Cartober is back, and that means it’s time to turn your vehicle into meaningful impact! Every October, Cartober highlights incredible nonprofits across the country that benefit from car donations. Whether your car runs or not, your donation can fuel critical programs in public media, veteran services, animal welfare, healthcare, and more.
This year, we’re proud to feature 12 incredible nonprofits whose missions are making a difference every day. Read on to learn more about how your car donation can support their work.
Meet the Nonprofits You Can Support This Cartober
DAV (Disabled American Veterans)
DAV empowers veterans by providing free rides to medical appointments, advocacy, and meaningful support for those who served our country. A car donation helps fund services that give back to the people who gave so much.
Canine Companions
For 50 year, Canine Companions has provided expertly trained service dogs to children, adults, and veterans with disabilities—free of charge. Your car donation helps bring independence and confidence to those in need of a four-legged partner.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California
When a child is sick, families need to stay together. RMHCSC offers housing and comfort near hospitals, helping families remain close and supported during medical treatment. Vehicle donations help them continue providing a home away from home.
KPBS
A trusted voice in San Diego, KPBS provides insightful news, cultural programming, and thoughtful conversation. Your vehicle donation helps power public media and ensures that fact-based journalism remains accessible to all.
National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation leads the fight against kidney disease with research, education, and patient support. When you donate your car, you help drive forward solutions for millions affected by kidney disease.
Cincinnati Public Radio
Cincinnati Public Radio delivers thoughtful journalism, music, and storytelling that brings communities together. Your donated vehicle can help them stay on the air and continue informing and inspiring listeners every day.
Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends envisions a no-kill nation—and they’re getting closer every year. Car donations help rescue pets from shelters and find them forever homes, while supporting programs that reduce animal homelessness across the U.S.
KOSU
Based in Oklahoma, KOSU is a reliable source for local news, NPR programming, and music discovery. Donating your vehicle helps this station remain strong and independent, delivering trusted content to its community.
The Salvation Army Western Territory
Serving communities across the western United States, The Salvation Army provides vital services including food assistance, shelter, disaster relief, and rehabilitation programs. Every vehicle donation supports their mission to meet human needs without discrimination, offering hope and help to individuals and families facing hardship.
Support The Salvation Army’s mission to serve those in need.
Georgia Public Broadcasting
As Georgia’s largest public media outlet, GPB connects millions of Georgians with trusted news, educational programming, and local storytelling. From classrooms to living rooms, GPB enriches lives across the state. Donating your vehicle helps ensure this vital service continues to inform, educate, and inspire.
Acupuncturists Without Borders
Acupuncturists Without Borders brings free, compassionate acupuncture treatments to communities affected by disaster, trauma, and poverty. Their programs help reduce stress, restore balance, and promote healing for individuals worldwide. By donating your vehicle, you help expand their reach and bring relief to those who need it most.
LAist
As Southern California’s nonprofit newsroom LAist delivers fact-based local journalism that informs, engages, and connects Angelenos. Covering the stories that matter most, LAist fosters civic engagement and deeper community understanding. Your vehicle donation helps sustain this trusted source for news and storytelling in Los Angeles.
Donate Your Car, Drive Change
Every vehicle donated this Cartober fuels meaningful change. Whether you're passionate about helping veterans, supporting animal rescue, funding public radio, or advancing healthcare, there's a nonprofit here that aligns with your values.
It’s easy to make a difference. The pick-up is free, most vehicles are accepted (running or not), and your gift supports vital work in communities across the country.
Ready to give back? Select one of these 12 nonprofits to donate your vehicle to or visit the Choose a Nonprofit page to find other participating organizations.