How Do You Donate An RV To Homeless?

Have you spent the entire morning looking at your old RV, thinking about what to do about it? Well, how about you donate an RV to the homeless?

But wait, how do you donate an RV to the homeless? It can’t be as easy as just handing them the keys, right? Unfortunately, that’s right — a legal process is involved when donating and gifting something to somebody, which would provide ownership to the recipient of the gift, in this case, a homeless person, and protect them from any legal trouble. So, how do you donate an RV to the homeless?

You can donate an RV to the homeless by donating the vehicle to a non-profit charitable organization that supports homeless individuals and families. That way, the charity will ensure that they’re receiving the best possible care and services they need.

Donating your RV and committing an act of kindness shouldn’t be a complicated process, which is why we scoured the internet looking for information and charities that accept RVs and other vehicles as donations towards their cause. But what would the homeless-supporting charity do with an RV? Well, they can do plenty.

To present you with the best possible answer, we cross-referenced information gathered from various charity organizations that accept donation RVs to help you understand how to donate an RV to the homeless. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.

‍Donating an RV to the Homeless

Donating your RV is a fantastic way to help the homeless and those less fortunate. Admittedly, most charities will sell the RV to help fund their organization and, in turn, help their client get off the streets; some charitable organizations actually take the RVs and provide them as housing units for the homeless, provided that the RV is in good condition.

Why Donate an RV to the Homeless?

Well, besides making you feel good about helping someone get off the streets and out of the elements, donating your RV to charity can also provide a substantial tax deduction. It also saves you the hassle associated with selling an RV, such as posting online ads, showing the RV to potential buyers, and dealing with pesky inspections.

On the other hand, keeping an RV you’re not using often implies maintenance and continuing lot rent or storage fees for a vehicle that’s doing absolutely nothing else but deteriorating and taking up space on your property.

How to Donate an RV to the Homeless

There are several steps involved in donating an RV to the homeless or any charitable organization aiding the homeless.

Step 1: Preparations

You start the process of donating an RV to the homeless by collecting the necessary paperwork like the vehicle’s cleared Title and Registration. If it's been a while since you last saw those documents, your local Department of Motor Vehicles should be able to reissue you new documents based on the RVs vehicle identification number (VIN).

Afterward, most charities taking donations for the homeless will require you to fill out a donation form that confirms your intent to donate in writing. This is a pretty quick and straightforward process.

Step 2: Schedule a Pickup

Once you’ve confirmed your intent to donate your RV to the homeless, the charity will coordinate with you for your most convenient schedule for pickup. Donation coordinators will inquire about the vehicle’s information and decide when is the best time, date, and location for pickup. In most cases, they’ll send you an email with step-by-step directions.

It’s highly likely that the charity will hire a professional towing company to collect the RV. Depending on the charity and the towing company, the driver may call you ahead of their arrival, giving you time to prepare the necessary paperwork.

In addition, they’ll also issue you with a towing receipt, which releases you from all liability on your donated RV and allows you to de-register the vehicle and cancel its insurance coverage. That’s a fantastic and very beneficial way of having your old RV towed outside of your yard without spending a dime or even being physically present during pickup.

Step 3: Receive Tax Deductions

After you’ve donated your RV to the homeless, you’ll receive a 100% tax deduction equivalent to the RV’s appraised or sale value. RV donations to various non-profit charities are regulated by the IRS, and you’ll receive a tax write-off based on the RVs value. Just remember to save the receipt; you’ll need it when filing for a tax return in the next tax season.

What Type of RVs Can You Donate?

In most cases, charities aiding the homeless will accept all donated RVs, regardless of whether they’re in working condition or not. These include, but aren’t limited to:

• Travel Trailers
• Pop-up Trailers
• 5th Wheel Campers
• Teardrop Campers
• Class A Motorhomes
• Class B Motorhomes
• Class C Motorhomes
• Van Conversions
• Etc.

Many charities will take your donation, fix up the RV, and sell them either directly or at an auction. The proceeds will then be used for the needs of the charity and its mission, regardless of whether it be housing for people, medical care, or various services for veterans and children.

Suppose the donated RV is in working condition. In that case, the charity might provide it directly to a homeless person or a family, or it could be used as a transportation vehicle or a food truck. If the RV isn’t habitable and would require extensive repairs, it’s often taken apart and sold for parts — the proceeds of which, of course, are used for the charity and its mission.

Where Can You Donate?

The best possible approach is to contact the charity you want to support, either via telephone or email and arrange all the details. Here’s a list of charities that accepts RV donations:

Vehicles for Veterans — This organization supports veterans with disabilities in areas of health and wellness, employment, medical care, and housing. Numerous foundations have benefited veterans through this non-profit, which provides services to all veterans around the country. The organization accepts the majority of vehicles, offers free towing and paperwork processing, and provides a tax donation.

Wheels for Wishes — Donations made to Wheels for Wishes benefit various Make-A-Wish chapters around the US. When you contribute an RV, you may specify the Make-A-Wish chapter you want to support. The company picks up your RV and handles the processing of the papers. Even non-running vehicles can be donated, and the organization also benefits other veteran initiatives, hospitals, and children’s charities.

Goodwill — This is a well-known charity with locations all around the US, accepting RVs, cars, and other kinds of vehicles as donations. Just as previously mentioned charities, Goodwill also handles the pickup and paperwork. The camper that was donated is sold at auction, and the money raised goes to the Goodwill Car Donations groups in your neighborhood. With the aid of your donation, the organization can offer job training, educational opportunities, support for daily expenses, and other programs for those who are less fortunate.

Habitat for Humanity — This organization sells donated RVs in working condition and delivers those beyond repair to auto salvage yards for salvaging and recycling. It then puts the proceeds towards any number of its projects, which usually include assisting families in need by constructing or upgrading their homes.

Home on Wheels Alliance — HOWA’s goal is to prevent elders, low-income workers, disabled individuals, and others from experiencing true homelessness and living on the streets by providing them with vehicles in which to live rent-free. The majority of the donations are minivans, which are converted into housing for people, but the company also accepts RVs, cars, trucks, SUVs, and other sellable vehicles, including airplanes, as long as they are in good condition and have an engine.

Even though only a small number of these organizations actually offer a donated RV to homeless people, the majority of them work to prevent homelessness by teaching people new skills, managing their finances, and, most importantly, teaching them how to become independent. Donating an RV that you no longer require or desire will not only make you feel good, but it’s also a positive start toward assisting those in need.