Donate your car. Drive hope home for a single mom.
A reliable car can mean a steady job, getting the kids to school, and making it to every appointment. Your old car can carry a single mom and her children toward a fresh start, right here in Trenton and Mercer County.
Questions? Call or text Daniel at (609) 977-7065.
A car is a lifeline
For a single mom, a missed bus can mean a lost job, a late daycare pickup, or a missed doctor’s visit. Many of the moms we meet are working hard to rebuild their lives, some in recovery themselves, and transportation is the one thing standing in the way.
When you give us a car you no longer need, we put it to work for a family that needs it. It’s a simple, practical way to love your neighbor.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.”
James 1:27 (NIV)
Where your car goes
- To a single mom in need. If your car is safe and reliable, we give it directly to a single mother in need in the Trenton / Mercer County area.
- Or it’s sold to help. If the car isn’t a good fit for a family, we sell it, and the proceeds support single moms and our sober-living recovery home in Trenton.
- Either way, nothing goes to waste, and every car helps someone get a fresh start.
Four simple steps
Donating your car is easy. We’ll walk you through every step.
- Tell us about the car. Fill out the short form below, or call or text (609) 977-7065.
- We confirm and set a time. We’ll call you back to talk about the car and work with you to arrange pickup or drop-off.
- Sign over the title. You sign the title over to Way of Life Ministry. We’ll help you with the paperwork.
- Get your receipt. You receive a written acknowledgment for your records (IRS Form 1098-C when required).
Cars, running or not
- Cars, SUVs, minivans, and pickup trucks
- Running or not running; we’ll talk with you about the car’s condition
- Reliable family cars with good safety are especially needed for moms with children
- The title should be in your name. If you can’t find your title, call us before you donate and we’ll help you figure out the next step.
Before you hand over the keys
- Have your title ready and signed in the right place (we’ll show you where)
- Remove your personal items and your license plates. In New Jersey, plates stay with you and can be turned in to the NJ MVC.
- Cancel your insurance and registration after the title is transferred
- Keep a copy of the signed title and your receipt for your records
Your car donation and your taxes
Way of Life Ministry is a 508(c)(1)(A) faith-based, tax-exempt ministry (EIN 33-4929797). Car donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Here is how the IRS rules work, in plain English:
- If we sell your car: when you claim more than $500, your deduction is generally limited to the gross proceeds (the amount the car actually sells for).
- If we give your car to a single mom in need: when we give the car (or sell it well below market value) to a person in need of transportation, as part of our charitable mission, you may be able to deduct the car’s fair market value instead.
- If the car sells for $500 or less: you can generally deduct the car’s fair market value or $500, whichever is less.
- Your paperwork: for cars claimed at more than $500, we’ll send you IRS Form 1098-C (or a written acknowledgment with the same information) within 30 days of the sale, or within 30 days of your donation if the car goes to a mom in need. Attach it to your tax return. You may also need IRS Form 8283, and a qualified appraisal for some deductions over $5,000.
We can’t promise a specific deduction amount, and we don’t give tax advice. Please talk with your tax advisor. For full details, see IRS Publication 4303, A Donor’s Guide to Vehicle Donation. To prepare Form 1098-C, we’ll ask for your taxpayer ID privately when we confirm your donation; please don’t put it on this website form.
Tell us about your car
Send us the details and we’ll call you back. Sending this form doesn’t commit you to anything.
Need a car? Single moms can apply
If you are a single mother in the Trenton / Mercer County area and a reliable car would help you work, care for your children, or stay on track in recovery, we’d love to hear from you.
Send us your contact details and we’ll call you to talk about your situation. Cars are given as they become available, so we can’t promise a car or a timeline, but we will pray with you and help however we can.
Please don’t include private health, legal, or financial details on this form. We’ll talk by phone.
Frequently asked questions
Does my car have to run?
No. We accept cars that run and cars that don’t. Running, reliable cars can go straight to a single mom; others are sold, and the proceeds help single moms and our recovery home.
How does pickup work? Does it cost me anything?
After you send the form, we’ll call you and work with you to arrange pickup or drop-off at a time that works for you. We’ll go over any details, including cost, before anything is scheduled.
What if I don’t have the title?
Please call us before you donate. In New Jersey, you usually need the title in your name to transfer the car. If it’s lost, you can request a duplicate title from the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission, and we’ll help you figure out the steps.
Who receives the cars?
Single mothers in need in the Trenton / Mercer County area, chosen by our ministry team. We never share the name of a mom who receives a car without her permission.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Car donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. How much you can deduct depends on what happens to the car. See the tax information above and talk with your tax advisor.
When will I get my receipt?
For cars claimed at more than $500, we send IRS Form 1098-C (or a written acknowledgment with the same information) within 30 days of the sale, or within 30 days of your donation if the car goes to a mom in need. For smaller donations, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment for your records.
What should I do with my license plates and insurance?
Remove your plates before the car leaves. In New Jersey, plates stay with you and can be turned in to the NJ MVC. Cancel your insurance and registration once the title has been transferred.
Can I donate a truck, van, or SUV?
Yes. Minivans and SUVs are especially helpful for moms with more than one child. Just tell us about the vehicle on the form.
Other ways to help: sponsor a bed in our recovery home, donate furniture and linens, or contact us with any question. Thank you for helping us save one soul at a time.