How the car donation process works
Start With the 2-Minute Donation Form or Call Heritage
Begin by filling out the short online donation form through Cream City Keys or by calling Heritage for the Blind directly. You will share basic details: your name, contact information, where the vehicle is located, the year, make, model, mileage if known, and whether you have the Wisconsin title. You do not need to know the vehicle value, and it does not have to be running to start. There is no fee to submit your information, no obligation pressure, and no cost to the donor at any point in the process.
A Coordinator Calls Back to Confirm Details
After you submit the form or call, a donation coordinator typically follows up within 1-2 business hours. The coordinator confirms your vehicle information, answers questions, and helps choose a pickup window that works for you. This is also a good time to mention access details, such as a narrow alley in Riverwest, an apartment garage downtown, a driveway in West Allis, or a business lot near Menomonee Falls. If you are missing paperwork or there is a lien listed, the coordinator can explain what is needed before pickup.
Schedule a Free Local Pickup in Milwaukee Metro
In most Milwaukee Metro areas, pickup can often be scheduled for the same day or the next business day, depending on tow availability, vehicle location, and weather. A licensed tow truck comes to the address you choose, including homes, repair shops, storage lots, offices, or apartment complexes. Pickup is free, even if the car will not start. Before the driver arrives, remove personal items, license plates if required for your situation, and have the title ready. You do not need to clean or repair the vehicle.
Sign the Title Over at Pickup
When the tow driver arrives, you will sign the title over at pickup so the vehicle can legally move through the donation process. The driver may check the VIN and vehicle location, then load the car, truck, van, SUV, motorcycle, or other accepted vehicle. If the vehicle is blocked in, has flat tires, or is parked on the street, say so when scheduling so the right tow equipment can be sent. Once the vehicle is picked up, you are not charged for towing, hauling, storage, or processing.
The Vehicle Goes to Auction or a Parts Reseller
After pickup, the vehicle is transported to an auction or, when appropriate, to a parts reseller. The goal is to turn the donated vehicle into charitable proceeds in a practical, compliant way. You do not have to negotiate with buyers, meet strangers, run ads, arrange repairs, or handle the sale yourself. Heritage for the Blind manages this backend process. Sale proceeds benefit Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446, helping fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Receive Your Tax Receipt by Mail After Sale
Once the vehicle sells, your tax receipt is mailed to the address you provided. The full process usually takes about 2-6 weeks from donation start to final mailed paperwork, depending on pickup timing, auction scheduling, and sale processing. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind provides IRS Form 1098-C. For vehicles that sell for $500 or under, you receive a written acknowledgment. Keep your receipt with your tax records and consult a tax professional about your specific deduction.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is available throughout much of Milwaukee Metro, including neighborhoods and nearby suburbs.
A coordinator typically calls within 1-2 business hours after you submit the donation form.
Same-day or next-business-day pickup is available in most metro areas when scheduling allows.
Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446.
Tax paperwork is mailed after the vehicle sells, usually within the 2-6 week process window.
There is no cost to you for pickup, towing, sale handling, or receipt processing.