Donating vehicle to an auto shop class

[gomes512]

Anyone have any experience with donating vehicles to high schools? Specifically to the auto shop departments?

My father owns a '94 Grand Cherokee that he wants to get rid of. Starts, runs and drives great and has some old offroad meats and armor on it to. Usual 20yo car wear and tear.

Tried to sell it on CL but get the usual "I come now for $100". Junkyard down the road is offering $300.

So we got a request from a guy at a local high school, saying he works for the auto shop class. My father thought it'd be a great idea, more for his tax write off, and donate the old girl to educate some kids. So I asked the guy some specific questions such as, are you a 501(c)3? How is the vehicle appraised? How long do I have to wait to get the receipt?

He responded, with poor spelling, we always give a lot to those willing to help the school and stopped at that. I'm trying to avoid driving 2 cars over there and then being handed a receipt that doesn't even cover gas.

It's a large well known HS in the suburbs. Anyone have any experience with this? Perhaps I should call the main office or see if there is a more knowledgeable person that works the auto section? Anything I should look out for?

Welcome any thoughts.

 

[stockrex]

yes, the shop/high school has to be a 501 registered, you can donate your vehicle and take a max of $500 deduction.

if not donate it to a church and take the deduction and the church inturn gives it to the highschool.

anymore, they shop has to sell it and prove that the vehicle is worth more than that.
look up IRS guideline, they have forms and detailed rule.

this is cuz people used to abuse the vehicle deduction a lot, buy a clunker for $100 and donate it and take the blue book value of say $3000.

 

[The_Jeff]

Sign the title over to the school or the school authority, not "some guy" and not "leave it blank".

 

[KD0AXS]

I would contact someone at the school and make sure this guy is legit, and . Ithe vehicle will actually end up being used in shop class. I don't think I would just trust some guy who claims to work for the school.

When I was in high school shop class (20 years ago) the vehicles they had were donated by Ford and GM. In my class we completely dismantled a brand new Ford Probe, all the way down to cutting the body into pieces that could be thrown in a dumpster. Much of that car went home with students "one piece at a time" as Johnny Cash would say.

 

[rjundi]

OT: our school's auto shop car was a brand new flood damaged Fiero GT from GM. It had <20 miles but ran fine but not able to register as part of agreement.

 

[jeepman3071]

I doubt the guy works for a school if he can't even spell.

 

[Plumber]

PM me if you would be interested in donating it to our American Legion Post. We would raffle it off, or find a Veteran in need of a vehicle.

Thanks.

 

[Chris142]

I wish u was closer to me. I have a neighbor thats having bad luck after bad luck and could sure use a car to get back on their feet

 

[AdRock]

Go up to the school and talk to the auto shop teacher. Back when I was in auto shop our teacher would have the title transferred to his name and leave it in the shop for us to mess with. And then we might sell it and use the money.

In one instance, a guy wanted to donate an early 70's Impala. So he signed over the title to our teacher. He got a new title, We messed with it that year doing random stuff. The next year we fixed it, got it good and reliable and sold it. The money we got for it paid for all of us to go out of town to a VICA competition that the school district wouldn't pay for.

 

[GreeCguy]

A quick call to the school should indicate if the poor spelling contact is in fact connected with the school. They should also be able to give you history regarding dealings in the past regarding accepting vehicles for shop class, etc.

That would be my first step.

If that falls through, there are places that will accept donated vehicles for those in need. A quick "Google search" will help you find those, (a big one in these parts is "Heritage for the Blind." I assume they repair the cars, sell them and use the money to help the blind rather than give an old car to a blind person).

Finally, a good idea would be to contact your Church and offer to donate the car to the congregation which can then raffle the car off. You can suggest the money go to either some worthy project, (new roof, new heating/air unit), or go to the youth group for their next big outing. The youth group idea would be good as all the youth will sell the raffle tickets to their buddies at school and the Church will end up with more money. If you're not a member of a local congregation, pull out the yellow pages and pick one, call them up and tell them what you're willing to do. They might even be willing to come and pick it up so you won't have to use any of your time or gas. I know the youth group at my Church would LOVE a project like that. (Kinda reminds me of the movie "Used Cars").