So, I finally did it. Decided it was time to let go of my old motorcycle. It hadn’t been ridden much lately, just gathering dust in the garage, you know? Selling it seemed like a hassle, fixing it up would cost more than it was worth, so I figured donating it was the way to go. Someone else could hopefully get some good out of it, or the charity could use the funds.
Finding a Place to Donate
First thing I did was hop online. Just searched around for charities that take vehicle donations, specifically motorcycles. Found quite a few, actually. Some are big national names, others more local. I looked at a couple of their websites, trying to figure out how their process worked. Seemed pretty similar for most of them.
- Checked what kind of condition they accept – mine wasn’t running, which was okay for some.
- Looked to see if they offered free towing – most did, which was a big plus for me.
- Tried to see what percentage of the proceeds actually goes to the charity work.
I ended up picking one that seemed straightforward and supported a cause I liked. Gave them a call.
Making the Call and Sorting Paperwork
The phone call was pretty easy. The person on the other end asked for the basics:
- Year, make, and model of the bike.
- Its general condition (running or not, any major damage).
- Where the motorcycle was located.
- If I had the title. This part is important. You generally need the title in your name to donate.
I had the title ready, thankfully. They explained I’d need to sign it over. Depending on your state, there might be specific spots to sign or fill out on the back of the title when donating. They told me exactly what to do and what not to fill out (like the buyer’s name – they handle that). Make sure you understand this part clearly for your specific state and charity.
Scheduling the Pickup
After getting the details, they set up a time for a tow truck to come get the bike. They gave me a window of a few days, and then the towing company called me directly to confirm a specific day and time block. It was all arranged within about three days of my initial call. Pretty quick, I thought.
The Pickup Day
On the scheduled day, the tow truck driver showed up. Super professional guy. He looked over the bike quickly, confirmed it was the right one. I handed over the signed title – just the title, didn’t need the plates. He loaded the motorcycle onto the flatbed truck. The whole thing took maybe 15-20 minutes. Didn’t cost me a penny. He gave me an initial receipt showing they’d picked up the vehicle.
Getting the Final Receipt
Now, this next part took a little while. The charity takes the motorcycle, usually sells it at auction. The amount they get from the sale determines the value of your donation for tax purposes. A few weeks after the pickup – maybe three or four weeks, I think – I got the official donation receipt in the mail. This document had the final sale price of the motorcycle. Hold onto this receipt! You’ll need it if you plan to claim the donation on your taxes.
Final Thoughts
And that was pretty much it. Honestly, the whole process was smoother than I expected. Less hassle than trying to sell it myself, especially since it wasn’t running. Felt good clearing out the garage space, and it’s nice knowing the donation will help a good cause, even if it’s just a little bit. If you’ve got an old vehicle sitting around, I’d say donating is definitely worth considering. Just make sure you have that title sorted out first!
