How the car donation process works
You Start the Donation and Schedule Free Montana Pickup
The process begins when you tell Big Sky Rides about the vehicle you want to donate. Cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, and some specialty vehicles may be accepted, whether they are running or not. Free towing is arranged in many Montana communities, including Billings Heights, Laurel, Missoula, Lolo, Bozeman, Belgrade, Helena Valley, Great Falls, and nearby rural areas when service is available. You do not need to clean the vehicle perfectly or make repairs first. Remove personal items, gather the title if available, and Big Sky Rides will help coordinate the next step.
The Vehicle Is Picked Up and Assessed
After pickup, the donated vehicle is reviewed for practical resale factors: whether it runs, overall condition, mileage, age, visible damage, title status, and likely buyer demand. This assessment helps determine the best way to turn the vehicle into proceeds for Heritage for the Blind. A clean, running vehicle from Bozeman may be handled differently than a high-mileage pickup from rural Montana or a non-running sedan in Butte. The goal is not to guess your car’s sentimental value; it is to choose the sales path that can responsibly generate revenue for the charity.
Running Vehicles Typically Go to Auction
When a donated vehicle runs and appears to be in resalable condition, it will typically be sent to a public or dealer auction. Auction buyers may include dealers, wholesalers, mechanics, or individuals looking for used vehicles. Big Sky Rides does not promise a specific sale price, because auction results depend on condition, market demand, mileage, location, and buyer interest. What matters for donors is that the gross sale price becomes the basis for tax documentation when the vehicle sells for more than $500, and the proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind.
Non-Running or High-Mileage Vehicles May Be Sold for Parts or Salvage
Not every donated car is auction-ready, and that is okay. Vehicles that do not run, have very high mileage, significant damage, or limited resale demand are typically sold to licensed salvage or parts buyers. This can still create meaningful revenue for Heritage for the Blind, even when the vehicle is not practical for a new driver. In Montana, where weather, distance, gravel roads, and long commutes can be hard on vehicles, many donations fall into this category. Donating lets an unwanted car support a mission instead of sitting unused.
Proceeds Go Directly to Heritage for the Blind
Once the vehicle is sold, the sale proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. These proceeds are their revenue from your donation and help fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also helps connect people with benefit information and assistance resources, including SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, Section 8, and related programs. Donors or community members who want to check benefit eligibility can visit nhftb.org/finder to explore available support options.
You Receive the Tax Paperwork After Sale
After the donated vehicle sells, you receive tax documentation for your records. If the vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind provides IRS Form 1098-C showing the gross sale price, which is generally the amount used for your charitable vehicle-donation deduction if you itemize. Big Sky Rides cannot provide tax advice, so donors should speak with a qualified tax professional about their personal situation. The key point is simple: your unwanted Montana vehicle is converted into proceeds, and you receive the proper sale-based documentation.
Key facts about car donation
Free towing is available for many Montana donors, including major cities, suburbs, and nearby rural communities.
Running vehicles in resalable condition typically go to public or dealer auction after pickup and assessment.
Non-running, damaged, or high-mileage vehicles are typically sold to licensed salvage or parts buyers.
Sale proceeds go directly to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446.
For vehicles sold over $500, donors receive IRS Form 1098-C showing the gross sale price.
You do not need to repair the vehicle before donating through Big Sky Rides.