If you’re in Indianapolis with a car that’s dented, rusty, hail-damaged, or sitting in the driveway after an accident, you can still donate it. Indy Car Connect, partnering with Heritage for the Blind, accepts vehicles in any cosmetic condition across the Indy Metro—whether you’re in Broad Ripple, Lawrence, Speedway, Greenwood, or anywhere in between. Body damage, cracked windshields, faded paint, or storm damage do not disqualify your car from donation.
Here’s how it works in Indiana: you don’t repair a thing. We arrange free towing from your home, garage, storage lot, or body shop—running or not. Your vehicle is then sold for its real-market value, which may be lower if there’s heavy body or structural damage. Your tax deduction is based on the actual sale price, not how the car looks. No matter what, you receive a written tax receipt with a minimum reportable value of $500. If it sells for more than $500, you’ll use IRS Form 1098-C for your return. It’s a straightforward way to move a problem vehicle off your property and support services for people who are blind and visually impaired.
How to get your free pickup scheduled
Tell us about your damaged vehicle
Start online or by phone with Indy Car Connect from anywhere in the Indy Metro—Fountain Square, Irvington, Carmel, or Avon. Share the basics: year, make, model, and a quick description of the damage (dents, rust, cracked glass, or accident issues). This helps us plan the right tow truck and confirm that your car is good to go for donation.
Schedule free pickup at your Indy location
We’ll set a convenient pickup time that fits your schedule. We can meet you at home, work, a repair shop, or a storage lot. The tow is always free, whether the car runs, has flat tires, or has severe body damage. Our towing partners work across Indianapolis and surrounding suburbs, so you don’t have to move the car yourself.
Prepare your title and clear access
Before your pickup time, locate your Indiana vehicle title and remove personal items from the car. Make sure the tow truck can reach it—move other vehicles if needed. Even if the windshield is shattered or the doors don’t open well, the driver can usually handle loading; we just need basic access and a safe place to hook up the tow.
We tow, sell, and handle the details
The tow driver will help with basic paperwork and haul the vehicle away. After pickup, your car is sold—sometimes to a buyer who repairs and resells it, sometimes for parts or recycling, depending on damage and condition. Heritage for the Blind receives the net proceeds to support programs for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Receive your tax receipt and claim your deduction
Once the vehicle sells, you’ll receive a written tax receipt. The amount is based on the actual sale price, not how the car looked sitting in your driveway. The minimum reportable value is $500, and if it sells for more, you’ll use IRS Form 1098-C when you file your taxes to claim your charitable deduction.
Potential complications to watch for
Missing or incorrect Indiana title
Tip: Body damage is okay, but paperwork problems can slow things down. If your title is missing, in another name, or still shows a lien, let us know up front. We’ll walk you through Indiana BMV steps so the donation can still move forward without last-minute surprises on pickup day.
Car blocked in or unsafe to access
Tip: Even with severe damage, tow trucks can usually load your car—if they can reach it. Clear snow, debris, or other vehicles blocking drive access. If your damaged car is down a tight alley or in a backyard, tell us ahead of time so we can send the right truck and avoid rescheduling.
Unrealistic expectation of deduction value
Tip: Heavy dents, frame damage, or shattered glass can lower the sale price—and therefore your deduction. We don’t assign a value based on blue-book or appearance. Your deduction is tied to the actual sale proceeds. Rest assured, you’ll still get a written tax receipt with at least $500 documented value.
Unreported accident or insurance salvage status
Tip: If the car was totaled, carries a salvage title, or has major accident repairs unfinished, be upfront when you donate. It rarely stops the donation, but it does affect how we sell the vehicle. Accurate info lets us place it with the right buyer quickly and keeps your paperwork clean and compliant.