How the car donation process works
Start with the title you have
The easiest donation is a vehicle with a clean title in the donor’s name, with no active lien listed. If you have that title, keep it in a safe place and do not sign it until pickup unless you are specifically instructed to do so. Big Sky Rides will confirm the basic vehicle details, your Montana pickup location, and whether the paperwork appears ready. Foreign-state titles are accepted too, so a car now parked in Missoula or Bozeman can often be donated even if the title was issued somewhere else.
If the title is lost, call before you worry
A lost title is common, especially with older cars, inherited vehicles, or vehicles that have been sitting for years. A clean title is preferred, but it is not always required to begin the conversation. Heritage for the Blind can help you understand the state process for replacing or resolving a missing title, and vehicles without titles can sometimes be accepted depending on the situation. Before you spend time guessing what the DMV will require, contact Big Sky Rides and explain what you have, what is missing, and where the vehicle is located.
Clear any lien before donation
If a lender, bank, credit union, or finance company is listed on the title, the lien must be satisfied before the vehicle can be donated. That usually means the loan has been paid off and the lender has released its interest in the car. If the lien was paid long ago but still appears on the title, contact the lender and request the proper lien release or updated title documentation. Big Sky Rides can explain what to look for, but the donor is responsible for making sure the lender’s claim is released before transfer.
Handle names, estates, and family vehicles carefully
The title generally must be signed by the person whose name appears on it. If the car is in a spouse’s, parent’s, or other family member’s name, ask before pickup so the right paperwork can be reviewed. When the titled owner has passed away, you may need probate documents, an affidavit of heirship, or a similar state-approved document depending on where the title was issued and the family situation. These cases are very workable, but they should be discussed in advance so pickup is not delayed.
Sign over the title at pickup
Once your donation is approved and scheduled, free towing is arranged at a convenient location, from a driveway in Billings Heights to an apartment lot in Helena or a ranch road outside Great Falls. At pickup, the tow driver brings the donation paperwork and collects the signed title. The title must be signed over to Heritage for the Blind. After the title handoff and pickup paperwork are complete, a separate DMV visit is typically not required for the donor, though you should keep copies for your records.
Keep your donation documents for taxes
Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) charity, EIN 58-2164446, so eligible donors may be able to claim a charitable tax deduction. If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, the required IRS Form 1098-C will be provided for your tax records. Big Sky Rides does not offer tax advice, so speak with a qualified tax professional about your specific deduction. The key is to keep your pickup receipt, title-transfer records, and any follow-up tax forms in one place.
Key facts about car donation
A clean title is preferred, but lost-title situations are often worth discussing before you give up.
Any lien must be satisfied, and the lender should release the title before donation.
At pickup, the title is signed over to Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446.
Out-of-state titles can be accepted for Montana pickups when the ownership paperwork is valid.
Vehicles without titles can sometimes be accepted; call Big Sky Rides to review your case.
After the pickup paperwork and title handoff, donors typically do not need a DMV visit.