How the car donation process works
Start your Miami donation and share the title status
When you begin your AutoHeart donation, tell the team what you have: a Florida title, an out-of-state title, a lost title, a lien release, or no title at all. A clean, available title is preferred because it makes the transfer faster, but it is not always the end of the road if yours is missing. Heritage for the Blind can guide donors through lost-title situations and explain the next best step based on the state that issued the title.
Confirm the owner name and any lien information
The name on the title matters because the vehicle must be legally transferred to Heritage for the Blind. If the car is in your name, the process is usually simple. If there is a lien listed, the lien generally must be satisfied before donation, or you must contact the lender to release the title. If the vehicle is titled to someone else, do not guess or sign for them. Call first so the correct paperwork can be reviewed before pickup is scheduled.
Handle special situations before pickup
Some Miami donors are donating a vehicle that belonged to a deceased spouse, parent, or other family member. In those cases, extra paperwork may be required, such as probate documents or an affidavit of heirship, depending on the state involved and the title record. If the title is from another state, that is usually acceptable, provided it can be properly assigned. Vehicles without titles can sometimes be accepted, so it is always worth calling to discuss your situation.
Schedule free towing across South Florida
Once the paperwork path is clear, AutoHeart helps arrange a free tow at a convenient Miami-area location. Pickup may be available from a driveway, apartment community, repair shop, office lot, storage facility, or curbside location where towing is permitted. Donors in areas such as Wynwood, Coconut Grove, Miami Gardens, Aventura, Pinecrest, Cutler Bay, and surrounding South Florida communities can often choose a pickup window that works for them. Have your title, ID, and any lien-release or estate documents ready.
Sign the title over to Heritage at pickup
At pickup, the tow driver brings the donation paperwork and helps complete the handoff. The title should be signed over to Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446, as instructed. After the title and vehicle are transferred, the driver provides pickup documentation, and no DMV visit is typically required after the title handoff. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind provides IRS Form 1098-C so you have the required tax document for your records.
Key facts about car donation
A clean title is preferred, but Heritage for the Blind can discuss lost-title and no-title possibilities.
Any listed lien must be satisfied, or the lender must release the title before donation.
Out-of-state titles are commonly accepted when they can be properly signed and assigned.
The title is signed over to Heritage for the Blind at pickup, not to the tow company.
The tow is free throughout eligible Miami and South Florida pickup areas.
For vehicles over $500, Heritage for the Blind issues IRS Form 1098-C.