How the car donation process works
Start with the 2-minute form or a quick call
Begin by filling out the short Sunflower Autos online donation form or by calling Heritage for the Blind directly. You will share basic details: your name, contact information, vehicle year, make, model, general condition, location, and whether you have the title. The form is designed to take about two minutes, and there is no commitment or cost to submit it. Donors across Kansas can start from home, work, a repair shop, an apartment lot, or wherever the vehicle is safely accessible.
A coordinator calls back within 1-2 business hours
After your request is received, a donation coordinator will call you back, typically within 1-2 business hours. This call is your chance to ask questions before moving forward. The coordinator confirms the vehicle location, checks pickup access, reviews title basics, and helps choose a tow window that works for you. In metro areas such as Kansas City, Wichita, Overland Park, Olathe, and Topeka, appointments can often be arranged quickly. You will not pay a scheduling fee, towing fee, or processing fee.
Get free pickup and sign the title at the tow
A licensed tow truck is dispatched to your Kansas pickup location. Same-day or next-business-day pickup is available in most metro areas when scheduling and carrier availability allow. The driver will contact you before arrival and will load the vehicle at no cost. At pickup, you sign the title over according to Kansas requirements, remove personal belongings, and take off your license plate if applicable. If the car is in a driveway, garage, business lot, or repair facility, tell the coordinator in advance so access is smooth.
Your vehicle is moved to auction or a parts reseller
Once the tow is complete, your vehicle is transported to the appropriate sale channel. Depending on age, condition, mileage, and market demand, it may go to an auction or to a licensed parts reseller. You do not need to handle advertising, buyer calls, repairs, price negotiations, or transport. Sunflower Autos and Heritage for the Blind coordinate the disposition process so the vehicle can be converted into charitable proceeds. This is one reason donation is often easier than trying to sell a non-running or high-mileage car yourself.
Sale proceeds support Heritage for the Blind
After the vehicle is sold, the net proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2164446. Heritage uses charitable support to help fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. The donation process is also a way to connect with useful resources: donors or households looking for benefit screening can visit nhftb.org/finder to check programs such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, Section 8, and other assistance options. Your car becomes more than an unused vehicle -- it helps support a mission.
Receive your tax receipt by mail after the sale
Your tax documentation is mailed after the vehicle sells. If the gross sale price is more than $500, Heritage for the Blind provides IRS Form 1098-C. If the vehicle sells for $500 or under, you receive a written acknowledgment. The full donation process, from initial form or phone call through sale and mailed receipt, typically takes about 2-6 weeks. Timing can vary based on pickup location, auction schedule, title status, and mail delivery. Keep your title copy, receipt, and any related records for your tax preparer.
Key facts about car donation
There is no cost to donate, schedule pickup, tow the vehicle, or receive your tax acknowledgment.
Most Kansas metro pickups can be scheduled for same-day or next-business-day service when carriers are available.
You sign the vehicle title over at pickup, so prepare it before the tow truck arrives.
Vehicles selling for more than $500 receive IRS Form 1098-C after the sale is completed.
The full process usually takes 2-6 weeks from donation request to mailed tax receipt.
Heritage can also point eligible households to benefit resources like SSI and LIHEAP at nhftb.org/finder.