AutoHeart makes donating a car in Miami simple: we come to you. Whether you’re in Brickell, Little Havana, Kendall, Doral, North Miami, or out toward Homestead, we arrange a genuinely free tow — no pickup fees, no surprise charges. A local flatbed or hook-and-chain truck will collect your car right where it sits, running or not. The towing cost is covered from the charity’s sale proceeds and is never billed back to you.
Here’s how it works in South Florida: you call or submit our online form, confirm a pickup window that fits your schedule, and tell us where the title and keys will be (with you, with a building office, or hidden securely in the vehicle). Our towing partner serving the Miami area — from Miami Beach to Hialeah, Coral Gables, and beyond — typically arrives within a few business days, depending on traffic, building access, and how busy the route is. You don’t have to drive anywhere or wait at a lot; your car is picked up at home, work, or a storage spot, and you receive a tax receipt for your donation.
How to schedule your free local pickup
1. Tell us about your car and location
Start by calling AutoHeart or filling out our short online form with basic details: your Miami-area address, vehicle year/make/model, and whether it runs. Tell us if it’s in a condo garage in Brickell, a driveway in Westchester, or a lot in Hialeah. This helps us match you with the right local towing partner and plan for things like height limits, tight streets, or gated communities.
2. Choose a pickup window that fits your schedule
We’ll call to confirm your information and offer available pickup windows. In most of Miami-Dade, we can schedule a tow within a few business days. You pick a day and a general time frame that works around your work, school, or traffic patterns. We’ll note special instructions like gate codes, guard shacks, or loading-dock access in downtown or Brickell so the driver can get in smoothly.
3. Prepare the title, keys, and vehicle location
Before pickup day, clear personal items from the vehicle and locate your Florida title. We’ll explain exactly where to sign. Decide where the driver will find the title and keys: with you, at your front desk, or hidden in the car. If it’s in a tight Coral Gables street or crowded Little Havana block, let us know any parking rules or tow-away zones so the driver can stage the truck quickly.
4. Day-of: the local tow truck handles everything
On pickup day, a local flatbed or hook-and-chain tow truck arrives in your area. For many Miami neighborhoods, the driver can load the car even if it doesn’t start, has a flat tire, or hasn’t moved in years. As long as the title and keys are where you said they’d be, you don’t have to be present. The driver secures your paperwork, loads the vehicle, and leaves you with a towing receipt if requested.
5. Receive your tax receipt from AutoHeart
After your vehicle is picked up and processed, you’ll receive a tax receipt by mail. Most donors receive a receipt for at least $500; for donations over $500, we provide the IRS Form 1098-C information you’ll need. This allows you to discuss any deduction with your tax professional. From your driveway in Kendall to a condo spot in Sunny Isles Beach, your free tow turns into support for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Local pickup gotchas
Tight streets, alleys, and South Beach-style parking
Tip: Some Miami streets, especially in South Beach, Little Havana, and older Coral Gables areas, are narrow or always packed with cars. Let us know if trucks usually struggle on your block. Sometimes we may ask you to leave the car at the end of the street, in a loading zone during certain hours, or in a nearby open lot so a flatbed can safely reach and load it.
Condo garages, high-rises, and gate access
Tip: Brickell, Downtown, Edgewater, and Miami Beach condos often have low ceilings, tight ramps, or strict garage rules. Flatbeds usually can’t enter these structures. Tell us if your car is in a high-rise garage or behind a gate. We may ask you to move it to street level or a guest space before pickup time and will need any gate codes or to be added to your building’s visitor list.
Very rural or outlying addresses
Tip: If you’re out near Homestead farms, the Redland, or further west past the Turnpike, routing may take a bit longer. Tow trucks still come at no charge, but drivers often group rural pickups together. Expect timing to be closer to the far end of the ‘few business days’ range. The more detail you give on landmarks and driveway access, the easier it is to reach you quickly.
Missing or mismatched Florida title
Tip: In Florida, the name on the title must match the person signing the donation. If your title is lost, in a maiden name, or jointly owned, let us know upfront. We’ll walk you through what the Miami-Dade DMV generally requires so you can get a replacement title or the correct signatures. Having the paperwork ready before pickup keeps your tow on schedule and avoids last-minute delays.
If at-home pickup is tricky
If at-home pickup is tricky for your situation — for example, your building won’t allow tow trucks into the garage or you’re moving out of Miami on a tight timeline — we can usually work out alternatives. In some cases, you may be able to meet the driver at a nearby surface lot, a friend’s driveway in a more accessible neighborhood, or a street with easier truck access. We’ll talk through your exact address, from Miami Beach to Sweetwater or Cutler Bay, and find a realistic plan that keeps pickup free and as convenient as possible for you.
Miami pickup coverage
AutoHeart serves the entire Miami and greater South Florida area: Brickell and Downtown, Little Havana, Wynwood, Allapattah, Hialeah, Doral, Kendall, Coral Gables, Miami Gardens, North Miami, Miami Beach, Homestead, and more. In dense areas with heavy traffic and building rules, timing is usually a few business days. Rural or far-west addresses can take a bit longer based on routing. For Florida donors, you’ll generally sign and hand over the title at pickup and remove your license plate; many Miami drivers then return plates or transfer them through the Florida DMV, per state rules. We’ll guide you on what’s needed so your donation is clean and complete.