Donate Your Car FAQs

Got questions? We've got answers.

Here’s some more information to help you with your decision to donate your car to charity.

How do I fill out the Donate Your Car form?

How to fill out the Donate Your Car form:

  1. Have the contact information of the person organising collection of the vehicle ready, as well as the location of the car ready to be provided.
  2. Have the details of the (current or previous) registration ready – this includes the VIN*!
  3. Check if the car is starting, and upload photos of any extensive damage to your device so they can be submitted with the form.
  4. If you are having technical difficulties with the online form, you can instead complete this Word version of the form and email to donateyourcar@kuc.org.au

*A 17 digit combination of letters and numbers with no I, Q or O included. I = 1, and O = 0.

All vehicles will be sold via public auction, any transferal of ownership is to be done with the advisement of your transport authority. Kids Under Cover do not take on ownership of any vehicles donated to us and are not the new owner of the vehicle. Please read our terms and conditions.

If you need more help with the form, you can contact our team. Call us on 1800 801 633 or email us at donateyourcar@kuc.org.au.

Can I donate my car if there is a recall for the model I own?

Please ensure your car does not have an active recall prior to deciding to donate your car and filling out the donation form. Please contact your vehicle’s manufacturer for details on how to fulfill an active recall for your car.

What kinds of vehicles will you accept?

We accept cars, vans, motorbikes, caravans, trucks, buses, tractors, boats on trailers, and much more. Have a different vehicle? Contact us to find out if we can accept your donation.

We are able to accept vehicles that have general wear and tear, however we’re unable to accept anything with significant damage – i.e. smashed windows, major panel damage, mould, missing parts etc.

We’re able to accept cars that aren’t running, as long as the battery/engine are both intact and nothing has been removed from the vehicle.

Where will you collect vehicles from?

We collect vehicles within metropolitan Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Townsville, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, and Hobart.

We are able to collect cars from regional areas, however as these towing costs are higher we will ask if you are able to contribute towards the cost of towing your car.

If the car is driveable, there is also the option of dropping the car off at the closest Manheim auction site.

Why should I donate my car to Kids Under Cover?

100% of the proceeds from the sale of your vehicle will go to Kids Under Cover, a not for profit organisation that prevent youth homelessness.

It’s a quick, easy and free way to get rid of an unwanted vehicle.

Your vehicle donation is 100% tax deductible.

We guarantee that you’ll feel great about helping to prevent youth homelessness in Australia.

How long will it take for my vehicle to be picked up?

Once we have received your donation form, we will contact you within 3 business days to organise the collection of your vehicle. We then need to give our transport company at least 5 business days’ notice. All up, this process takes about one – two weeks.

If you require an urgent collection (as a result of a council notice, because you are moving overseas, etc.), please contact us after completing the form so we can organise an earlier date for you.

Do I need to be there while you collect my car?

No, you do not need to be present for collection. There is no need to stay at home that day or take time off work.

You can discuss the finer details (such as keys) directly with the towing company when they call you to confirm the collection closer to the date and let them know how they can gain access to the vehicle.

You may also nominate someone else as the point of contact if you prefer, such as a family member.

Who will pick up my donated vehicle?

All transport is organised by through our auction partner Manheim. They use a variety of fully-licensed and insured towing companies to pick up cars from across the country.

You will receive a courtesy call prior to the collection of your vehicle, that way you will know who to expect for your pick-up!

This call may be the day before the collection, usually late afternoon/ early evening, or, at the latest, by 10am on the morning of the collection. Please contact us if you have not heard from the transport company by 10am on the morning of your collection date so we can follow up.

How much money will my car sell for at auction?

All our donated vehicles are sold by Manheim’s experienced auctioneers at their public auctions. Please be aware that regardless of what you believe your car might be worth, the car is worth exactly what someone is prepared to pay for it at auction. This might be more than, equal to or less than you expect.

Will I receive a tax receipt for my car donation?

Yes – all vehicles donated to Kids Under Cover are tax deductible! You can expect to receive your tax receipt for the sale amount of the vehicle at auction within 8-12 weeks of submitting your donation so you can claim a tax deduction. This will be sent via Australia Post unless otherwise specified.

The date on your receipt will be the date Kids Under Cover received the sale proceeds from your vehicle.

The tax-deductible donation receipt must be issued in the name of the last/current registered owner of the vehicle.

What is the ATO valuation process?

If you think your vehicle has a current market value of over $5,000, you are eligible for a valuation by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Your tax-deductible receipt will then be based on the ATO valuation amount.

If the ATO value your vehicle at less than $5,000, you are not entitled to a tax deduction based on their valuation and they will not issue you a Certificate of Valuation. For more information about the valuation process please call the Not-for-profit department at the ATO on 1300 130 428 or click here for more info about tax-deductible gifts on the ATO website.

You cannot receive an ATO valuation prior to deciding whether to proceed with the donation. The ATO only values already donated property.

How does the ATO valuation process work?

  • Complete our donation form
  • Our team will contact you to discuss eligibility and attach specific paperwork to complete, as well as details about submitting the ATO application fee of $241 (also tax-deductible).
  • Complete these forms and send them in the mail to us.
  • We will arrange the collection of your vehicle, which will be stored at Manheim until it has been valued by the ATO. The ATO aims to have most valuations completed within a month.
  • Once we receive your hard copy forms, we will sign off on them and send them to the ATO on your behalf.
  • The ATO will value your vehicle and send you a Certificate of Valuation.
  • Once you have received your Certificate of Valuation, please email us a copy so we can issue your tax-deductible receipt based on the ATO valuation amount.

My vehicle has finance owing, can I donate it?

We cannot accept donated vehicles that still have finance owing. Please ensure your contract has been terminated prior to donating the vehicle.

In the event that a donated vehicle is found to have finance owing, you will be contacted by us to resolve.

Can I donate an abandoned car?

No – legally we are not able to accept abandoned vehicles. If there is an abandoned car in your street, please call your local council.

Does my car have to be registered?

No, we sell all cars unregistered at auction to avoid any transfer of ownership/notice of disposal paperwork. If your car is currently registered or expired, we will require you to contact your local road authority and cancel the registration. If you’re still driving the car, you can cancel the registration 1-2 business days after the car has been collected, or prior to the collection if that’s more convenient for you.

Haven’t heard back from us yet?

No problems, our friendly team would love to hear from you. Call us on 1800 801 633 or email us at donateyourcar@kuc.org.au