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How Does RV Donation Work?

How Does RV Donation Work?

So, you’ve got an old RV that you need to get rid of, but you don’t want to deal with the hassle of selling it. Have you considered RV donation? If you want to stop paying storage fees on an RV that you don’t use or get a broken-down eyesore out of your driveway, consider donating your RV to a charity. 

In this article, we’ll look at the benefits of RV donation and how it works. Let’s get into it!

Why Consider RV Donation?

There are many reasons why you might want to donate your RV. From a stress-free experience to major tax breaks, here are some of the top benefits of RV donation. 

RV for donation
While an old RV may still be usable, it might be difficult to sell.

Less Hassle 

Let’s face it — it can be hard to sell an RV, especially if it’s old or in bad condition. But if you donate it, you won’t have to create an online listing or deal with people coming to your home to look at the camper. You can get your RV off your hands easy peasy.

Get a Tax Deduction

You can get a tax deduction by donating your RV to charity and donation centers. So, while you might not make any money on the donation, you will save on taxes. After you donate your RV, the organization will provide you with a receipt you can use to prove your donation at tax time. 

No Paperwork Worries

RV donation centers handle all the paperwork for you. From tax-deductible receipts to title transfers and more, you don’t have to worry about a thing. 

charity worker handling paperwork
RV donation centers will take care of the paperwork for you.

Environmentally Friendly

Do you have a run-down eyesore sitting around but not sure what to do with it? Donate it! Your RV will get a second chance at life rather than ending up in a landfill. Many RV donation centers will even pick up your RV for you, and if it’s not repairable, they will dispose of the parts in an environmentally safe way. 

Pro Tip: If your RV has been totaled in an accident or is in utter disrepair and not worth donating, consider selling it to an RV salvage yard.

Where Can You Donate Your RV?

A significant benefit of donating your RV is knowing you get to make a difference in others’ lives by supporting a charity of your choice.

Man donating RV to Camp Fire victims inspires others to give

Many organizations and charities accept RV donations. Examples include Wheels For Wishes benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Vehicles for Veterans, Goodwill, and Kars 4 Kids

You can also donate your RV to support local foundations like Habitat for Humanity, the Home on Wheels Alliance, and NPR. The ASPCA even accepts RV donations to support the care and rehoming of animals in need. 

How Are RV Donations Used? 

Depending on the condition of your RV, donation centers will use it in different ways. If your RV is in good working condition and you donate it to a housing organization, homeless individuals can use it as housing. 

Your RV might be turned into a transport vehicle, a food truck, or a car to deliver meals. If your RV is in non-working or non-habitable condition, they will clean it and take parts to sell to earn the most money possible for the charity. 

Broken-down RV
If the RV is not habitable, the charity will likely sell the parts and use the money to further their mission.

Charities use the money to support their cause, which may be housing people, providing medical care for humans or pets, providing services for veterans, bringing meals to the elderly, and more. 

Can You Donate an RV Without a Title?

According to Veteran Car Donations, “Most nonprofits will be glad to accept a donated vehicle regardless of its type, model, age, and condition. However, if it’s without a title, they’d be hesitant to accept such a donation.”

Some charities may still accept an RV donation without a title, but it won’t be of much use to them. If you don’t have the title, the organization can only part out and sell the vehicle for scrap parts. We recommend filing for a title before the RV donation process.

Broken-down Camper
It’s best to have the title in hand before donating your RV.

What Are The Disadvantages of RV Donation?

The primary disadvantage to donating your RV is that you won’t receive any money for doing so. Although the charity will typically deal with the hassle of paperwork and moving your rig, you won’t receive monetary compensation. 

Curious how much you could make if you sold your old RV instead of donating it? Find out here: How to Determine Used Camper Values

But, if your RV is old or broken-down, it may be near impossible to sell it. In this case, donating it will get it off your hands and help save you money on storage fees. 

Is Donating Your RV Worth It?

If supporting a charity of your choice while simultaneously getting rid of something you can no longer use or maintain sounds good to you, then yes, donating your RV is worth it! However, if you need cash or to pay off your RV loan, donating your RV might not be the best choice. 

Old RV
Donating an old RV is something you can feel good about!

If you’re considering donating your RV, have a look online at charities that accept vehicle donations. Even if they don’t explicitly state that they take RVs, they might if you ask. 

By choosing RV donation, you’re helping organizations, people, and animals in need, and that’s something you can feel good about.

Many RVs end up in a state of disrepair because buyers don’t factor in the cost of maintaining a camper before purchasing one. Avoid this mistake by learning the true cost of RV ownership here: How Much Does an RV Cost to Own and Maintain?

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About Mortons on the Move

Tom & Caitlin Morton of Mortons on the Move gave up the stationary life for one where they are constantly on the move. They are full-time travelers, television hosts, and digital media producers.
They left their jobs, sold their house and possessions, and hit the road in September 2015 in their full-time “home on wheels”. Since then they have traveled the US, Canada, and even internationally by RV.
Now, they are Discovery Channel & PBS TV Co-stars of “Go North” on Amazon Prime Video, co-founders and instructors of RV Masterclass, and contributing authors for Hwy.co and an Arizona travel guide.

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