Need your car donation to count for this tax year? With Lone Star Wheels in Houston, the IRS donation date is the day your vehicle is picked up – not the day it’s sold. Complete our 2-minute form or call Lone Star Wheels (on behalf of Heritage for the Blind) and we’ll schedule a free, licensed tow truck. As long as your vehicle is physically picked up on or before December 31, you can claim the deduction for this year’s taxes, even if the sale and tax receipt arrive later.
We serve all of Greater Houston – from The Heights, Montrose, Midtown and the Medical Center to Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, Pasadena, Baytown, Cypress, Spring, The Woodlands, League City and more. Your car doesn’t have to run, pass inspection, or have current registration. Just remove your personal items, have your title ready, and we’ll handle the rest. Proceeds from your donated vehicle support Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) helping people who are blind or visually impaired. End the year on a high note: secure your 2024 tax deduction and free up your driveway with a quick, local pickup.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute donation form or call
2 minutesShare your contact info, vehicle details, and Houston pickup address, or call to give the same info by phone. Tell us you need pickup by December 31 so we prioritize your year-end tax deadline.
Get your scheduling call within 1–2 business hours
1–2 hours on weekdaysA Lone Star Wheels coordinator (for Heritage for the Blind) calls you back, usually within 1–2 hours on weekdays, to confirm details and book a free tow window that fits your schedule before December 31.
Free tow truck arrives at your Greater Houston address
Same-day or next business dayA licensed tow truck meets you at home, work, or a shop in most Greater Houston areas the same day or next business day. The pickup date is what the IRS uses as your official donation date.
Sign the title and hand over the keys
5–10 minutesAt pickup, you sign your Texas title over to Heritage for the Blind. The driver helps you verify where to sign. You keep your plates if required, and the truck hauls the vehicle away at no cost to you.
Vehicle is sold and your tax paperwork is mailed
Within 30 days of saleYour donated car is transported, processed, and sold. Within 30 days of the sale, Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS Form 1098-C or a written acknowledgment showing the sale amount for your tax records.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Your IRS donation date is the pickup date
For vehicle donations, the IRS treats the day your car is picked up as the date of your charitable contribution. If the tow truck arrives on or before December 31, the deduction applies to this tax year.
Form 1098-C shows your deductible amount
After your car is sold, Heritage for the Blind sends IRS Form 1098-C or a written acknowledgment within 30 days of the sale. It lists the gross sale price, which usually sets your maximum deduction.
Itemizing on Schedule A is required
To claim a car donation, you generally must itemize deductions on Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. Your tax professional can confirm what works best for your situation.
December 31 controls which tax year you use
It doesn’t matter if your car sells in January or February. As long as the pickup happens by December 31, you can claim the donation for that calendar year’s federal income tax return.
Non-running and unregistered cars still qualify
The IRS doesn’t require your vehicle to run, pass inspection, or have current Texas registration. As long as you have the proper title and the charity accepts the donation, you may still take a deduction.