How the car donation process works
Start with your vehicle and title status
When you contact ReviveRides, share the vehicle year, make, model, location, and whether you have the title in hand. We can help arrange free pickup across Utah communities including Salt Lake City, Murray, Draper, Layton, Lehi, Logan, and Spanish Fork. Tell us upfront if the title is missing, from another state, has a lien listed, or is in another person’s name. That helps Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446, give clear next steps before the tow truck is scheduled.
Use a clean title when you have one
The easiest donation is a vehicle with a clean, available title in the donor’s name. A clean title means ownership can be transferred without an active lender, unresolved ownership dispute, or missing signature. Do not sign too early unless instructed; the best time is usually at pickup, when the tow driver can provide the needed donation paperwork. If your Utah title is damaged, hard to read, or you are unsure where to sign, ask before pickup so the transfer to Heritage for the Blind is completed correctly.
If the title is lost, ask for guidance first
A lost title is common, and it does not always mean your donation is impossible. Heritage for the Blind can help you understand your state’s replacement-title process and what information may be needed. In many cases, the titled owner requests a duplicate title before the donation is finalized. Some vehicles without titles can still be reviewed for possible acceptance, depending on the vehicle, location, and available ownership documents. Call before ruling yourself out, especially if the vehicle has been sitting in a driveway, garage, or storage lot.
Clear any lien before pickup
If a bank, credit union, finance company, or other lender is listed on the title, the lien must be satisfied before the vehicle can usually be donated. Contact the lender and ask what is needed to release the title or provide a lien release. Even if the loan was paid years ago, the lien may still appear on the paperwork until it is formally released. ReviveRides can explain what to look for, but the donor or titled owner must work with the lender to clear the lien.
Confirm who is allowed to sign
The person named on the title generally needs to sign the vehicle over to Heritage for the Blind. If the car is in a spouse’s, parent’s, or another person’s name, additional documentation may be required. For a deceased spouse or parent, the needed paperwork can depend on Utah rules and the estate situation, such as probate documents, a small-estate affidavit, or an affidavit of heirship when allowed. If you have power of attorney or estate paperwork, mention it early so the team can review the situation before pickup.
Sign at pickup and keep your records
At pickup, the tow driver brings donation paperwork and helps complete the handoff. You will sign the title over to Heritage for the Blind, EIN 58-2164446, and receive instructions for any remaining documents. Foreign-state titles are accepted, so a Utah donor can often donate a vehicle titled in another state. After the signed title is handed off, a DMV visit is typically not required, though you should keep copies and follow any Utah DMV notice-of-transfer guidance that applies to your situation.
Key facts about car donation
A clean title is preferred, but Heritage for the Blind can guide many lost-title situations.
Active liens must be satisfied before donation, or the lender must release the title.
The title is signed over to Heritage for the Blind at pickup, with driver paperwork provided.
Out-of-state titles are accepted for Utah pickups when ownership and signatures can be verified.
Vehicles without titles can sometimes be accepted; call ReviveRides to discuss the details.
For vehicles over $500, Heritage for the Blind provides IRS Form 1098-C when required.