Why I donated my car to charity

So, you’ve just bought a shiny new car, and the old one is sitting idle in the driveway waiting to be sold. But the phone isn’t ringing.

You could drop the price and hang in there. You could strip it for parts. You could even take it to the wreckers. Or, like Kristen you could make a positive contribution to helping solve Australia’s youth homelessness crisis by donating it to charity.

Kids Under Cover is a not-for-profit organisation that has been working to prevent youth homelessness for more than 30 years, and a key element of its fundraising efforts is the unique Donate Your Car program.

It’s a fuss-free – and feel-good – way to re-purpose any unwanted vehicle, from cars and motorbikes to caravans, trucks, buses and even boats.

Under the program, Kids Under Cover will collect the vehicle from your home and re-sell it through Manheim Auctions, with all proceeds going towards its Scholarship and Studio programs.

The Scholarship program provides funding for disadvantaged young people aged between 12-25 to continue in education, while the Studio program builds one- or two-bedroom units in the backyards of a family or carer’s home to provide secure and stable accommodation for young people at risk of homelessness.

Kristen had used her Honda Jazz as a daily driver for more than 15 years, saying it was a reliable little “workhorse” and was impressed by the fact it could carry Ikea flatpacks in such a small car.

And, when she didn’t need it anymore, she couldn’t think of a better way to “help the community” than donate it to Kids Under Cover.

“I thought it was a really good thing to be able to help the young people who benefit from Kids Under Cover, especially when there is an increased need due to the difficulties COVID-19 has brought for families,” Kristen said.

“Preventing youth homelessness is important because everyone deserves the basic rights of having stability in their life and a place to call home. When young people have a place to call home it lets them focus on areas of their life and plan for the future,” she commented.

Kristen was surprised how simple and convenient the process was, with Kids Under Cover arranging to collect her Honda Jazz from her home.

“It was such an easy process. I’ve never gotten rid of a car before, so I was a bit nervous,” she commented.

Most importantly, she said it felt like the right thing to do.

“If you’re considering it, do it!” she said.

“You feel really good and are helping out in the community.”

It was a similar story for disability support worker Dugald when he donated his wife’s much-loved Nissan Pulsar to Kids Under Cover.

They had owned the car for more than a decade, and he said it played such a pivotal role throughout their life that he bought another one.

“We’ve taken it everywhere throughout our relationship, and it’s never failed us,” Dugald said.

“We loved it so much that I got one too and we had matching cars. We both work in disability and youth sector, so when we didn’t need it any more it made sense to donate it, rather than selling it.

“My wife sent me a link to the Donate Your Car program and I immediately thought it was the perfect solution.

“I was sad to see it go but we’re happy that it went to a good cause,” Dugald explained.

Kids Under Cover’s Donate Your Car program will accept vehicles with general wear and tear but without significant damage, such as smashed windscreens, major panel damage, mould or missing parts.

It can accept vehicles that are not currently running as long as the battery and engine are intact, and nothing has been removed from the vehicle.

All donations are eligible as a tax deduction with Kids Under Cover providing a receipt for the value of the vehicle after it has been sold.

For more information on Kids Under Cover’s Donate Your Car program visit kuc.org.au/donateyourcar