NABC Recycled Rides® For Schools Frequently Asked Questions

    1. How do I get school administration to approve?
      You must talk to your administration about the program and get their approval. For some schools this step is easy. Some may require a longer approval process. The National Auto Body Council can help you if you need to provide additional information and background to secure the approval. The Administration Authorization Form must be signed before you can participate in the Recycled Rides for Schools program. Here are a few points you need to emphasize to your administration:
      • Title to car will be in the name of 800-Charity Cars. Car will NEVER be titled in school name or the name of the state/county/town.
      • The students will NOT be making significant structural repairs that would be liability concerns.
      • The school DOES need to supply liability coverage for each student working on the NABC Recycled Rides® vehicle, just as they would need to cover them during any such classroom and shop work efforts.
      • All vehicle recipients must sign a waiver and assumption of risk form that we provide.
      • Car is given to recipient who signs the paperwork that the vehicle is accepted “AS IS”, without any expressed or implied warrantees.
      • This is a terrific community service project which will reflect well on the school and the collision repair program.
      • This program will teach your students the importance of “giving back.”
    2. How do I get a salvage car donated?
      • Local insurance company contacts
      • Salvage facilities
      • Donations from faculty, staff and community
      • Program Advisory Council contacts
      • Car rental companies
      • Tow yards
      • Local collision repair facilities
      • Outright purchase
      • As a last resort, NABC Recycled Rides® Program Manager
    3. How do I select a vehicle?
      • Good mechanical condition
      • No major structural damage
      • Known title status
      • Automatic transmission (preferred)
      • Vehicle mileage less than 100,000 unless it can be shown to be in good condition
      • Valued less than $15,000
      • No engine damage
      • No deployed airbags
      • Recovered thefts ideal
        No more than 8-10 years old
      • Car repairs are within the abilities of your students
    4. How do I get parts donated?
      Person to Person: Your excitement about the program is contagious, and the value of the program is bound to tug at the heartstrings of anyone you solicit at a face-to-face meeting. This is really the best approach because it says that you are committed to the program and it gives you a chance to talk about your program and school as well. There is a description of the program available that you can use with vendors. You can also leverage business relationships and friendships. Pick up the phone and call vendors and other community members with whom you or your school already have an established relationship. Don’t forget to use your advisory board! Then, follow up with an email with the program details. A supplemental list of vendors will also be provided.
    5. How do I choose a non-profit?
      Each school selects a local charity they would like to work with. If needed, additional help may be obtained by contacting the NABC Recycled Rides® Program Manager. It is strongly recommended to select a 501(c)(3) charity. Select a charity that is eager to participate in the program and agrees to handle all of the criteria involving recipient selection. If you are having difficulty in identifying one, you many contact the NABC Recycled Rides® program manager for assistance.
    6. Who selects the recipient of the car?
      • The non-profit charity does the proper selection of a recipient
      • Non-profit ensures recipient meets criteria. The selected recipient must also complete additional paperwork that will be supplied by 800-Charity Cars, and they will also need to ensure that the recipient is qualified to meet the donation requirements i.e. valid driver’s license, income levels, ability to maintain, insure and register vehicle
      • Arranges for the recipient to be at the Ride-Away Day event (notifies employer, etc.)
      • Is responsible for communications to media outlets and requesting their presence at the event
      • Assists in co-managing and participating in the Ride-Away Day event
      • The recipient must be willing to sign the Release of Liability form as well as complete all the other necessary paperwork
    7. What criteria should be used to select the recipient?
      • Must have a valid driver’s license
      • Proof of income/employment
      • Does not own reliable transportation
      • Must be financially challenged so is unable to purchase a vehicle themselves
      • Must be able to support ongoing ownership of the car (insure, maintenance, taxes, licensing)
      • The charity may be the recipient if there is a need of a vehicle to continue their efforts within the community
    8. What are the liability issues?
      As a participant, you will find a sample “Release of Liability” form on the website. We recommend you review this document with your attorney and edit it as necessary to ensure it is suitable for your school’s circumstances. Have the vehicle recipient sign this release or your edited version, acknowledging they are accepting the vehicle “AS IS”, without any expressed or implied warranties.
    9. How much will this cost my school’s program?
      • NABC™ membership for all schools is $100.00
        and
      • The NABC Recycled Rides® presentation materials — big green bow, NABC™ banner (both reusable), license plate and key tags $110 + shipping (subject to change)
      • Any Parts NOT donated
      • Vehicle registration, titling and taxes optional — We highly recommend that recipient pays these fees, not school
      • Ride Away Event Expenses — -Food, drink, chairs, microphone, etc. Oftentimes additional school supporters or participating vendors may also wish to be involved in making this event special and will also help to offset some of the expenses.

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What started out as a casual conversation at our semi-annual advisory council meeting in the spring of 2011 brought us to the NABC Recycled Rides® program. We were brainstorming for ways that we could give the students more opportunities for hands on skill development on later model vehicles. Long story short, we had a kick-off meeting on September 21, 2011 with area vendors, technicians, shop owners, shop managers; students and Washburn Tech staff to find out if there was interest.

We repaired and gave our first vehicle away November 22, 2011. What we originally thought was going to be maybe one car a school year has snowballed. On December 3, 2019 we gifted our 28th vehicle. This has been a wonderful opportunity for our students that are helping with repairs that they would not be able to do during our normal school time. The repairs are done during evenings and weekends and we invite local shop managers, technicians, vendors, and insurance partners that work side by side with the students. This had led to job opportunities for some of the students. Graduating students have come back years later and worked on the vehicles. We have one volunteer who started here as a student and has volunteered on all 28 vehicles.

It has been a win-win opportunity for the campus, our students and our local businesses.
Eric Showalter
Washburn Tech

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