Do a 15-minute sweep before the tow truck leaves with your donated car. Remove the garage-door remote, toll transponder, parking permits, disability placards, insurance card, registration, glovebox papers, loose cash, chargers, sunglasses, child items, and anything in the trunk.
Then factory-reset the infotainment system. Clear Bluetooth pairings, HomeLink buttons, saved contacts, saved home address, and navigation history. Leave the keys and the signed-over title with the car.
Your pre-pickup checklist
Remove security items
Start with anything that opens a door or gate. Take out the garage-door remote, building fobs, gate cards, spare house keys, storage-unit keys, mailbox keys, and any hidden magnetic key box. Check the visor, ashtray, center console, cupholders, door pockets, and under the floor mats. If another driver used the car, ask them to check their usual hiding spots too.
Pull billing devices
Remove the toll transponder from the windshield, dash, or license-plate mount. Then log in to the toll account and remove this vehicle from the account so future charges do not attach to you. Pull parking permits, garage stickers, campus decals, workplace passes, and paid lot hangtags. Remove disability placards and any permit tied to you personally.
Clear glovebox documents
Take out your insurance card, registration, inspection paperwork kept for your records, repair receipts, loan papers, warranty papers, and anything with your name, address, policy number, or account number. Check the owner’s manual folder and every envelope in the glovebox. If you want service history to go with the vehicle, make a copy first and remove personal details.
Sweep cabin and trunk
Work front to back. Check under both front seats, between the seat and console, seat-back pockets, door bins, visor clips, the center console, rear cupholders, child-seat area, trunk side pockets, cargo cover, and spare-tire well. Look for cash, medication, tools, phone cables, glasses, keys, work badges, gym cards, and small electronics. Open every compartment before you stop.
Wipe saved electronics
Factory-reset the infotainment system if the screen works. Delete Bluetooth pairings, phone contacts, call history, text access, saved navigation points, saved home address, garage-door HomeLink buttons, Wi-Fi settings, app logins, and driver profiles. If you cannot find the reset option, delete each saved item manually. Remove any SD card, USB drive, or music device.
Remove optional add-ons
You may remove personal aftermarket items you installed, such as a dash cam, phone mount, upgraded stereo faceplate, removable speakers, seat covers, roof-rack accessories, and child seats. Keep the car intact and as-described. Do not remove required parts, safety equipment, catalytic converters, batteries, wheels, or anything that changes the vehicle from what you described to Green Wheels.
Leave keys and title
Put the keys with the car, including the ignition key, key fob, door key, wheel-lock key, and any remote needed to move it. Complete the title handoff as instructed for your title, then leave the signed-over title with the car. Do not pack the title in a box of personal papers or carry it away after the vehicle is ready.
Handle state-specific paperwork carefully
Most of this checklist is personal-property cleanup, not a legal transfer step. The legal handoff centers on a properly signed title and accurate donor information. If your vehicle has a lien, missing title, estate issue, name mismatch, or out-of-state title, rules can vary by situation. Check with the Vermont DMV before pickup if you are unsure which signature, replacement title, or supporting document applies. Use our License Plates After Donation guide. Use our Release of Liability After Donation guide.
Common questions
Should I leave the insurance card or registration in the car?
No. Remove your insurance card, registration, and any papers that show your name, address, policy number, account number, or loan information. The items that should stay with the car for donation handoff are the keys and the signed-over title.
What if I cannot factory-reset the infotainment system?
Delete what you can manually. Remove paired phones, contacts, call history, saved addresses, garage-door buttons, driver profiles, app logins, and Wi-Fi settings. If the screen is dead, remove any USB drive, SD card, or connected device and note that the reset could not be completed.
Can I remove my dash cam, child seat, or stereo?
Yes, if it is your personal removable equipment and removing it does not change the vehicle from what you described. Dash cams, child seats, phone mounts, and removable accessories are fine to take. Leave required parts and built-in equipment with the vehicle.
More donation prep guides
Your last job is simple: remove what belongs to you, erase what identifies you, and leave the donation paperwork that has to travel with the vehicle. Green Wheels uses your donated vehicle to benefit Heritage for the Blind (EIN 58-2164446). If you can point to the keys, the signed-over title, and an empty cabin, you are ready for free pickup. If a question comes up, contact Green Wheels and we will help you finish the donation.