At Gear Up Giving, we believe that car donation should be easy and impactful. Our streamlined process not only helps you rid yourself of an unwanted vehicle but also supports a vital local program that connects Chicago residents to essential benefits like SNAP and WIC. Unlike other services, our focus is on the community, ensuring that every car donation directly contributes to research that informs locals about their available resources. Ready to make a difference in your neighborhood? Here’s how our unique process works.
The full process
Inquire About Donation
Start the car donation process by reaching out to Gear Up Giving. You can fill out a simple online form or call our local team directly. We’ll ask for basic information about your vehicle, including its make, model, and condition. Here in Chicago, we understand how important it is to get the most out of your donation, and our team is ready to guide you through your unique situation.
Provide Vehicle Details
Once you’ve initiated your inquiry, our team will follow up to gather more details about your car. This can include its mileage, history, and any previous mechanical issues. We want to ensure transparency and help you understand how your vehicle can best serve the community. Plus, knowing these details can help us maximize the donation’s impact in local Chicago neighborhoods.
Schedule Pickup
After we have all the necessary information, we’ll work with you to schedule a convenient pickup time. Our local team is familiar with Chicago’s neighborhoods and can accommodate your schedule. Whether you live in the bustling Loop or the quieter suburbs, we'll coordinate a time that works for you, ensuring a smooth transition from your ownership to a charitable donation.
Pickup Day Arrives
On the day of the pickup, one of our friendly local drivers will arrive at your location to collect your vehicle. We take care of the pickup logistics. You still sign your title over, and you should notify the state that the car is gone. This is an easy way for you to contribute without any hassle, and it allows us to further our mission in helping Chicago neighbors access necessary benefits.
Transport the Vehicle
After pickup, your vehicle will be transported to a local facility where it will be prepared for auction or recycling. Our goal is to ensure that as many vehicles as possible are put to good use, whether through selling them to those in need or recycling valuable parts. Each step in this process is designed with our Chicago community in mind, as we strive to promote sustainability and support local economies.
Auction or Recycling
Your vehicle will either be auctioned or recycled, depending on its condition. Auctioning allows us to generate funds that directly support our research services, while recycling ensures that no vehicle is wasted. This dual approach helps maximize the benefits provided to Chicago residents, ensuring that the proceeds help connect them with vital resources and programs.
Proceeds to Research
Once your vehicle has been processed, the proceeds from the sale will be directed toward our research initiatives. This funding is crucial in helping us connect Chicago residents with benefits like Illinois Medicaid and TANF. When you donate your car, you're helping us help others, creating a ripple effect that enhances our community’s wellbeing.
Receive Your Tax Receipt
After everything is finalized, you'll receive a tax receipt in the mail, which you can use for your records. This document provides proof of your generous donation, making it easy for you to claim any eligible tax deductions. Our Chicago-based team is here to assist you with any questions about this process, ensuring you have all the information you need.
What to expect
Free Pickup
Enjoy complimentary towing services from your location in Chicago, making your donation process simple and stress-free.
Local Impact
Your donation directly supports Chicago residents in need, helping them access crucial benefits without any cost to you.
Tax Deduction
Receive a tax receipt for your donation, allowing you to benefit while helping others access important resources.
By choosing to donate your vehicle to Gear Up Giving, you're not just freeing up space in your driveway; you're actively supporting fellow Chicagoans. Your contribution helps fund vital research that connects residents to necessary assistance programs, ensuring no one in our community is left behind. Join us in making Chicago a stronger, more supportive place for all.
Donating your car in Illinois: title, plates and the Secretary of State
The pickup is the easy part. In Illinois, a few steps with the Secretary of State decide whether the car is really off your hands.
Here is your side of the paperwork, in the order it comes up: the title, your plates, the state's sale report, your insurance, and what to expect afterward.
Step 1 — Sign the Illinois title
Illinois law requires you to sign the Assignment of Title area on the back of the title. The title must show the signed and printed names of all sellers and buyers. You also certify the odometer reading: actual mileage, in excess of the odometer's mechanical limits, or not the actual mileage.
- No notary needed. The Secretary of State's vehicle FAQ says an Illinois title does not have to be notarized.
- Ask the charity first. Find out exactly what to print on the buyer line before you sign anything.
- Write the mileage clearly, exactly as your dashboard shows it.
Step 2 — Take your plates off
In Illinois, license plates belong to the owner, not the vehicle. Under the state's plate transfer rules, you cannot pass them to a buyer when you sell a car or transfer a title. You can only move them to another vehicle you own.
The IRS also suggests removing plates before you donate, unless state law says otherwise.
- Keeping them for your next car? On the state's Application for Vehicle Transactions, check the Transfer box. The state lists a $25 fee for a transfer only, and you enclose your most recent registration card.
- Plates still on the car at pickup? File the Vehicle License Plates Revocation Request (VSD 851). It has a reason box for "Vehicle donated to charity with license plates." Every registered or titled owner signs it. The form lists the Special Plates Division, 501 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62756.
Revoking plates does not remove your name from the vehicle record. That is what Step 3 is for.
Step 3 — Tell the Secretary of State the car is gone
The IRS's donor guide says state charity officials generally recommend that donors file a form with the state saying the vehicle was donated, to end their liability.
In Illinois, the Seller's Report of Sale (VSD 703) serves that purpose. It says to complete it as soon as you sell or transfer your vehicle, and that filing it protects you from future responsibility for the car.
- Enter the date, the car's year, make and VIN, and your name and address.
- Enter the charity's name and address as the buyer. Ask the charity for the exact name to use.
- Sign it and mail it to: Secretary of State, Vehicle Services Department, Record Inquiry Division, 501 S. Second Street, Springfield, IL 62756.
Step 4 — Keep your insurance until the car leaves
Illinois checks liability insurance on registered vehicles electronically, at least twice a year. If a check finds no policy, the state checks again after 30 days.
The state says this second check helps it learn whether a vehicle was sold, stored or not being driven. A second miss brings a registration suspension letter. Lifting a suspension takes new liability insurance and a $100 fee.
So do not cancel coverage when you book the pickup. Keep it until the car is gone and your Seller's Report of Sale is in the mail. Then call your insurer.
After pickup: what happens next
Your signature on the title lets the new owner apply for a new title in its own name. Your Seller's Report of Sale does not transfer ownership. It only tells the state you let go of the car.
If you claim more than $500, the charity must give you a written acknowledgment, usually IRS Form 1098-C. The IRS says it is due within 30 days of the sale in most cases. A car donation may be deductible, but the rules are specific. See our tax deduction guide, and check with a tax advisor.
Common questions
Does the charity sign the Seller's Report of Sale?
No. The form has a signature line for the seller only. The charity's part is the buyer name and address that you fill in.
What if my title is lost, or I still owe money on the car?
Settle that before pickup, because Illinois requires the title to be signed over to the new owner. Our guide to donating without a title covers lost titles and titles held by a lender.
What should I keep after pickup?
A photo of the signed title, your pickup receipt, your copy of the Seller's Report of Sale, any plate revocation request, and the charity's IRS acknowledgment. Keep them with your tax records.
Sources: Illinois Secretary of State — Vehicle Services FAQ · Illinois Secretary of State — Seller's Report of Sale (VSD 703) · Illinois Secretary of State — Transferring Plates · Illinois Secretary of State — License Plates Revocation Request (VSD 851) · Illinois Secretary of State — Mandatory Insurance · IRS Publication 4303 — A Donor's Guide to Vehicle Donation. Last reviewed October 2026. Rules change — confirm with the agency before you rely on a detail.