How Kidney Cars Works

kidney cars

Kidney Cars offers nationwide, year-round pick-up service. Simply call 1-800-488-CARS and give us information about your vehicle or click here to donate your car. On average, over 67% of the proceeds from Kidney Cars goes back to the NKF Affiliates to support patient and family services, education, and research of kidney disease. The national average for other vehicle donation programs is 40%.

Three requirements* are that:

  1. The vehicle must be whole.
  2. You must hold clear title to the vehicle.
  3. You must disclose structural damage (i.e., bent frame, rust, etc.)

*Although not required, for towing purposes inflated tires are preferred.

You will need the following information:

  1. The year, make and model of your vehicle.
  2. The approximate mileage and general condition of the vehicle.
  3. Your vehicle identification number (VIN). This 17-digit number can be found on your registration, your title and your insurance policy. It can also be found on your car, near the base of the windshield, usually on the left-hand side. Some older vehicles have the VIN number on the left-hand door post or the outer end of the driver's side door.

If you call in your donation, an NKF representative will answer any questions you might have about Kidney Cars program procedures. You will be asked some questions about the vehicle's location and condition to help in scheduling your free* pick-up. We accept nearly every vehicle offered to us and tow it free* of charge. However, we are sometimes unable to accept a vehicle for donation because of the amount it would bring, due to factors such as age, make or condition, would not offset the cost to tow and process it. In some locations, we are able to offset this potential loss by asking contributors to pay a small towing charge. When your car is accepted for donation, an NKF representative will mail you a packet with a self-addressed envelope in which to mail back the signed title to your vehicle, an odometer statement giving the exact mileage on your vehicle and other information to assist in better serving you.

Once the NKF receives your completed donor packet, we will contact you to schedule your free* tow. Your vehicle will then be sold at a dealers-only auction or to a licensed recycler. The Kidney Cars Program is fully licensed and insured and service providers meet all local and federal EPA requirements.

You will receive from the NKF a letter acknowledging your intent to donate and bearing the make, model and vehicle identification number on your vehicle.

* In some locations there may be a small towing charge.

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