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Step 1
Pick a charity or organization to receive your vehicle donation. Kars 4 Kids, Teddy Bear Cops, Cars for Cancer, and The National Kidney Foundation are all very reputable charities that accept car donations in Illinois; over the phone and online. In addition, all of these organizations are classified with the IRS as 501(c)3 charities, so the donor will receive a tax deduction.
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Step 2
Visit your chosen charity's website, or call, and arrange to have the vehicle picked up at your convenience. All of the charities mentioned above allow for donors to schedule the vehicle pick up online. Donated vehicles can be picked up in the following cities of Illinois: Chicago, Springfield, Bloomington, Champaign, Deerfield, Elmhurst, Danville, Rockford, Quincy, Elgin, Glen Ellyn and Evanston.
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Step 3
Have the title of the car. To donate a car in the state of Illinois, the donor needs to have the title. The donor must sign the release section on the title before the car can properly be transferred to its new owner. If the title has been lost or stolen, a replacement title can be applied for before donation. The Gift Certification (form #VR-103) must be presented with the car title, at the time of donation; the donor can download this form from the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles website.
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Step 4
Remove the license plates and cancel insurance. The current license plates must be removed from the vehicle being donated. The license plates do not have to be surrendered to the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles, but they cannot remain on the donated car. Cancel the car insurance after the vehicle has been donated.
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Step 5
Release liability. After the vehicle has been picked up by the charity, the donor needs to fill out a Certificate of Final Disposition and mail it to the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles. The form (form #VSD-657) can be downloaded from the Illinois DMV website (see Resources below). The form will release the donor from any liabilities associated with the car, after the release date.
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Step 6
Get a receipt. To have a record or your donation, and for tax purposes, get a receipt from the charity and verify that the identification number of the charity is located somewhere on the paperwork.
