Donate your car to Badger Auto Aid in Wisconsin by 11:59 p.m. on December 31 and your gift generally counts for this year’s taxes. Here’s how it works: we tow your vehicle free, sell it, then mail you the correct IRS paperwork. If it sells for over $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098‑C and can usually deduct the actual gross sale price of the vehicle when you itemize on Schedule A. If it sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and may generally deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower. Always confirm your specific situation with a tax professional.
Badger Auto Aid partners with Heritage for the Blind, a registered 501(c)(3), to turn donated vehicles into services for people who are blind or visually impaired. We serve donors across Wisconsin—from Milwaukee, Wauwatosa and West Allis, to Madison, Sun Prairie and Fitchburg; from Green Bay, De Pere and Appleton, to Kenosha, Racine, Eau Claire, La Crosse and beyond. Non‑running cars, trucks, SUVs and vans are welcome. There’s no inspection, no repairs, and no selling hassle. You get a pickup confirmation as proof of your donation date, we handle the sale and paperwork—and you keep your year‑end deadline.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute donation form or call
2 minutesEnter your contact and vehicle details online or by phone. We’ll confirm basic info and your Wisconsin pickup location—whether you’re in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine or a nearby community—and lock in your donation date for this tax year.
Schedule your free Wisconsin pickup
5 minutesOur dispatch team (Monday–Saturday) works with your schedule to arrange a free tow, often within a few days. Non‑running and damaged vehicles are fine. You’ll receive a pickup confirmation—keep this as proof of the date you donated for IRS purposes.
Sign the title and hand over the keys
10 minutesOn pickup day, the driver helps you finalize the title transfer. No emissions test, no repairs, no safety inspection required. Once the vehicle is loaded, your responsibility ends and your deduction is tied to the Dec 31 or earlier donation date, not the later sale date.
We sell your vehicle and handle the paperwork
No time for youBadger Auto Aid arranges the sale of your vehicle and reports the gross sale price. Within 30 days of the sale, we mail you either IRS Form 1098‑C (for vehicles over $500) or a written acknowledgment (for $500 or less), ready for your tax records.
Claim your deduction when you file
Tax timeWhen you file your federal return, you generally itemize on Schedule A to claim your car donation deduction. Use the sale price shown on Form 1098‑C, or up to $500/fair market value for smaller donations. Consult your tax professional for exact reporting.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals sale price over $500
For vehicles that sell for more than $500, IRS rules usually limit your deduction to the actual gross sale price, not Kelley Blue Book. That amount appears on Form 1098‑C you’ll receive from Heritage for the Blind via Badger Auto Aid.
Special rules at $500 or below
If your donated vehicle sells for $500 or less, you won’t get Form 1098‑C. Instead, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment, and you can generally deduct up to $500 or your good‑faith fair market value, whichever is lower.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a federal tax deduction for your Wisconsin car donation, you typically need to itemize deductions on Schedule A instead of claiming the standard deduction. Ask a tax professional whether itemizing makes sense for your situation.
Form 1098‑C mailed within 30 days
After your vehicle sells, Heritage for the Blind generally sends you IRS Form 1098‑C (for sales over $500) or a written acknowledgment within 30 days of the sale. Keep this with your tax records to support your deduction claim.
Donate by Dec 31 for this year
To usually claim your deduction for this tax year, your vehicle must be donated on or before December 31. The key is the date of your completed donation and pickup, not when the vehicle sells later. Keep your pickup confirmation as proof.