Donate an Inherited Car

What to know about donating an inherited vehicle

Inheriting a vehicle comes with paperwork. The donation can usually proceed under one of several scenarios: (1) you've already transferred title to your name and are donating as the new owner; (2) you're the executor donating from the estate; (3) you have a transfer-on-death affidavit or beneficiary designation. Each path has different paperwork but all are handleable.

If the title is still in the deceased person's name, we accept the donation with executor documentation, a death certificate copy, and (in some states) probate court approval. Our intake specialist walks through your specific state's requirements when you call.

Who gets the tax deduction

If you've transferred title to your name and are donating in your name, the tax deduction is yours. If you're donating from the estate, the deduction goes to the estate's tax filing (Form 1041). If you're donating on behalf of multiple heirs, the deduction can be split — but the IRS requires this to be documented in the donation paperwork.

We issue IRS Form 1098-C in whichever name you specify. If you're unsure, we recommend consulting with the estate attorney or tax preparer before completing the donation.

Common situations we handle

• Deceased parent's vehicle — title still in their name, you have executor authority
• Vehicle inherited via beneficiary designation
• Vehicle from probate that's been court-ordered to be liquidated
• Joint title with a deceased co-owner
• Vehicle from a small estate using a simple affidavit (varies by state, often available for estates under $50K)
• Out-of-state vehicle (we coordinate cross-state title transfer)

Call 770-871-9422 with your situation and we'll tell you exactly what paperwork we need and how to proceed.