NABC Recycled Rides® for Vehicle Donors
NABC Recycled Rides® is very grateful to our vehicle donors who make this program possible. We work with a number of organizations to source vehicles for the program including:
- Insurance total loss or theft recovery vehicles — many major insurers are committed to helping with NABC Recycled Rides® program
- Car rental companies
- Collision repair customers, community members and private individuals
- Abandoned vehicles on repair shop lots
- Automotive recyclers or tow yards
- Outright purchase
What Are the Criteria for the Ideal NABC Recycled Rides® Vehicle?
The most common type of donated vehicle is a five-passenger sedan or SUV. Larger vehicles can be found, but less frequently. Vehicle criteria include:
- Automatic transmission
- Preferably no more than eight years old
- Should be between $18,000 to $20,000 in value once completed, unless the vehicle being donated to a charitable organization rather an individual or family
- No major structural damage (ie: frame rails) or airbag deployment
- No flood damage
- Avoid luxury and specialty vehicles (e.g. Cadillacs, Corvettes)
- Vehicle mileage less than 100,000 (but could be higher if in great condition)
- No mechanical damage (unless there is a mechanical shop that is donating labor)
- Valid title – clear title preferred but rebuilt or salvage titles are acceptable
- Pre-scanning vehicle will verify no hidden computer or ADAS issues – NABC® member asTech offers free scanning services on asTech equipment for NABC® members
- Recovered thefts make ideal vehicles
Please note: Some states require collision shops to have a Rebuilder’s License to repair vehicles with a salvage title. Four states that are known to have this requirement are: Alabama, Hawaii, Illinois and Rhode Island.
Accepting the Vehicle
Collision repair facilities have the right of refusal for any vehicle offered to them even if it is already at their shop. Once again, pre-scanning when the vehicle arrives is helpful to determine if it is a suitable vehicle. As a NABC® member, AsTech provides free scanning services for NABC Recycled Rides® projects. Also, have the vehicle inspected mechanically before you accept it and begin work.
For additional information, please contact Dale Ross, NABC Recycled Rides® Program Manager at dross@nationalautobodycouncil.org
Click below to get started Changing and Saving Lives Every Day in your community.
GEICO has been involved with the NABC Recycled Rides® program for over a decade, and a lot of great relationships have been built over the years. During that time, we have seen that our involvement in the program extends beyond helping individual families in need. The vehicles that we donate to the program are not only changing the lives of those who receive the vehicles, but are also impacting communities. Those who have been nominated by various non-profits to receive vehicles are often already paying it forward by volunteering in the their communities, and now they can do even more with their vehicles. It humbles me to be a part of this great program, and I’m ecstatic that GEICO is on pace to donate 200 cars this year.
"The partnership of matching families that have a refurbished future with these amazing vehicles that have been refurbished by local body shops is one of the best programs we have ever engaged in at Family Promise of Las Vegas. More than 80 Las Vegas families have benefited from this partnership since 2009 - There are no words to describe how life changing the NABC Recycled Rides® program is to our families."
