How the car donation process works
Start with the 2-minute form or a quick call
Begin by completing the PrairieAuto Gifts online donation form, which usually takes about two minutes, or call Heritage for the Blind directly. You will share basic details such as your name, pickup address, phone number, vehicle year, make, model, condition, and whether you have the title. You do not need to know the vehicle's value or make any commitment beyond starting the request. This first step simply gives the donation team enough information to confirm pickup options in your part of South Dakota and prepare the paperwork correctly.
A coordinator confirms details and schedules free pickup
After your form or call is received, a donation coordinator typically calls back within 1-2 business hours. The coordinator will answer questions, confirm the vehicle location, review title basics, and help schedule a free tow at a time that works for you. Pickup is available across South Dakota, including homes, apartments, farms, offices, repair shops, and storage locations when access is arranged. If you are in or near metro areas like Sioux Falls or Rapid City, same-day or next-business-day scheduling is often available.
A licensed tow truck arrives and you sign the title
On pickup day, a licensed tow truck driver comes to the agreed location at no cost to you. The vehicle does not need to run, and you do not have to repair, clean, or detail it first. Please remove personal belongings, license plates if required for your situation, and have the title ready. At pickup, you sign the title over as instructed so ownership can be transferred properly. The driver loads the vehicle and gives you any immediate pickup documentation available, then the vehicle leaves your South Dakota location.
Your vehicle is sent for resale or parts evaluation
After towing, the vehicle is transported to an auction facility, recycler, or parts reseller, depending on condition, local demand, and the best practical resale path. A newer running car from Brookings may follow a different route than a damaged truck from rural Pennington County, but the goal is the same: convert the donated vehicle into proceeds for the nonprofit mission. You do not need to manage the sale, meet buyers, negotiate pricing, or pay storage, towing, listing, or processing fees.
Sale proceeds support Heritage for the Blind
When the vehicle sells, the net proceeds go to Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-2164446. Those funds help support services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Heritage also helps connect people with benefit information and resources, including programs such as SSI, LIHEAP, Medicare Extra Help, and Section 8. If you or someone you know wants to explore possible benefit eligibility, you can visit nhftb.org/finder for a helpful starting point.
Your tax receipt is mailed after the vehicle sells
After the sale is complete, Heritage for the Blind mails your tax documentation. For vehicles that sell for more than $500, you will receive IRS Form 1098-C. For vehicles that sell for $500 or under, you will receive a written acknowledgment. The full donation process, from your first form or call through sale and receipt mailing, typically takes about 2-6 weeks. Keep your documents with your tax records, and consult a tax professional if you have questions about how your specific deduction may apply.
Key facts about car donation
Pickup and towing are free anywhere service is available in South Dakota.
Most donor call-backs happen within 1-2 business hours after the request is submitted.
Same-day or next-business-day pickup is often available in South Dakota metro areas.
You sign the vehicle title at pickup; no selling or buyer negotiation is required.
Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446, mails tax documentation after the vehicle sells.
The end-to-end donation process typically takes 2-6 weeks and costs you nothing.