If you live in Maryland and want your car donation to count for this tax year, the key date is your pickup—not the paperwork. With Chesapeake Chariots, as long as your vehicle is physically picked up on or before December 31, the IRS treats it as a donation for this year. Start with a quick 2-minute form or a fast call to our partner, Heritage for the Blind, and we’ll rush everything to get you scheduled before the deadline.
We know year-end in Maryland is busy—from holiday traffic on the Beltway to last-minute shopping in Towson, Columbia, and Annapolis. That’s why we keep this process simple, fast, and fully handled for you. We coordinate free towing across the Baltimore metro area, the DC suburbs like Silver Spring, Bethesda, Largo, and Greenbelt, out to Frederick, Hagerstown, Waldorf, and the Eastern Shore. Your car doesn’t need to run, pass inspection, or have current registration. You get free pickup, a proper tax receipt, and the satisfaction of helping Heritage for the Blind provide services to people who are blind or visually impaired.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute donation form or call
2 minutesEnter your contact info, vehicle details, and preferred pickup window in our secure online form, or call Chesapeake Chariots’ donation line partnered with Heritage for the Blind. This locks in your intent and lets us prioritize your pickup for a pre–December 31 deadline in Maryland.
Confirm pickup time with a fast coordinator call
Within 1–2 business hoursOn weekdays, a donation coordinator calls you back within 1–2 hours to confirm details and schedule your free tow. In Maryland’s major metro areas, we can usually offer same-day or next-business-day pickup, especially when you’re aiming for a December 31 deadline.
Free licensed tow truck pickup at your address
Same-day or next business day in most areasA licensed towing partner comes to your home, office, or storage lot—whether you’re in Baltimore, Rockville, Bowie, Dundalk, or beyond. The tow is 100% free. The date the truck actually picks up your vehicle is the IRS-recognized donation date for your tax year.
Sign the title and hand over the keys
5–10 minutes at pickupAt pickup, you sign your Maryland title over to Heritage for the Blind and remove your plates. The driver will guide you, but keep your ID handy. Once the title is signed and the car is on the truck by December 31, your donation date for IRS purposes is locked in for this year.
Vehicle sale and mailed IRS acknowledgment
Receipt within 30 days of saleYour car is transported, processed, and sold. Heritage for the Blind then mails you IRS Form 1098-C or a written acknowledgment within 30 days of the sale. You’ll use this to claim your deduction when you file your federal return and Maryland state taxes.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date controls the tax year
For vehicle donations, the IRS uses the date your car is actually picked up as your donation date—not when you fill out the form. If your Maryland pickup happens on or before December 31, it counts for this tax year.
Form 1098-C documents your deduction
After your vehicle is sold, Heritage for the Blind sends you IRS Form 1098-C or a written acknowledgment. This shows the gross sale price and is what you keep with your records to support the deduction on your tax return.
Deduction usually equals the sale price
In most cases, the IRS lets you deduct the amount the charity receives when it sells your vehicle. There are a few limited exceptions, but plan on your deduction being based on the actual sale price shown on Form 1098-C.
Itemizing on Schedule A is required
To claim a federal deduction for your car donation, you must itemize your deductions using Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. Consult your tax advisor to see whether itemizing makes sense for your 2024 return.
30-day receipt rule after sale
The charity must send your Form 1098-C or acknowledgment within 30 days of selling your vehicle. That timing doesn’t affect which tax year you claim—only the pickup date does—but you’ll need the form when you file.