Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for all the answers. I decided to donate with Kars4Kids - super easy process.
I did call the Edison HS in MD but they no longer tow the car. I didn't want the headache.

You have to tow or drive it. Our insurance covers towing.

Anonymous wrote:My 2007 Ford broke down last week and today the mechanic tells me that he cannot fix it (he doesn't do engines) and doesn't recommend fixing it due to mileage and age of car.
I own the car outright.
He offered to junk it for me.

Is this a good way to proceed? What would you recommend? I am a single mom, know nothing about cars and would not be able to sell parts or something like that. But would it make sense to junk it myself, whatever that entails?

Thank you so much for any tips!

Get second opinion. What kind of a mechanic doesn't do engine and what makes you think your engine is totally busted? Have you been driving without changing oil or having oil??

The rules on donated vehicles have changed. I would read up on them before donating.

If it's junk, just sell it for a few hundred bucks and be done with it. It's worth more than zero.

1877 cars for kids,
donate your car today

Is donation something like tax fraud? They take a car worth $1000 (at best) and give you paperwork claiming it's writh $5000, which at a 40% tax rate is worth $2k.

Or does the IRS audit these orgs to make sure that their revenues from sales of junkers is roughly equal to the tax benefits they grant?

I hated my old beater so I donated it to a LEO who taught defensive driving. Hopefully people got some enjoyment out of driving it into other junk cars.

OP here - thanks for all the answers. I decided to donate with Kars4Kids - super easy process.
I did call the Edison HS in MD but they no longer tow the car. I didn't want the headache.

Anonymous wrote:My mechanic recommended trying to sell my inoperable car to Carmax.

There is apparently a huge market for used cars now due to covid driving up demand for private vehicles. Would probably have to tow it it there, though. I believe carvana, carmax’s rival, will come to you. Can get an estimate online and decide it is worth it to you.

We have had good luck with Carmax. If you can get it to move 1/10 of a mile it is considered operable. A friends car actually started a fire while they were evaluating it and they still gave him several thousand dollars.

My mechanic recommended trying to sell my inoperable car to Carmax.

There is apparently a huge market for used cars now due to covid driving up demand for private vehicles. Would probably have to tow it it there, though. I believe carvana, carmax’s rival, will come to you. Can get an estimate online and decide it is worth it to you.

Agree with pp’s. Get a second opinion if you’re attached to the car, or donate it.

If you’re in NoVA, these guys are really good and I have found them to be straight-forward and helpful. https://tomsautostop.com/

Or ask him specifically what happened with the engine (threw a rod? bad head gasket?) and call a few places to find out what the repair would cost. YOu didn't say how many miles on it but cars last a LOT longer now than they did 40 years ago. Places can put in a used/rebuilt engine as well to lower the cost. Otherwise I think the donation part makes sense. You don't get much return for junking and if you're paying for a tow to the junkyard you may end up with nothing out of it.

Can you get a second opinion? Your mechanic could be absolutely right, but this is why I ask: Years ago, a friend was on a road trip out of state and her engine overheated. AAA towed the car (expensive European make, only about 10y old) to a garage, and the mechanic told her it needed to be junked. After she took transit home, her dad got suspicious and looked into it (not sure how), and many months later, come to find out the mechanic had kept the car, the engine was not ruined, and he had been driving it for months. I think there may have been a P.I. or insurance investigation involved. In the end my friend got her car back. So it might not hurt to check! A 2007 car is not that old.

Donate it. Mcps has Edison vocational school. Have it towed. Easy.

By junking it yourself you might get a tax deduction. Call around, many charities would tow your car and provide paperwork. Not much but something to help with your taxes if you itemize.
If the car actually runs and you can make it there - locate the nearest junkyard and check if they would take it, you might get couple hundred bucks.
Or just leave it with your mechanic if he doesn't charge you for the disposal.
PS make sure you do the paperwork right, take plates with you, and don't cancel your insurance until you return plates to DMV (for MD, ymmv in other states)

My 2007 Ford broke down last week and today the mechanic tells me that he cannot fix it (he doesn't do engines) and doesn't recommend fixing it due to mileage and age of car.
I own the car outright.
He offered to junk it for me.

Is this a good way to proceed? What would you recommend? I am a single mom, know nothing about cars and would not be able to sell parts or something like that. But would it make sense to junk it myself, whatever that entails?

Thank you so much for any tips!