Thursday, January 8, 2009

Donate Your Car And Save Taxes

By fred frung alfred solk greta gunto preston friedheim vitaly sonnborn

You have fallen in love with a brand-new car. The only problem is that you won't have room in your driveway for a new car until you have disposed of your old one. You could place a classified ad and sell it, and deal with calls from buyers and paying for repairs to the car to make it appealing to a new buyer. You could trade it in at the dealership towards your new car, but you know that the dealer will not give you anywhere near what the car is worth. A local charity has been advertising that they will accept your unwanted car, but you are not sure. Donate your car? Are there benefits to giving up the potential profit on your car's sale to a charity?

Hassle Free: Car donation is arguably the simplest way to remove your used car from your home. Most charities will set up an appointment, and then come to your home with a tow truck and simple paperwork. Within a few minutes, you transfer liability and ownership for your car to the charity and it will be on its way to its new home.

Giving feels good. Perhaps you have been considering giving to a cause that you believe in, but have not had the extra money to do so. Donating your car gives you the ability to give a generous donation to the charity of your choice, without emptying your bank account. It is a rewarding feeling to know that your unwanted vehicle can become a means to help someone less fortunate than you.

Put some money in the bank. It might seem counterintuitive, but sometimes giving your car to an organization can also be a good financial choice for you. First of all you won't have to pay to repair and detail your car to sell it or trade it in. You won't have to place costly classified ads, or continue to pay the insurance and registration fees on your car while you await its sale. Finally, come April 15th, you might be surprised by how a car donation can reduce your tax bill, putting a bigger refund in your pocket.

Only you can decide the best way to dispose of your used car based on its value, and the time and energy you have to devote to its sale. After considering all the options, you might find that it is in your best interest to donate your car.

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