At Sunshine Shift, we understand that losing a loved one is incredibly difficult. If your spouse, parent, or relative had a special connection to their car, donating it in their memory is a meaningful tribute. Not only will your generous act honor their legacy, but it also provides you with a tax receipt that may benefit you in the upcoming tax season.
To ensure a smooth donation process, the title must be in your name, as the current owner. Once you complete the donation, we will send a heartfelt tribute card to the family, recognizing their loved one. Keep in mind there may be estate considerations if the title is still in the deceased's name, so be sure to check our estate-donation page if that applies.
How to make it happen
Verify Vehicle Title
Ensure that the car's title is in your name. If the title is still in your deceased loved one's name, you may need to go through the probate process to transfer ownership before donating.
Fill Out Donation Form
Complete our online donation form, ensuring to select the option to donate in memory of your loved one. You'll be able to provide their name for our records and the tribute card.
Schedule Pick-Up
Contact us to arrange a convenient pick-up time for the vehicle. We’ll handle everything from towing to paperwork so you can focus on honoring their memory.
Receive Tax Receipt and Tribute Card
Once the donation is processed, you will receive an IRS tax receipt for your generous contribution, and we will send a tribute card to the family acknowledging the donation in memory of the deceased.
Common gotchas
Title Issues
Tip: If the vehicle's title is not in your name, you will need to go through probate or legal procedures to transfer the title before proceeding with the donation.
Tribute Card Information
Tip: Ensure you provide accurate details for the tribute card, including the deceased's full name and any specific message you want to include for their family.
Tax Deduction Limits
Tip: Remember that if the vehicle sells for less than $500, you will only receive a tax deduction for the actual sale price, not exceeding $500 under IRS regulations.
If this path doesn't fit
If donating the vehicle isn't a feasible option due to title issues or other complications, consider selling the car and donating the proceeds instead. You could also explore other ways to honor your loved one's memory, such as making a gift in their name to a charity or creating a scholarship fund.
Fort Myers DMV specifics
In Florida, it’s essential to handle the DMV paperwork correctly when donating a vehicle. Be prepared to complete a lien release and surrender the license plates to your local DMV office. If the vehicle is still under your loved one’s name, transferring the title might require additional documentation from the probate court.