When you donate a vehicle through Coal Valley Charity Cars in Wilkes-Barre, you’re making a truly local gift. Your car is picked up right at your home or workplace—whether you’re in Downtown Wilkes-Barre, Parsons, Miners Mills, South Wilkes-Barre, or up by Wilkes University or King’s College—and the proceeds support Heritage for the Blind’s mission serving people who are blind or visually impaired. That means your old car, truck, SUV, or van turns into help that starts in your own community and reaches people who need it most.
Here’s how it works: you schedule a free pickup, we send a local tow partner from the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre area, and they handle everything at your curb, driveway, or lot. We serve all around Wilkes-Barre—from Plains, Forty Fort, and Kingston across the river, to Mountain Top, Hanover Township, Nanticoke, and out toward Back Mountain communities like Dallas and Shavertown. In denser city streets we coordinate for tight parking; in rural parts of Luzerne County we plan routes to reach you reliably. You pay nothing, avoid the hassle of selling, and receive a tax receipt while helping Heritage for the Blind continue its work.
How to schedule your free local pickup
1. Tell us about your vehicle and location
Share your Wilkes-Barre area address and basic vehicle details online or by phone—make, model, year, and whether it runs. Let us know if you’re in city neighborhoods like Downtown or Parsons, or in suburbs like Kingston, Plains, or Mountain Top so we can match the right tow truck.
2. Choose a pickup day that works for you
We’ll offer available pickup windows based on where you live in the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre region and our local tow partner’s routes. City locations with easy access may be scheduled sooner; more rural spots in Luzerne County might need a bit of extra routing time.
3. Prepare keys, title, and parking access
Before pickup, clear personal items from the vehicle and have the Pennsylvania title ready. Make sure the car is parked where a tow truck can reach it—curbside, driveway, or accessible lot. If you have permit parking or a garage, tell us in advance so we can plan.
4. Meet the driver or leave papers in a safe spot
In many Wilkes-Barre pickups, you can sign the title and hand over keys to the driver. If you can’t be there, ask about leaving the signed title and keys in a secure, pre-agreed place so the local tow operator can complete pickup without you present.
5. We tow it free and handle the sale
Our local towing partner hauls your car at no cost to you. Coal Valley Charity Cars manages the sale, and the net proceeds support Heritage for the Blind’s programs for people who are blind or visually impaired, starting with impact in communities like Wilkes-Barre and Scranton.
6. Receive your donation tax receipt
After the vehicle is processed, you’ll receive a tax receipt. Most donors can claim at least up to a $500 deduction; for values above $500, you’ll receive the IRS Form 1098-C information you need. Consult your tax professional for guidance on your specific situation.
Local pickup gotchas
Tight Wilkes-Barre streets and alley parking
Tip: Downtown, Parsons, and older neighborhoods can be tough for a flatbed. If your car is in a tight alley, private lot, or stacked parking, let us know. We may ask you to move it to a street spot or open lot corner so the tow truck can safely reach it without blocking traffic.
Permit-only or HOA-controlled parking
Tip: If you live in an apartment complex in Kingston or a townhome community in Mountain Top or Hanover Township, towing can require gate codes or notice to your management office. Share any HOA rules, visitor pass needs, or time restrictions so our driver doesn’t risk tickets or being turned away.
Very rural Luzerne County or Back Mountain addresses
Tip: Homes outside the main Scranton–Wilkes-Barre corridor—such as Dallas, Shavertown, or more remote parts of the county—are fully covered, but routing those pickups can take a bit longer. Be flexible with your dates and give clear directions or landmarks to help the driver find you easily.
Missing or problematic Pennsylvania title
Tip: If your PA title is lost, in a different name, or has an old lien listed, it can slow things down. Tell us before scheduling pickup. We’ll walk through what the Pennsylvania DMV typically requires so you can resolve title issues and keep your donation on track.
If at-home pickup is tricky
If a standard at-home pickup is tricky—for example, your vehicle is in a tight garage Downtown, a small student lot near Wilkes University, or a steep driveway in the Back Mountain—we can often find another option. In some cases, a friend or family member can meet the tow truck where street access is easier, or you may be able to move the car to a nearby public lot for loading. If the vehicle is truly inaccessible, we’ll talk through your specific situation and suggest a realistic path forward while still supporting Heritage for the Blind.
Wilkes-Barre pickup coverage
Coal Valley Charity Cars serves the entire Wilkes-Barre and greater Scranton–Wilkes-Barre metro area, including neighborhoods like Miners Mills, South Wilkes-Barre, and Parsons, plus nearby communities such as Plains, Forty Fort, Kingston, Edwardsville, Nanticoke, Mountain Top, and Back Mountain towns like Dallas and Shavertown. City pickups may be scheduled more quickly; more distant rural addresses in Luzerne and surrounding counties may need extra routing time. For Pennsylvania, you’ll usually sign the PA title over to the charity and remove your plates; then you can return or transfer them per PennDOT guidance. We’ll let you know exactly what documents we need at pickup.