How the car donation process works
Start with a 2-minute form or a quick call
Begin by completing the short Steel City Wheels online donation form or by calling Heritage for the Blind directly. You will share basic details: your contact information, where the vehicle is located in the Pittsburgh Metro, the year, make, model, mileage if known, and whether the vehicle runs. Cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, and other vehicles may be accepted. You do not need to know the final value before starting. The goal of this first step is simply to confirm the vehicle information and open your donation record.
A coordinator calls back within 1-2 business hours
After your request is received, a donation coordinator typically calls you within 1-2 business hours to answer questions and schedule pickup. They will confirm the address, ask about access to the vehicle, and help choose a convenient pickup window. Pittsburgh donors often schedule from homes, apartment lots, repair shops, garages, workplaces, or family properties. Pickup is free, and there is no obligation to pay for towing, listing, auction handling, or processing. If you are still comparing options, this is a good time to ask anything before committing.
Prepare the title, keys, and vehicle access
Before the tow truck arrives, gather the Pennsylvania vehicle title, a valid photo ID, and keys if you have them. Remove personal belongings, license plates, parking permits, garage remotes, E-ZPass transponders, and any paperwork you want to keep. If there is a lien listed on the title, have the lien release available if applicable. The coordinator can explain what the driver will need at pickup, but you do not have to handle complicated sales paperwork alone. In most cases, you will sign the title over when the vehicle is picked up.
A licensed tow truck picks up the vehicle for free
A licensed tow truck is dispatched to your Pittsburgh-area location, often same-day or next business day in most metro areas when scheduling and access allow. The driver will confirm the vehicle, collect the signed title, and load the vehicle safely. You do not need to be a mechanic, clean the car professionally, or get it running first. Donations are commonly picked up from city neighborhoods like Lawrenceville and Bloomfield as well as suburbs such as McKees Rocks, Penn Hills, South Hills, and Wexford. There is no cost to you at pickup.
The vehicle is sold through the best available channel
After pickup, the vehicle is transported to an auction, parts reseller, or another appropriate resale channel. The goal is to convert the donated vehicle into support for Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446. Depending on condition, age, demand, and local market factors, a vehicle may be sold as a drivable car, wholesale unit, salvage vehicle, or source of reusable parts. You do not have to negotiate with buyers, meet strangers, post ads, or arrange repairs. Steel City Wheels and the donation network handle the next steps after towing.
Your tax receipt is mailed after the vehicle sells
Once the vehicle sells, your tax receipt is mailed to you. The full donation timeline is typically 2-6 weeks, depending on pickup timing, sale processing, and mail delivery. If the vehicle sells for more than $500, you will receive IRS Form 1098-C. If it sells for $500 or under, you will receive a written acknowledgment. Keep the receipt with your tax records and speak with a tax professional about your individual deduction. The process ends with paperwork you can file and the satisfaction of supporting a meaningful mission.
Key facts about car donation
Pickup is free throughout the Pittsburgh Metro, including many neighborhoods, suburbs, homes, shops, and apartment parking areas.
A coordinator usually calls within 1-2 business hours after you submit the donation form.
Same-day or next-business-day towing is available in most metro areas when schedules and access allow.
You sign the title over at pickup; Heritage for the Blind handles the post-tow process.
Vehicles over $500 receive IRS Form 1098-C; vehicles $500 or under receive written acknowledgment.
There is no cost to donate at any step: no towing, pickup, auction, or processing fee.