Donating a vehicle to charity is an altruistic act. Many charities welcome this type of donations and praise car owners for their generous initiatives.
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Yet, donating a vehicle follows a list of DMV requirements that are mandatory. Complete your title transfer on time forget about future complications.
Steps to car donations
Let’s say you lost interest in driving and decide to donate your car to any local charity. Of course, the first thing you need to do is to find a charity that accepts the donation of your vehicle.
Then you need to calculate the average market value of your car, which will help you file taxes later on. Do it appropriately.
You may need to visit your local DMV to handle this procedure as any other type of transfer that involves selling/buying or even gifting.
Here’s a list of simple steps that summarizes your obligations before donating a vehicle:
- Find a charity.
- Follow the IRS requirements for car donations.
- Fulfill the CA DMV requirements.
- Cancel your auto insurance immediately.
SEE ALSO: Buying A Car In California? Follow These Title Transfer Steps
Transferring your car title in California
Note that a vehicle title is a proof of ownership. Titles transfers also include donations, and the process is very similar to gifting but there are some specifications that need careful attention.
For example, car donators must submit an updated smog certification which are dated within 90 days. At the same time, car donators may get a tax exemption depending on the charity they give their car to.
Car donations also follow different requirements depending on where you live.
Here is a list of the steps that you must follow to complete your vehicle title transfer for car donations in California:
- Complete and sign your car title.
- Report odometer mileage reading, if your vehicle is less than 10 years old.
- Fill in a Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form (REG 262), which is only available at the CA DMV.
- Make sure the legal representative of the charity (recipient) signs the vehicle title.
- Complete a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability form (REG 138), which you must submit within 5 days after the date of transfer.
Once you complete these DMV steps, the process is over and you won’t have to be worry about future hassles and other bureaucracies.
Did you know that eTags offers California vehicle title transfers online? It’s fast, easy, and hassle free.
36 comments
How can I transfer a car that is owned by a nonprofit organization to an individual and have the vehicle under the individual’s name?
Essentially, if you’re the buyer and the nonprofit is the seller, the nonprofit will sign over the vehicle title to you then you’ll apply for a title transfer and registration. You can do this online.
Moving back from Mexico. Can I donate my Mexican plated vehicle?
Typically a car donation involves assigning the title to the person/organization you’re donating/gifting to. They’ll need it in order to transfer the title into their name and claim ownership.
The title to my truck that I am donating is in my maiden name. Do I have to fill out new forms to change it to my married name before I donate it? Also it hasnt ran for several years, what do I do about a smog test?
Please sign title using your maiden name or use the Reg 256 section F Name statement to show the change. A smog isn’t required when you donate a vehicle. Be sure to complete a notice of release of liability.
I am on the board of a charitable foundation. Someone wants to donate a boat to us. If we accept it, our intention is to immediately give the boat to another organization that will use it in a program we support. Would we need to register the boat before transferring it to the other organization or can we simply transfer title a second time? We are hoping to avoid incurring fees in the process of accepting and transferring the donated vessel.
You are not required to transfer title into your organizations name upon receiving the vessel. You will need to provide the original signed title and a bill of sale to the new owners. The new owners will then be required to post all applicable fees.
If you owe registration tags few months already but dont want to pay them anymore because smog neither passes . so decided to donate. Will that fees be off once i decide to donate?
if you decide to donate the vehicle, those late fees will be transferred to the new owner once the new owner decides to register or gain ownership of title.
Can a CA vehicle with expired registration be gifted to Charity without paying the past due registration
In CA you can transfer vehicles without registering them, so whomever actually wants to register it will be stuck with the registration fees. That is why it’s up to the charity to accept it. If the charity keeps it then , yes the charity will So you’ll need to check with the charity.
Hello, my organization is receiving a donated vehicle. It will not be used by any one person. Do I need to list my driver’s license and sign the pink slip even if it’s not for my personal use? I just happen to be doing the paper work.
yes, a representative for the company is required to sign on behalf of the company as the new owner and list their title after the signature. A drivers license is required for whomever signs.
Can I donate a car if the registration is expired
Yes, you can but it is up to the donation company if they will accept a donation with expired tags. You will need to research an organization that will accept the vehicle as is.
What if the car is exempt from smog test requirement for yearly tags?
Hey there, not sure i understand the question. Can you please clarify.
What if you are donating a car titled in Arizona to a charity in California?
Here’s what you’ll need for transferring the title…AZ title, Bill of sale and release of liability. The other documents will be done by the new owner to complete the transfer into CA
What if I have a personalized license plate and I’d like to keep for my next vehicle, can I keep them before they take my vehicle away?
You can transfer the personalized plate to your next vehicle with a new car registration.
When care are being picked up, I was told in the state of California that license plates are left on – is that correct? thank you,
Oops – car no care.
Hello Diana. In California, the license plate stays with the car upon donation.
Hello Diana. In California, the license plate stays with the car upon donation.
What do you put in the seller price if you are donating the car?l
Hello Leticia. You are probably referring to the “fair market value.” You will need to visit the Kelley Blue Book for more information about the value of your vehicle.
I have the same/similar question… on the back of the CERTIFICATE OF TITLE, the APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER BY NEW OWNER, the Section PURCHASE PRICE OR IF GIFT, SO STATE… is “Donation” acceptble to fill in?
New owner needs to write “GIFT” on the back of the title at the right side of section 9b where the “PURCHASE PRICE OR IF GIFT” section is located. Even though transfer is a gift, and no sales taxes are going to be calculated, new owner will need to provide an estimated value of the vehicle for registration purposes.This only applies for title transfer between 2 individuals
What if the Charity tells you to leave the Title signed and under the floor mat with the keys as they can’t coordinate the towing with your schedule? Do you trust them to sign the title? Or is this fishy? And should I find another Charity who will coordinate a time that I will be there so I can see them sign then Title?
Hello Joan. We cannot advise on which charity organization is reliable or not. But you must make sure that every transaction is handled responsibly and transparently. Good luck!
WHAT IF THE CHARITY YOUR DONATING TO DOES NOT NEED A SMOG INSPECTION? OUR CAR HAS BEEN NON OPERATIONAL FOR SOME TIME AND THE CHARITY DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE IF THE CAR IS WORKING OR NOT.
Hello Marya. Car donation is not that complicated but you will need to check with the charity you are working with. You may be required to keep the plate on the vehicle and sign a release of liability form to report that you are no longer responsible for the vehicle you are donating. You are strongly advised to contact your local CA DMV agency to make sure you are not missing any item regardless of the donation organization you are working with.
What if the vehicle can’t pass a smog test right now, can I still donate it w/out the recent smog test..?
Hello Don. Smog inspection are important to be able to register the vehicle if you consider to donate the vehicle to a third party.