Certified Auto Appraiser · Donation appraisals
Car donation appraisals in Orange County
Giving a car to a cause you care about should feel good, not complicated. If you're claiming more than $5,000, I prepare the qualified appraisal the IRS generally requires, so your gift is documented properly.
From the field
A good gift, done right.
Some of the most rewarding work I do is helping someone give a car away. A collector donating a car to a museum, a family giving a well-kept classic to a school's auto program, or someone supporting a charity they've believed in for years.
What surprises people is the paperwork. When the deduction is more than $5,000, the IRS generally wants a qualified appraisal from a qualified appraiser, and the timing and details matter. I've been around cars for thirty years, and I take that part off your plate.
I inspect the car, research what comparable cars have sold for, and prepare a report you and your CPA can file with confidence.
Keep driving,
David
When you need one
- Claiming more than $5,000 for a donated car, reported on IRS Form 8283
- Donating a car the charity will keep and use, rather than sell
- Giving a collector or classic car to a museum, school or foundation
- Gifts of several cars to the same organization in one year
- Documenting the value of a car given to family, for gift tax purposes
What the report includes
- Fair market value as of the date of the gift
- An in-person inspection, with detailed photographs
- Condition, mileage, options, originality and documented history
- Comparable sales and how each one was adjusted to this car
- A signed certification, prepared in line with USPAP and the IRS's qualified-appraisal requirements
Independence
Timing matters
The IRS generally requires the appraisal to be made no earlier than 60 days before the donation, and received before your tax return is due. So it's best to call me as soon as you've decided to give. I'll work alongside your CPA and the charity, and my fee never depends on the value.
Questions
Good to know.
When do I need an appraisal to donate a car?
When you'll claim more than $5,000, the IRS generally requires a qualified appraisal. That's most common when the charity keeps and uses the car. If the charity sells it, your deduction is usually limited to what it sold for. Your CPA will confirm which applies to you.
What is a qualified appraisal?
An appraisal prepared by a qualified appraiser that meets the IRS's requirements for content, timing and independence. My reports are prepared in line with USPAP and those requirements.
How soon before the donation can the appraisal be done?
Generally no earlier than 60 days before the date of the gift, and it must be received before your return is due. Call me as soon as you've decided to give.
Do you sign Form 8283?
Yes. As the appraiser, I complete and sign the appraiser's declaration on Form 8283 Section B when it's required.
Can you appraise a classic or collector car for donation?
Yes, and that's where a proper appraisal matters most. Price guides rarely reflect what collector cars actually sell for.
Do you come to me?
Yes. I inspect cars in person throughout Orange County, from Newport Beach and Irvine to Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita.
Other appraisals
Request an appraisal
Tell me about the car, the organization you're giving it to, and when you plan to give. I'll reply personally.