virginia

West Virginia in general is made up of largely rural outlying areas.  Reliable transportation is a huge problem for low income families that are trying to improve their lives.  You can make a difference in someone's life by donating your used car to a charity.  

Donating your car to a charity can be a great way to benefit a good cause as well as pick up a hefty tax write-off for yourself.  In Charleston, West Virginia, there are several local charities that will accept your used vehicle.  Not only can you receive a tax receipt for your Federal Income Tax, you may also be able to receive a credit for your West Virginia State Income Tax as well. A limited number of state income tax credits are available each year. I would recommend asking about the availability when you contact the car donation charity of your choice.

In order to maximize the amount that you receive in the form of a tax credit you need to ensure that the charity that you choose to donate a car to is giving the car to a low income individual and not reselling it  to add the proceeds to their general funds. If you car is given to a low income individual, you get to deduct the full book value of the vehicle.  If it is sold by the charity, you only get a tax receipt for the amount that the vehicle sold for.

In the Charleston area there are several local charities that will accept your donated car in order to benefit low income individuals.  In 1999 The Good News Mountaineer Garage was formed and now has several locations throughout the state including, Charleston, Lewisburg, Parkersburg, Martinsburg, and Morgantown.  They request that you call 1-866-GIVECAR  to set an appointment for their mechanic to access your vehicle.  They also have an online form that you can fill out to have your car picked up.  They accept cars that are in working order or that can be repaired for a reasonable amount.