How the car donation process works
Tell us what you have before pickup is scheduled
Start by sharing the vehicle year, make, model, location, and title status. If you have a clean Texas title in your name, the process is usually straightforward. If the title is lost, out of state, in another person’s name, or connected to an estate, say that upfront so Heritage for the Blind can help you understand the next step. Wheels for Wellness can arrange free towing in Dallas, Richardson, Grand Prairie, DeSoto, Carrollton, and throughout the DFW Metroplex once the vehicle is approved for donation.
Sign the title over to Heritage for the Blind at pickup
When the tow driver arrives, you will sign the title over to Heritage for the Blind, the 501(c)(3) charity, EIN 58-2164446. The driver brings the pickup paperwork and will collect the signed title if it is ready. Please do not sign the title too early unless you have been instructed to do so, because requirements can vary by title type and state. Have your photo ID available, remove personal items and license plates if instructed, and keep copies of your donation paperwork for your records.
If the title is lost, ask for guidance before you worry
A lost title does not automatically mean you cannot donate. Heritage for the Blind can help you navigate your state’s replacement-title process and explain what may be needed before pickup. In some cases, vehicles without titles can still be reviewed for acceptance, depending on the vehicle, state rules, and available ownership documentation. The best move is to call or start the donation request and describe your situation clearly. You may not need to solve every paperwork question alone before asking for help.
Clear liens and name issues before transfer day
If there is a lien on the vehicle, the lien must be satisfied before the donation can be completed. Contact your lender to pay off the balance and request a lien release or released title. If the title is in someone else’s name, that titled owner generally must sign, unless you have legal authority to act for them. If the vehicle is titled to a deceased spouse or parent, you may need probate documents, a small-estate process, or an affidavit of heirship, depending on the state and title rules.
Out-of-state titles and final paperwork are usually manageable
Many Dallas-area donors moved to Texas with a title from another state, and out-of-state titles are commonly accepted when properly signed. If your title is from Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, California, or elsewhere, mention it when you start the donation so the signing instructions are correct. After the title is handed off at pickup, most donors do not need a separate DMV visit. For vehicles valued over $500, Heritage for the Blind provides IRS Form 1098-C after the qualifying sale, so you have the tax documentation required by the IRS.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is available throughout Dallas and DFW, including nearby suburbs, when your vehicle is accepted for donation.
A clean title is preferred, but some no-title situations can be reviewed when you call before pickup.
Any lien must be paid off and released by the lender before title transfer can be completed.
At pickup, sign the title over to Heritage for the Blind; the driver brings needed paperwork.
For vehicles over $500, Heritage for the Blind provides IRS Form 1098-C after the qualifying sale.
Out-of-state titles are generally workable, and most donors do not need a separate DMV visit afterward.