To claim your car donation on this year’s taxes, the IRS goes by the date your vehicle is physically picked up—not the day you call or fill out the form. That means your car must be towed or driven away by December 31 to count for this tax year. With Delta Ride Exchange and our nonprofit partner Heritage for the Blind, free pickup runs Monday–Saturday through the holiday season, but slots fill fast—especially the last week of December. We strongly recommend you schedule 3–5 business days before December 31 so your pickup is locked in on time.
Delta Ride Exchange is rooted in the Stockton Metro community—serving donors from Lincoln Village West, Spanos Park, Brookside, and Bear Creek to downtown, Weston Ranch, Lodi, Manteca, and beyond. We accept most vehicles, running or not, at no cost to you. Proceeds support Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) providing services for people who are blind or visually impaired. You’ll get the proper IRS paperwork, including Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500, after your vehicle sells—but your deduction year is based on the pickup date. Take two minutes right now to start your donation and secure your year-end tax benefit.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your 2-minute donation form or call
2 minutesFrom anywhere in the Stockton Metro—whether you’re in Brookside, Morada, or near the University of the Pacific—submit our quick online form or call. Have your title (if available) and basic vehicle details handy. Tell us you need pickup completed by December 31 for this year’s tax deduction.
Confirm your Stockton pickup details and deadline
5 minutesOur team reviews your information, then contacts you to confirm your address, vehicle condition, and year-end timing. We operate Monday–Saturday through the holidays, so we’ll offer the earliest available slot that gets your car picked up by December 31, when scheduled 3–5 business days ahead.
Choose a pickup time that works for you
5 minutesYou select a convenient pickup window at your home, work, or storage lot anywhere in the Stockton area—from Weston Ranch to Spanos Park East. There’s no inspection or repairs required, and non-running vehicles are fine. Once booked, your pickup date is your IRS donation date.
Vehicle is towed away free—your deduction year is locked
15–30 minutesOn pickup day, the tow driver meets you (or follows your instructions for key/title handoff). The car is taken at no cost to you. As soon as it’s physically picked up—on or before December 31—your donation counts for this tax year under IRS rules.
Receive your written IRS receipt and Form 1098-C (if needed)
Varies after saleAfter your vehicle is sold, Heritage for the Blind mails you a written acknowledgment. For vehicles valued over $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C. Keep this with your records to claim your itemized deduction for the tax year in which the car was picked up.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date controls the tax year
For IRS purposes, your car donation date is the day the charity or its authorized agent physically picks up or receives the vehicle. If the tow truck comes on December 31, it counts for that tax year—even if you scheduled it earlier.
Schedule 3–5 business days before Dec 31
Because tow schedules fill quickly around the holidays in Stockton, donors who want a same-year deduction should request pickup at least 3–5 business days before December 31 to secure a confirmed time within the calendar year.
Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind issues IRS Form 1098-C. This form states the gross proceeds from the sale, which usually sets the maximum deduction you can claim when you itemize.
Deduction amount is usually the sale price
In most cases, the IRS limits your car donation deduction to the amount the charity receives from selling the vehicle. The sale price, shown on Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500, is what you typically report on Schedule A when you itemize deductions.
Receipt may arrive later, but year is still locked
Your official acknowledgment and Form 1098-C are mailed after the car is sold, which may be weeks later. The deduction year, however, is based on the pickup date, as long as the vehicle was picked up by December 31.