Donate your car in Louisiana by 11:59 p.m. on December 31 and you lock in a potential 2024 tax deduction. With Bayou Rides Exchange, vehicles that sell for over $500 qualify for an IRS Form 1098-C showing the exact gross sale price—that sale price (not Kelley Blue Book) is the maximum you may deduct when you itemize on Schedule A. Vehicles that sell for $500 or less use a simple written acknowledgment, and you may generally deduct up to $500 or your car’s fair market value, whichever is lower. We mail your acknowledgment or 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. You keep your pickup confirmation as proof of your donation date.
We’re set up for Louisiana donors—whether your car is in New Orleans (Lakeview, Gentilly, Algiers), Baton Rouge (Mid City, Shenandoah, Gardere), Shreveport-Bossier, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, Alexandria, the Northshore (Slidell, Mandeville, Covington), or out in Acadiana and the River Parishes. Non-running cars are welcome; no inspection or repairs needed. The online form takes about two minutes, dispatch runs Monday through Saturday in most areas, and pickup is always free. Proceeds support Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) serving people who are blind or visually impaired. Consult your tax professional about your specific situation, then schedule your Louisiana pickup today.
Your year-end donation timeline
Beat the December 31 IRS cut-off
2 minutesSubmit our secure online form or call to lock in your Louisiana donation date before 11:59 p.m. December 31. The donation date—not the later sale date—is what determines which tax year you may claim the deduction in.
Confirm your free Louisiana pickup
5 minutesOur team calls to verify your car’s location—whether it’s in Metairie, Prairieville, Lake Charles, or anywhere in Louisiana—and schedule a free tow. Most pickups are available Monday–Saturday. Non-running, damaged, or old vehicles are welcome.
Sign over the title at pickup
10 minutesWhen the tow truck arrives, you sign the title and hand over the keys if you have them. You’ll get a pickup confirmation or towing receipt—keep this as proof of the date you donated the vehicle for your tax records.
We sell the vehicle and report the price
Varies by marketBayou Rides Exchange handles the sale at auction or through a buyer. For vehicles that sell above $500, your deduction limit is the gross sale price. For those at $500 or below, special $500-or-FMV rules apply under IRS guidelines.
Receive your IRS tax paperwork
Within 30 days of saleWithin 30 days of the sale, we mail you either IRS Form 1098-C (if the vehicle sold for more than $500) or a written acknowledgment (for $500 or under). Use this, plus your pickup confirmation, when you itemize on Schedule A.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals sale price over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your deduction to the actual gross sale price—not the Kelley Blue Book value. That exact amount appears on your Form 1098-C from Bayou Rides Exchange.
Special rule for $500-or-under vehicles
If your vehicle sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098-C. In many cases, you can deduct up to $500 or your car’s fair market value, whichever is lower, subject to IRS rules.
Form 1098-C mailed within 30 days
For vehicles that sell above $500, we issue IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days after the sale and mail it to you. Attach it to your return if required and keep it with your records in case the IRS requests documentation.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car donation tax deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal return. If you take the standard deduction, you cannot add an additional deduction for your donated vehicle.
Dec 31 donation counts for this tax year
The key date is when you donate, not when we sell. As long as you complete the donation and transfer ownership by December 31, your Louisiana car donation may be claimed on that tax year’s return, even if the sale happens later.