Donate your car to charity

The 'Donate Your Car' program was set up in 2006 by the Kids Under Cover organisation and is now extending its reach beyond Victoria to go national.

Around 900 cars have already been donated, raising around $500,000 for Kids Under Cover, a charity whose goal is to reduce youth homelessness and help at-risk youngsters, people aged 12 to 25.

The idea is simple - if you've got a car you don't need, donate it and 100 per cent of the proceeds go to the charity, which builds homes, offers scholarships and mentorships for homeless youths.

The cars are auctioned off by Manheim to the highest bidder and the program helps those who are most in need says Jo Swift, Kids Under Cover National CEO.

"For these young people their state of homelessness or risk of homelessness has not been the result of choice.

"Our solution is to build homes and provide scholarships and mentors to help these young people to create a stable and healthy home environment; connect or reconnect with their education; and stay engaged with their community," explained Ms Swift.

"With this support they are able to build a brighter future for themselves,” she said of the highly successful car donation program.

If you have a vehicle you don't want or need - and this extends to motorcycles, trucks, trailers, even caravans and boats - you simply register the vehicle at donateyourcar.org.au and the company organises for the car to be collected within four business days.

Even car dealerships can donate (and are eligible for a tax deduction).

The Kids Under Cover organisation says that Manheim is an integral partner in the program, taking care of all the logistics involved in selling the cars, of which it auctions up to 40 cars per meeting.

Kids Under Cover has also announced that its mascot, Bernie - a restored VW Beetle - will be conducting a national tour until March 2013. Hyundai has donated a funky Hyundai i20 which will join Bernie and has been painted by two of Australia's top graffiti artists, Numskull and Beastman.

To see which cars are up for auction, or to donate a car, check out donateyourcar.org.au or call 1800 801 633.