Car donation deduction

The following rules apply to any donation of a qualified vehicle.

A qualified vehicle is:

A car or any motor vehicle manufactured mainly for use on public streets, roads, and highways,

A boat, or

An airplane.


Deduction more than $500. If you donate a qualified vehicle to a qualified organization and you claim a deduction of more than $500, you can deduct the smaller of:
The gross proceeds from the sale of the vehicle by the organization, or

The vehicle's fair market value on the date of the contribution. If the vehicle's fair market value was more than your cost or other basis, you may have to reduce the fair market value to figure the deductible amount, as described under Giving Property That Has Increased in Value, later.


Form 1098-C. You must attach to your return the copy of the Form 1098-C, Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes, (or other statement containing the same information as Form 1098-C) you received from the organization. The Form 1098-C (or other statement) will show the gross proceeds from the sale of the vehicle.

If you do not attach Form 1098-C (or other statement), you cannot deduct your contribution. You must get Form 1098-C (or other statement) within 30 days of the sale of the vehicle. But if exception 1 or 2 (described next) applies, you must get Form 1098-C (or other statement) within 30 days of your donation.


http://www.irs.gov/publications/p526/index.html