This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission. Thanks.
Having your own vehicle is very crucial, especially if your area is inaccessible to public transport. It can help you to get around important places, like work, take kids to school, and medical appointments. However, is there a way to get a vehicle from a dealership without a down payment? And if without money, where can I get a donated car for free?
The answer to the first question is a YES, there are car dealerships with no credit check and no down payment required. What the dealerships do is distribute your car cost into small monthly payments you can afford.
If on a low income (or government assistance), the small payments with a dealership may be difficult to manage. But, fortunately, you can now get a free car from vehicle donation programs here in the US.
About the Free Cars Donations Programs
It has become very common to come across ads offering free stuff online. The most common offers are free phones from the government or carriers with BOGO and switcher dealers. You’ll also find retailers that give gifts when you purchase certain products.
Unfortunately, cars are expensive to purchase, whether brand-new or pre-owned. I mean, a decent pre-owned car can cost you about $3,000 or $2,000 for a dealer looking for some quick cash. So, it’s a natural reaction to be skeptical when you see a page claiming to offer a free car.
Of course, many free car offers online are often not legitimate. The owners (of the ads) may be just trying to trick you into visiting their pages or stealing your data.
Conversely, we still have some real organizations that give free cars. In all the cases I’ve seen, these private organizations have registered with the government as charitable/ non-profit under 501 (C) (3) tax exemptions.
As charitable organizations, the free cars charity programs get vehicles to give away through donations from well-wishers. Most of the donated cars are older models, which the previous owners no longer use.
The vehicle charity programs I’ve gone through usually accept any type of car. After receiving the car, the program organizers inspect it to make sure it meets the appropriate quality standard. In case of minor issues, the team will repair the vehicle to make it road-worthy.
At times, vehicle charity organizations can get monetary support from private donors and corporations. Then, they use the funds to buy new cars to give their applicants.
How to Qualify for a Donated Car for Free
Like other assistance causes, the free car donation programs aim to help struggling families- in this case, afford their own car. The programs are only available to low-income individuals and families. So, be ready to share why you can’t buy a car on your own, which may include showing your income amount.
When enrolling for the free car, the organization you’re using will have a section to explain your situation. Explain exactly why you need a car to increase your chances of qualifying.
Are you on a government assistance program for food, housing, medical, monetary, or any other? You can also apply for a free car from either of the vehicle donation organizations.
Nonetheless, these government assistance programs determine eligibility by the amount of resources/ things owned. A car, whether given for free or purchased yourself, will increase your resource level.
So, before you apply to get the free donated vehicle, make sure you’ll still be eligible for government aid. Check out the terms and policies of the assistance benefit you’re on as the cap of the resources usually varies.
Where Can I Get a Donated Car for Free?
Technically, the best place to get a donated car for free is to apply with a legitimate vehicle charity organization.
After hours of extensive research, I’ve been able to put together eight programs where you can get a donated car. They include:
Good News Garage
Good News Garage (GNG) is one of the best vehicle charity organizations where you can get a donated car for free. The organization gives out free vehicles to low-income families in New England, something they have been doing since 1996.
Good News Garage offers free cars through a program called Wheels to Work (WTW). The program is available to all struggling US citizens, including civilian families, DA survivors, plus active military and veterans.
To date, Good News Garage has given away over 5,500 cars. That would mean they often hand out 200+ free cars to new families every year. To apply for one of the donated cars, you’ll need to contact the case manager of the WTW program in your area.
The WTW program is currently active in only Vermont and Massachusetts (New Hampshire is unavailable for now).
However, the team at Good News Garage still holds onto their mission to expand their services to more families.
Cars 4 Heroes
Cars 4 Heroes (C4H) is the second private organization where you can get a donated car for free. The organization is also not new at this, as they have been helping fill the transportation gap since the 90s.
At first, Cars 4 Heroes only gave free cars to active-duty military, veterans, and their families. But recently, the vehicle charity program has added a section where first responders and normal civilians can also apply for a car.
At this point, Cars 4 Heroes hands out over 300 cars to new owners every year. So, even when they receive thousands of applications, your chances of qualifying are high. Just explain your struggles and how having your own wheels can be of assistance.
800-Charity Cars
800-Charity Cars is another vehicle charity program where you can get a free car. The program, which is under Charity Cars, Inc., has also been supporting low-income families since ‘96. So, it’s not a sham like many upcoming “free cars donation programs” advertised online.
In fact, 800-Charity Cars have given away over 9000 free cars so far- an equivalent of 300 cars per year. The best part, the program is available to military/ veterans and civilians, across all the US states.
That said, 800-Charity Cars don’t give the donated cars directly. You’ll have to apply at freecharitycars.org.
Giving Center
Giving Center is an extensive non-profit program that’s dedicated to helping struggling individuals and families get basic needs. However, they don’t just help with meals, clothing, shelter, and education as with most 501(C) (3) charitable organizations.
If in need of transportation, Giving Center also receives donations of cars and vans that they give away to eligible candidates. The profile of the charity program even shows they receive trucks, RV/ campers, and motorcycles. So, your story will determine the kind of vehicle you’ll get.
Another thing worth mentioning is that Giving Center is not only limited to the immediate individuals/ families in need. If you’re a case officer, you can apply on behalf of someone you know who needs a car.
With Causes Charitable Network
If no luck getting a car from the four above, you can check out With Causes Charitable Network. The charity program is more of an extension of Giving Center.
Nonetheless, With Causes seems to focus more on the assistance of equipment, including computers and cars. The aid is available to low-income civilian families, DA survivors, plus military/ veteran and their families.
Once you’ve applied for a free car, With Causes will review the application alongside the thousands others received. If your story convinces the review board, they will check their inventory to see the kind of car they have. Then, they will call you for the details to proceed forward.
Online Car Donation
Online Car Donation is another extension of Giving Center and With Causes charitable network. But it has its own page you can enroll to get a donated car for free. Its page has also noted in bold that it “uses 100%” of the donations to support the families in need with no middleman involved.
Like the other two, the vehicle donations Online Car Donation receives come in various types. That includes cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, and even boats and construction equipment.
The organization often sells most of these “industrial vehicles” and uses the proceeds to their causes. But as I mentioned earlier, you should share your story the way it is as onlinecardonation.org may be able to help.
Wheels 4 Hope
Wheels 4 Hope is yet another 501(C)(3) charitable organization registered with the government. As its name, the charity organization gives away donated vehicles to families unable to afford the wheels on their own.
Wheels 4 Hope has been awarding vehicles to struggling since 2000, so you don’t have to worry about getting deceived. The only drawback is that the donated vehicles are only available to the residents of North Carolina currently.
It’s also worth mentioning Wheels 4 Hope doesn’t give you the donated cars for absolutely FREE. Once approved for the program, you’ll need to pay $500 for the vehicle, plus the fees of NC DMV title transfer and taxes.
Vehicles for Change
Last but not least, you can get a donated car with Vehicles for Change (VFG). The vehicle charity program has been helping struggling families afford vehicles for over two decades.
At the time of writing, Vehicles for Change claims to have given away 6,900 donated cars to new families. That’s the equivalent of over 200 cars per year.
To qualify for a car from Vehicles for Change, you must be living in Marland or North Virginia. Eligibility also depends on your income level, which the organization states to start from $22,000.
Also, the donated car the charity program gives you is not free. If approved, you’ll need to pay $950 or about $90 per month. You’ll also be responsible for the fees to cover taxes, tags, and title transfers.
Get a Donated Car for Free from Family/ Friend
In a nutshell, the eight are the best charity programs where you can get a donated car I could find. There are a few others I came across, but didn’t see the need to include them as they’re middlemen.
The vehicle charity programs I’ve listed here have agencies where well-wishers can donate their vehicles and financial support. Then, they also have an online page to apply for a free or discounted car.
However, you should keep in mind these charity organizations receive thousands of applications. Most of them can only give away about 300 cars in a year to new owners. So, there is a possibility you’ll qualify for the program or not.
If ineligible for the vehicle charity program, you can get a donated car from a family member, friend, or neighbor. Some churches also have private charities to help support their struggling congregation.