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Laura Berry

Former Insurance Agent

Former Insurance Agent

Joshua Adamson

Joshua is a copywriter at Obrella who for more than 10 years has been creating content about insurance, health care, and more. He helps companies explain complex insurance subjects in simple ways so that customers can make smart buying decisions. He spends way too much time binge-watching Netflix, loves the outdoors and has a cat who tolerates him.

UPDATED: Mar 8, 2024

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Your Junk Car Could Make a Difference for These 25 California Charities

California Car Donation

As of 2013, there were more registered vehicles in California than adults. As the years pass, more and more of those vehicles become entirely inoperable and wind up balancing on cinder blocks in garages across The Golden State.

If you’re a Californian who has an old clunker that continues to dilapidate and — at this point — might as well be a part of your landscaping, it’s time to make a difference … it’s time to donate your junk car to charity. By giving away your vehicle, you can take part in miracles such as:

  • funding cancer research
  • helping a homeless veteran get back on their feet
  • placing a foster child in a stable home
  • funding cerebral palsy research

When you donate a car to a charity, you not only get a tax write-off, but you also won’t have to worry about the removal of the car. Most charities will send a tow truck to your home and take the vehicle away hassle-free.


Take a close look at these 25 awesome California-based car donation charities that accept car donations.
Click on one that aligns with your values and do something incredible with your pile of junk.

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Abilities United

Abilities United, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization for children and adults that have developmental disabilities and are living in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Abilities United, Inc. not only works to support people with disabilities, but also works to support their families and their community. They are working to foster a society in which all people are included and appreciated for their distinctive contributions.


Donate your vehicle to Abilities United

Learn more about Abilities United and donate your car, here.


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Aids Emergency Fund

The AIDS Emergency Fund provides immediate, short-term financial assistance to people disabled by HIV/AIDS. The financial aid that the AIDS Emergency Fund Provides is used to cover basic human needs and stabilize the living situations of individuals disabled by AIDS.

Learn more about Aids Emergency Fund and donate your car, here.

Read more: Why Choose Short-Term Life Insurance


The Alternative Healing Network

The Alternative Healing Network promotes the use of integrative healing arts and helps individuals gain improved access to ‘alternative’ health care in neighborhoods that are under-served. With a variety of community based events and services, the Alternative Healing network is working to help society realize the benefit of integrating ‘alternative’ medicine with Western medicine. The Alternative Healing Network hopes that after this is realized, ‘alternative’ medicine and Western medicine can be used together to help promote a healthy and happy society.

Donate vehicle to The Alternative Healing Network

Learn more about The Alternative Healing Network and donate your car, here.


America’s Baby Cancer Foundation

America’s Baby Cancer Foundation is working to raise awareness of baby cancer (birth to early childhood with a diagnoses of rare cancers), aid and educate families with children that have cancer, and to help fund the research on baby cancer.

Donate your vehicle to America's Baby Cancer Foundation

Learn more about America’s Baby Cancer Foundation and donate your car, here.


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Angel Interfaith Network

The Angel Interfaith Network works to meet the needs of hospital patients in L.A. County and within the USC Healthcare Network through the cooperative efforts of many different faith groups, community organizations, businesses, and individuals. With an emphasis on neighbor to neighbor support, the Angel Interfaith Network works hard to meet the unique physical and spiritual needs of patients and families.

Donate your vehicle to Angel Interfaith Network

Learn more about Angel Interfaith Network and donate your car, here.


Aquarium of the Pacific

The Aquarium of the Pacific has been working since 1998 to instil a “sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants and ecosystems”. This is not your average aquarium, with inspirational public lectures, engaging K-12 educational programs, and over 500 species of animals, the aquarium has become a community resource. By “adopting” an animal through donations, those that donate $1,000 or more can even experience an “Animal Encounter” at the aquarium.

Donate your vehicle to Aquarium of the Pacific

Learn more about the Aquarium of the Pacific and donate your car, here.


Angels Foster Family Network

Angels is working to transform the world of foster care for those children that have been abused and neglected as infants and toddlers. Angels works to find foster parents that are qualified to provide consistent love and care to one child or one sibling set. With these early years being integral to a child’s success, Angels wants every child to be able to attach to a primary parent figure.

Donate your vehicle to Angles Foster Family Network

Learn more about Angels Foster Family Network and donate your car, here.


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Arts for LA

Arts for LA has been working to foster an environment in which arts and culture can thrive and
be accessible to every individual in Los Angeles County. Eventually, Arts for LA hopes that the government, education system, businesses, and residents of LA are all able to support and fully integrate the arts into the fabric of civic life.

Donate your vehicle to Arts for LA

Learn more about Arts for LA and donate your car, here.


Assistance League of Redlands

The Assistance League of Redlands was started in 1931 when a group of women came together wanting to improve the lives of those in the Redlands community. Working one child and one family at a time, the Assistance League of Redlands is still working to improve the Redlands community. With a Thrift Shop, Philanthropic Center, and Dental Center, the Assistance League of Redlands is dedicated to making a difference within the community.

Donate your vehicle to Assistance League of Redlans

Learn more about the Assistance League of Redlands and learn how to donate your car, here.


Autism Research Institute

The Autism Research Institute has maintained that Autism is a treatable disease since 1967. ARI continues to pioneer in research, outreach, and cooperative efforts with other organizations worldwide. ARI works hard to advocate for the rights of people with Autism, and operates without any funding from special-interest groups.

Donate your vehicle to Autism Research Institute

Learn more about Autism Research Institute, here.


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Berkeley Rep

Berkeley Reperatory Theatre is a theatre that has been working to set a national standard for ambitious programming, engagement with audiences, and leadership within communities. Berkeley Repertory Theatre values imagination and excellence above all else and has welcomed emerging and established artists since 1968. Boasting two stages, a school, and even a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, Berkeley Rep consistently features exhilarating new plays.r

Donate your vehicle to Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Learn more about Berkeley Rep and donate your car, here.


Butte Humane Society

The Butte Humane Society has been working since 1911 to bring humanitarian care to dogs, cats, and other animals. As one of the oldest non-profit agencies in Butte County California, the Butte Humane Society has always done all that it can to save lives of animals, find homes for animals, and inspire compassion within the community.

Donate your vehicle to Butte Humane Society

Learn more about Butte Humane Society and donate your car, here.


California Veterans Assistance Foundation

The California Veterans Assistance Foundation works improve the life of veterans in California. It is estimated that there are over one million homeless veterans in California and the California Veterans Assistance Foundation will use 100% of your donation to help veterans that desperately need it.

Donate your vehicle to California Veterans Assistance Foundation

Learn more about the California Veterans Assistance Foundation, here.


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Catholic Charities of Orange County

Catholic Charities of Orange County works to serve people in need, strengthen families, strengthen the community, support parish ministries, and extend God’s love to all. Promoting self-reliance and optimism within families and working to promote community well-being, Catholic Charities of Orange County has helped many people within the Orange County community.

Donate your vehicle to Catholic Charities of Orange County

Learn more about Catholic Charities of Orange County, here.


Chabad of Poway

Chabad is an acronym for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. The Chabad of Poway works to bring the Torah and its teachings to all levels of understanding. Caring for every single Jew that it can, regardless of background, levels of practice, or knowledge of Judaism, the Chabad of Poway is abundant with love and rich in Jewish culture and spirit.

Donate your vehicle to Chabad of Poway

Learn more about Chabad of Poway, here.


Children’s Montessori School

The Children’s Montessori School was established in 1981 and has been providing an enriched educational environment for Children ages 2 through 15 years ever since they opened their door. The Children’s Montessori School works to help each child become an independent, confident, self-motivated, and contributing member of their community and the world.

Donate your vehicle to the Children's Montessori School

Learn more about the Children’s Montessori School, here.


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Donate Life California Organ & Tissue Donor Registry

Donate Life California is the state-authorized nonprofit organization that is responsible for managing the organ, eye, and tissue registry. Donate Life California is working to save lives by inspiring people to sign up with the state organ, eye, and tissue donor registry, in hopes that eventually all Californians will view organ, eye, and tissue donation as their personal responsibility.

Donate your vehicle to Donate Life California

Learn more about Donate Life California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry and donate your car, here.


Edgewood Center for Children and Families

Edgewood Center for Children and Families serves thousands of children, youth, and families that have experienced traumatic stress leading to learning disabilities, mental illness, and debilitating behavioral issues. Providing treatment and prevention programs, the Edgewood Center for Children works to help children and families overcome the challenges they are facing and transform their lives.

Donate Your Vehicle to Edgewood Center for Children and Families

Learn more about the Edgewood Center for Children and Families, here.


Golden Heart Ranch

Golden Heart Ranch is a residential community where special needs young adults can live, learn, and work side-by-side and in a harmonious and caring environment that is emotionally and physically safe. With many special needs adults not being able to live on their own, Golden Heart Ranch provides independence for these adults while still providing the appropriate level of supervision. Golden Heart Ranch provides residents with the opportunity to go on field trips, go through job training, develop life skills, be a part of a community, learn social skills, learn computer program skills, and even participate in health and hygiene classes.

Donate your vehicle to Golden Heart Ranch

Learn more about Golden Heart Ranch, here.


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Guide Dogs for the Blind

Since 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) has empowered lives by creating exceptional partnerships between people, dogs and communities. GDB is the largest Guide Dog school in the country and is dedicated to providing high quality student training services and extensive follow-up support for graduates. GBD’s success relies on the teamwork of staff, volunteers and generous donors. Services are provided to students from the United States and Canada at no cost to them.

Donate you vehicle to Guide Dogs for the Blind

Learn more about Guide Dogs for the Blind, here.


LifeLong Medical Care

LifeLong Medical Care provides high-quality health and social services to underserved people of all ages. LifeLong Medical Care also works to create models of care for the elderly, for people with disabilities, and for families. LifeLong Medical Care has also been advocating for improvements in the health of the Berkeley Community for over 35 years. (For more information, read our “Creating A Quality Life For Your Elderly Or Disabled Pet“).

Donate your vehicle to LifeLong Medical Care

Learn more about Lifelong Medical Care and donate your car, here.


Los Angeles Police Foundation

The Los Angeles Police Foundation was formed in 1998 and has been working to prevent crimes, save lives, and make the Los Angeles community a better and safer place to live and work by assisting the LAPD with resources that they are not able to get from the city. The Los Angeles Police Foundation funds urgently needed programs and equipment for the LAPD. Since 1998 over $20 million in grants has been awarded to the LAPD as a result of the Los Angeles Police Foundation.

Donate your vehicle to Los Angeles Police Foundation

Learn more about the Los Angeles Police Foundation and donate your car, here.


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Susan G. Komen for the Cure, San Diego

For every dollar that Susan G. Komen for the Cure, San Diego raises, 75 cents stays in the San Diego community. These funds help provide free mammograms, surgery, child care, temporary financial aid, and even meal delivery for those affected by breast cancer. This San Diego County Affiliate has been operating for almost twenty years and during this time they have helped tens of thousands of people in San Diego County. Komen in San Diego works tirelessly to ensure that all women have access to breast health services.

Donate a Junk Car to Susan G. Komen

Learn more about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, San Diego and donate your car, here.

United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles

United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles was founded in 1945 and has become the largest nonprofit direct care provider of services in Southern California for persons with cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental disabilities. UCP serves over 1,100 children and adults a day and works with each of them to advance their independence, productivity, and full citizenship.

Donate your vehicle to United Cerebral Palsy Foundation

Learn more about United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles and donate your car, here.


Voices for Children

Voices for Children is a private, nonprofit organization that has recruited, trained, and supervised thousands of court appointed special advocates who advocate for the rights and well-being of the more than 5,000 children that pass through foster care in San Diego County on an annual basis. Voices for Children is the only agency in San Diego County that has been designated by the courts to provide CASA volunteers. Voices for Children works hard to serve every child and provide a court appointed special advocate to every foster child that needs one.

Donate your vehicle to Voices for Children

Learn more about Voices for Children and donate your car, here.



Contact any one of these charities to donate your car today! They will be happy to take your old car off of your hands and you won’t ever have to deal with it again.

Did we miss a charity that’s particularly close to your heart? Do you want to share your vehicle donation experience with us? Use the comments section below to share your thoughts.

Images courtesy of facebook.com and respective non-profit websites.

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