Disposing of Old Car

I have a new car, and I need to get rid of my old one.  Not sure how to best do It.

It is a 2002 Ford Explorer with 162,000 miles on it.  The engine is good and it runs well.  The transmission was rebuilt about five years ago and feels ok.  No real features other than 4 wheel drive.  The body has rust in the door frames in places, and the interior is in ok shape but looks like it is a 2002 car.  It is the appearance that gives me some pause on trying to sell it.

I do not have the time or patience to have people come look at it, kick the tires, not buy it, or not even show up on time.  So selling it through classified ads is kind of out for me (even with the great success of MOL sales, Jamie!).

I see that there are a number of places that advertise that they "buy any car".  Has anyone actually used one of these with any success?  Or I can donate it and get a tax credit, but which charities are real and which are fake fronts?

Any experience or thoughts backed by experience is welcome!

Thanks in advance.

Mark


kars4kids is real,  but kids in actual need get very little.  Community Access Unlimited out of Elizabeth takes old cars and gives them to people in their programs (they have a mechanic fix them if necessary..i don't know what their requirements are on car condition.  You can look into selling it for scrap.


I had a neighbor try to give away a car, one of those pseudo charities turned him down.  it needed repair but was a good car still worth a lot


Under the new tax code, few people will be able to use the tax credit they get from the donation.


I tried to give a car away a few years ago at this time of year, but it was the year that Sandy hit so must have been 2012, and no one would come and get it. Car was a 10 year old working Toyota Sienna, with 120K on it.  After being blown off by a few donation places (can't remember - kars4kids? maybe others?) I listed it on MOL classified and it was sold in 48 hours for $900. Never expected that to happen, but was thrilled. If you're not in SOMA (and working at home) it might be more of a hassle than you want to put up with, but worked for me. Good luck! 


look up blue book value. List it here for 1/2 that with an “as is” caveat. I bet it’ll sell easily.


Do you have a family member of driving age who needs a car?  I just gave the car I inherited  (kids wouldn't let me drive it anyway) to my son.  No tax liability for either of us and I know the car will get good use.


joan_crystal said:
Do you have a family member of driving age who needs a car?  I just gave the car I inherited  (kids wouldn't let me drive it anyway) to my son.  No tax liability for either of us and I know the car will get good use.

 Plus they put the money they had wanted to pay you for it into your grandson’s college fund - win win win  wink 


Scully said:


joan_crystal said:
Do you have a family member of driving age who needs a car?  I just gave the car I inherited  (kids wouldn't let me drive it anyway) to my son.  No tax liability for either of us and I know the car will get good use.
 Plus they put the money they had wanted to pay you for it into your grandson’s college fund - win win win  wink 

 Which is what I told them to do.  Definitely a win -win-win.


First try to sell it on MOL.

Next, a few years ago I donated my car to the Salvation Army. (It was not in good shape even though it still ran.) I don't know if they still take cars.

I few years before I donated my car I donated my father's car to the Rabbinical College in Morristown and they were thrilled to get it.  (His car was in better shape than mine.) 


We donated a car to the American Cancer Society a few years ago. They work with a company that comes with a flatbed to take it away. They take it to auction and then send a letter with the value obtained, which was deductible. The car ran poorly, needed repairs and it didn’t make sense to try to sell it.  As noted above, most people won’t be able to take advantage of the tax deduction anymore. If the vehicle runs well, as described, someone will want to buy it. 


This may be out there but contract a friend with disposable time to sell it for you and keep a share of the proceeds. 

I’ve always dreamed of hiring someone to go into a car dealership and haggle for me and call me when it’s time to sign the bill of sale. 


For those of you who want to donate cars, here is what I learned when I got rid of a car earlier this year (decent bones, but old and not currently running...we needed it gone quickly, rather than repairing and selling).

1.  We avoided Kars4Kids.  It spends far too much on advertising.  It is also rather deceptive, as it is a Hassidic Jewish charity that masquerades as something else.  Religious day school education is not my charity of choice, so I'll leave that charity to others

2.  Most charity car donation programs use the same pick-up and auction groups, so unless you are giving a car to a charity that matches it with a donor, you are giving some money to a pick up and auction group, and some to the charity that you choose.  

But if you need an old car picked up free of charge, that is often a fine outcome.

We used vehiclesforcharity.org.  They are owned and operated by a developmental disabilities charity in CO (i.e. part of a 501c3 charity), and offer turnkey vehicle donation programs to other charities nationwide.  On their website you can search/scroll through charities and pick the one you want to credit.  The process was easy, the car was picked up from our driveway, and the post-auction tax-deduction letter just received.

We gave our car to Interfaith Hospitality Network of Essex County, a local charity that organizes houses of faith to help homeless families in a cost effective and caring way (I used to be on the Board, so I'm biased here!).  I'm not sure what percentage of the sales price filters back to them, but any amount is a nice addition to our annual cash donation.  If I've also given a bit to developmentally disabled people in Colorado, I'm OK with that.


ElizMcCord said:
I’ve always dreamed of hiring someone to go into a car dealership and haggle for me and call me when it’s time to sign the bill of sale. 

 My next door neighbor actually does this.  You can have him shop for cars, check out the ones you like, arrange the price, be there with you to help with the paperwork, all for one flat fee.  



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