DRIVE FOR LIFE. DONATE A VEHICLE.

The easy way to sell your vehicle and see the profits go to a great cause.

Do you have a used vehicle in your driveway you no longer want? Would you like it to be removed quickly and easily? Donate your vehicle to Slattery and the proceeds of the sale will go directly to The Salvation Army’s Drive for Life program.

Drive for Life is a driver training and mentoring program for young people overcoming adversity. We want to make positive changes in their lives and need your support!

Drive for Life believes all young people should have the opportunity to achieve their goals and reach their full potential. Having a driver’s licence is a key milestone in a young person’s life and helps them move towards independence. Being able to drive gives young people the choice and control necessary to realise their education, employment, and housing goals.

All vehicle donations are completely tax-deductible.

Please ensure your vehicle does not have an active recall or any finance owing prior to filling out the form.

5 Easy Steps to Donate Your Vehicle

Fill out our donation form
We will then contact you to confirm your details and arrange the pickup
Take off the number plates before your collection
A tow truck will be arranged to collect your vehicle and transfer to Slattery Auctions to be sold
A tax-deductible receipt will be sent within 10 weeks

If you think your vehicle has a current market value of over $5,000, you are eligible for a valuation by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Your tax-deductible receipt will then be based on the ATO valuation amount.

What Information is needed?

The contact information of the person organising collection of the vehicle ready, and the location of the vehicle ready to be provided.
The registration details of the vehicle ready – this includes the VIN if applicable to the vehicle (VEHICLE IDENTIFACTION NUMBER normally found on the windscreen of your vehicle)
The condition of the vehicle and upload photos of any damage that will effect the value. Include this in the form when submitting

All vehicles donated are sold unregistered and without roadworthy. We request that registration plates are removed and handed back to your transport authority no more than 2 days after the collection of your vehicle. All vehicles will be sold via public auction, any transferral of ownership is to be done with the advisement of your transport authority. The Salvation Army does not take on ownership of any donated vehicle and are not the new owner of the vehicle. Please read our terms and conditions.

Why Donate a Vehicle?

We accept vehicles, vans, motorbikes, trucks, buses, tractors, boats on trailers, and more. Slattery Auctions, in partnership with The Salvation Army, will put your vehicle up for auction. The proceeds from the sale will then go towards teaching young people experiencing adversity, how to drive.

The Drive for Life program primarily supports young people aged between 16-25 who are experiencing or have previously experienced:

  • No access to a vehicle or support from a parent
  • Limited or no formal education
  • Long term unemployment
  • Homelessness
  • Cultural barriers
  • Mental health issues
  • Physical disabilities
  • Alcohol and other drug (AOD) dependencies

Drive for Life is for young adults aged 16-25 years who want to get their driver licence and who are experiencing or have previously experienced:

  • Difficulty accessing a vehicle or licensed supervising driver
  • Long term unemployment
  • Numeracy/literacy constraints
  • Mental health illness
  • Physical disabilities.

What support might a young person receive?

LICENCE- LIFE SKILLS- EMPLOYMENT

  • Structured and professional driving instruction
  • Support from an experienced mentor to develop safe driving practices
  • Develop independent life skills in a safe and supportive environment
  • A pathway towards education or employment

Drive for Life is a learn-to-drive program with a difference. Not only do we support young people learn to drive; we improve wellbeing and confidence, connect communities through our mentoring program and provide a pathway towards a better future.

Your vehicle donation is 100% tax–deductible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of donations do you accept?
We accept any vehicles that are saleable. These include vans, motorbikes, vehicle, vans, trucks, buses, tractors, boats on trailers, and much more. Contact us to find out if we can accept your donation.
What areas does Donate Your Vehicle service?
We collect vehicles within metropolitan Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane. If your vehicle is located more than one hour’s drive from one of these areas, contact us to find out if we can collect from your location.
How long will the whole process take?
Once we have received your donation form, we will contact you within 3 business days to organise the collection of your vehicle. We then need to give our transport company at least 3 business days’ notice. All up, this process takes about one week.
If you require an urgent collection (as a result of a council notice, because you are moving overseas, etc.), please contact us after completing the form so we can organise an earlier date for you.
Do I need to be home for the collection of my vehicle?
No, you do not need to be present for collection. We can organise keys and other items to be collect from an agreed spot with the our towing providers when your donation is confirmed for the collection.
Who will collect my vehicle?
Transport is organised through our auction partner Slattery Auctions with trusted towing operators located throughout the country. A Slattery auctions representative will contact you and talk you through the entire process.
Will I receive any paperwork at collection?
To make the collection and donation process easy, you won’t receive any paperwork from the transport company when they arrive to collect your vehicle.
However, if you would like anything in writing for insurance purposes or otherwise, please contact us and we can confirm the delivery of your vehicle to site and/or provide you with a confirmation letter.
Once your vehicle has been sold, we will send you a tax-deductible receipt for the sale proceeds which have then been received by Salvation Army.
How much will my vehicle sell for?
All our donated vehicles are sold by Slattery’s experienced auctioneers at their public auctions. Please be aware that regardless of what you believe your vehicle might be worth, the vehicle is worth exactly what someone is prepared to pay for it at auction. This might be more than, equal to or less than you expect.
Will I receive a tax-deductible receipt?
Yes – all donated vehicles are tax deductible! You can expect to receive your tax-deductible receipt for the sale amount of the vehicle at auction within 8-12 weeks of submitting your donation. This will be sent via Australia Post unless otherwise specified.
The date on your receipt will be the date Salvation Army received the sale proceeds from your vehicle.
The tax-deductible receipt must be issued in the name of the last/current registered owner of the vehicle.
What is involved in the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) valuation process?
All vehicles valued by the ATO at a current market value of more than $5,000 are eligible for a tax deduction based on the ATO valuation. Below is the ATO valuation process:
  • Fill in our online donation form.
  • We will email you within 3 business days to discuss eligibility and attach specific paperwork to complete, as well as details about submitting the ATO application fee of $241 (also tax-deductible). Please fill in these forms and send them in the mail to Salvation Army.
  • We will arrange the collection of your vehicle, which will be stored at Slattery until it has been valued by the ATO. The ATO aims to have most valuations completed within a month.
  • Once we receive your hard copy forms, we will sign off on them and send them to the ATO on your behalf.
  • The ATO will value your vehicle and send you a Certificate of Valuation.
  • Once you have received your Certificate of Valuation, please scan us a copy so we can issue your tax-deductible receipt based on the ATO valuation amount.
** If the ATO value your vehicle at less than $5,000, you are not entitled to a tax deduction based on their valuation and they will not issue you a Certificate of Valuation. For more information about the valuation process please call the Not-for-profit department at the ATO on 1300 130 428 or click here for more info about tax-deductible gifts on the ATO website. **
You cannot receive an ATO valuation prior to deciding whether to proceed with the donation. The ATO only values already donated property.
What happens if my vehicle has finance owing?
Salvation Army cannot accept donated vehicles that still have finance owing. Please ensure your contract has been terminated prior to donating the vehicle.
In the event that a donated vehicle is found to have finance owing, you will be contacted by Salvation Army.
Can I donate an abandoned vehicle?
No – legally we are not able to accept abandoned vehicles. If there is an abandoned vehicle in your street, please call your local council.