What does the Utah Kidney Foundation Do With My Car Donation?

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Q: Where does my car donation go? Who does it help?

A: Money raised in Utah/Idaho stays here to help Utah &Idaho kidney dialysis and transplant patients.

When you donate locally to Kidney Kars, proceeds stay local to support the National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho’s work:

  • Help kidney patients facing financial hardships
  • Help kidney patients qualify for the transplant waiting list
  • Provide health education and kidney disease prevention
  • Support local kidney disease research
  • Promote organ donation and transplantation
  • Provide financial support and human services to Utah and Idaho kidney patients and their families

Your car can do even more than get you a tax deduction. Your car donation saves lives in Utah and Idaho.

 

Utah Kidney Kars Frequently Asked Questions!

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Kidney Kars Quick FAQs!

Tax Benefits of Donating a Car | TowKars.org

Q: How does vehicle pickup work?

A: The towing company texts/calls the same day to set up a 3-hour pickup window for the following day. You don’t need to be with the car when it’s picked it up. You can leave the keys and title (signed over to the National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho) inside of the vehicle prior to the 3 hour pick up window.

Q: How fast will my vehicle be picked up?

A: Most are picked up 24–48 hours after your donation. But it does depend on you communicating with the towing company to set the appointment!

Q: What vehicles can I donate?

A: We take cars, trucks, motorhomes, boats and more! Vehicles must have a clear title, all tires and the engine/ transmission (even if they don’t work!)

Q: Where does the money go?

A: 87¢ of every dollar raised goes to Utah and Idaho kidney patients, local medical research and local organ donation efforts.

Q: Do I get a tax deduction?

A: Yes! If you itemize you can claim up to $499, or if your vehicle sells for more, you can claim the donation’s actual selling price.

Great Salt Lake Truck Show Supports Utah Kidney Patients Through Community, Compassion, and Trucking

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Many people know the Great Salt Lake Truck Show as an exciting celebration of professional trucking, impressive rigs, and the people who keep America moving. What many people do not realize is that this annual event has a much deeper mission: supporting Utah families affected by kidney disease.

For more than 36 years, the Great Salt Lake Truck Show has partnered with the National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho to raise funds, awareness, and hope for kidney patients and their families.

The Story Behind the Great Salt Lake Truck Show and Kidney Foundation Partnership

The connection between the trucking community and kidney disease began with the England family of C.R. England Trucking and Pride Transport.

The England family experienced firsthand the challenges of kidney disease when their son and brother, Rodney England, battled diabetes and kidney failure. Through their close relationship with Rodney and their understanding of what families face when a loved one is living with kidney disease, the England family wanted to create an opportunity to help others.

They transformed a yearly truck show into something much bigger — a way for the trucking industry to show its compassion and generosity while raising critical funds for Utah kidney patients and their families.

For 36 years, the Great Salt Lake Truck Show has raised nearly $1.5 million to support kidney programs through the National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho.

How the Great Salt Lake Truck Show Helps Kidney Patients in Utah

Funds raised through the Great Salt Lake Truck Show directly support programs that provide hope and assistance to kidney patients and their families, including:

  • Emergency financial assistance for kidney patients struggling with unexpected expenses
  • Family support programs that help caregivers and loved ones navigate the challenges of kidney disease
  • Kidney patient education and resources
  • Camp programs that provide connection, encouragement, and support for families impacted by kidney failure

Many kidney patients and their families face overwhelming emotional, physical, and financial challenges. Programs supported by the Truck Show remind patients they are not alone and provide opportunities to reconnect with others who understand their journey.

The Future of the Great Salt Lake Truck Show

After decades of dedication, Jeff England has stepped back from leading the event’s efforts and passed the tradition on to his daughter, Sunne England Wallace, who continues the mission of bringing together the trucking community to help Utah kidney patients.

The Great Salt Lake Truck Show remains a powerful example of how an industry can come together to make a meaningful difference.

Volunteers, Sponsors, Vendors, and Food Trucks Needed for 2026 Truck Show

The 2026 Great Salt Lake Truck Show needs the community’s help more than ever. Volunteers, sponsors, vendors, and food trucks are needed to make this year’s event a success.

Whether you are part of the trucking industry, a local business, a food vendor, or someone who wants to give back, there is a place for you at this year’s event.

If you know a company, organization, or individual who would like to sponsor, become a vendor, or volunteer, please contact:

Contact@SaltLakeTruckShow.com
luz@kidneyut.org

2026 Great Salt Lake Truck Show Event Information

📅 August 14–15, 2026
📍 Electric Park at Thanksgiving Point

The event is free and open to the public. Visitors can enjoy incredible trucks, connect with professional drivers, and experience the generosity of the trucking community.

For schedules, registration information, sponsorship opportunities, and updates, follow:

Facebook and Instagram: @GreatSaltLakeTruckShow

Join the Great Salt Lake Truck Show Mission

The Great Salt Lake Truck Show is more than a truck show — it is a community coming together to provide hope, support, and resources for Utah families affected by kidney disease.

Join us as a sponsor, vendor, volunteer, or attendee and help continue this 36-year tradition of giving back.

Kidney Kars of Utah Is NOT Kars4Kids: Here’s the Difference

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Kidney Kars of Utah is NOT Kars4Kids

We posted the new artwork of our Salt Lake City Billboard featuring the head coaches of the University of Utah and BYU football teams on Instagram.  Then the comments came rolling in: @timm_ras asks:  Isn’t this the same company that got sued by multiple states and the FTC for fraud because they said they were “helping Kids” — but didn’t? NOPE Timm, not even close. But thanks for giving us the opportunity to note that the ads heard recently on KSL news radio are no longer the trusted “Kidney Kars of Utah” ads, but are for Kars4Kids of New Jersey.

Despite 35 years of trusting KSL Newsradio to deliver substantive, honest content on the air (even in its advertising), it looks as though times are tough, and they will take anyone’s money for ads—even if their advertisers are neither trustworthy nor legitimate charities. We’re just as mystified as the public is, particularly since, as you’ve mentioned, those ads are now banned in California (until Kars4Kids prevails in its lawsuit before the Superior Court), as well as in other states. Now would be an EXCELLENT time to mention that Kidney Kars of Utah was established 14 years before Kars4Kids and is one of the nation’s original and most trusted car donation programs. While the entire state of Utah has now become confused and unfortunately now associates Kars4Kids with Kidney Kars of Utah — YOU don’t have to fall for that trick.

Just remind yourself WHY you’re hearing so many Kars4Kids ad!  That’s because, unlike normal charities, they get to spend whatever portion of the $91 million they raise (“for Kids”) each year on litigation, television advertising, radio advertising, and Google ads in any state where they have not yet been restricted or challenged by state attorneys general. Unlike Kars4Kids, Kidney Kars of Utah chooses to spend only 10% of its revenue on promotion in order give MORE to our charitable mission helping to save the lives of Utah kidney patients. So while we will never be able to outspend Kars4Kids– Kidney Kars of Utah does in fact help many thousands of Utah kids & families who are on dialysis or who still need a kidney transplant.

The difference between Kars4Kids and Kidney Kars

The difference is simple. Kars4Kids is a New Jersey-based organization founded in 2004 and known for its nationally brain-worm jingle. Despite its name, Kars4Kids donations are not distributed to “kids” children across America. Instead, the organization directs its charitable funding to programs that primarily support one private religious school.

Kidney Kars of Utah was established in 1990—14 years earlier—and for more than 36 years Kidney Kars of Utah has kept the vast majority of the funds it raises right here in Utah and Idaho. Approximately 83% of every dollar raised directly supports local kidney patient children and their families through emergency financial assistance, stable housing, prescription medications, help paying medical debt, transportation assistance, specialized renal nutrition, dental treatment required to qualify for the transplant waiting list, and assistance with the significant out-of-pocket costs associated with kidney transplantation.

When Utahns donate a vehicle to Kidney Kars of Utah, they are helping their own neighbors—dialysis patients, transplant recipients, and families facing kidney disease throughout Utah and Idaho.

So while Kars4Kids TV on Fox News and KSL Newradio are confusing to Utahns, The National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho’s Kidney Kars program is still Utah’s most trusted and #1 car donation program

Before donating your vehicle to any charity do a quick Google or ChatGPT search to see what the difference is between Kars4Kids and Kidney Kars of Utah.

 Read where they are located and what state benefits from your donation. Ask Google

  • WHERE does the charity operate?
  • WHO benefits from your donation?
  • WHY does donating locally matter?
  • HOW does your donation make a difference?

Before you donate, know where your donation goes—and know who it helps. Donate local. Help local. Save lives.

Donate to Utah’s Original Kidney Kars

For more than 35 years, Kidney Kars has helped Utah and Idaho families facing kidney disease by turning donated vehicles into hope, financial assistance, education, and lifesaving support.

If your goal is to help local dialysis patients and transplant recipients, remember: Kidney Kars of Utah is not Kars4Kids.

We’re Utah’s original Kidney Kars program, proudly serving our community since 1990.

How to donate an RV or Motorhome to Kidney Kars of Utah?

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Does Kidney Kars Take RVs and Motorhomes?

 

The answer is yes—The National Kidney Foundation of Utah’s Kidney Kars can accept motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, toy haulers, truck campers, and other recreational vehicles when they have resale value and can help generate funds for local kidney patients and kidney disease programs. Because the purpose of every donation is to raise money for Utah and Idaho kidney patients, we are unable to accept RVs or trailers that cannot be resold or reused. However, the process is a little different than donating a car.

 

 

 

Before an RV donation can be approved, we ask donors to email:

  • Photos of the exterior
  • Photos of the interior
  • Photos of the engine compartment (for motorized RVs)
  • Photos of the tires
  • Photos of the roof, if available
  • Photos of the front and back of the title

These photos are reviewed by the auction and sales professionals who determine whether the item is suitable to raise funds.

Do RVs and Campers Need Titles?

Yes. Motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, toy haulers, and most other recreational vehicles require a valid title in order to be sold, transferred, or donated.

If you do not currently have a title, don’t panic. Kidney Kars can help guide you through the process. In many cases, obtaining a replacement title simply requires:

  • A VIN inspection, if required
  • An application through the Utah DMV
  • Payment of applicable state fees

Having proper ownership documentation helps ensure that your donation can be sold and that the proceeds can support local kidney patients.

Does Kidney Kars Provide Free Towing for RVs and Motorhomes?

Unfortunately due to cost of towing (8.99+ per mile) motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers, and other towable RVs must be delivered to a location in North Salt Lake city by the donor. Donors are asked to deliver their donation to a designated location or assist with transportation arrangements.

Once your donation has been reviewed and accepted, and delivered the National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho will email you a tax receipt.

Is Donating an RV the Same as Donating a Car?

The overall goal is the same—turning an unwanted vehicle into support for kidney patients—but the approval process is slightly different. For RV and motorhome donations, we first need to review photographs and ownership documents because factors such as condition, age, mileage, water damage, title status, and marketability all affect whether the donation can be accepted.

The first step is simple:

Call Kidney Kars at (801) 226-5111 during business hours (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.) or email photos of your RV and title.

Once the photos are reviewed, we will let you know whether the donation can be accepted and provide instructions for the next steps.

Is the Tax Deduction the Same as a Car Donation?

Yes.  All donations are subject to the same IRS charitable contribution rules that apply to car donations.

After your donation is completed, you will receive a tax receipt from the National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho.

  • Donors may claim up to $499 as allowed by IRS rules unless the item sells for more than $500
  • If the donated item sells for more than $500, the donor can claim the actual selling price of the item donated.
  • The National Kidney Foundation will provide you an IRS 1098-C to claim the item’s actual selling price (instead of the $499 mimimum).

As always, donors should consult a qualified tax professional regarding specific tax questions.

Turn Your RV Into Hope for Kidney Patients

Whether it’s a motorhome, travel trailer, fifth wheel, toy hauler, camper trailer, or truck camper, your donation may help provide emergency financial assistance, patient education, kidney disease screenings, medical research, and other vital programs throughout Utah and Idaho.

If you’re considering donating an RV or motorhome, call Kidney Kars at (801) 226-5111 or email photos of your RV and title to begin the review process.

Your unwanted RV could make a meaningful difference in the lives of local kidney patients and their families.

How to donate a boat to Kidney Kars in Utah

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Kidney Kars does take boat and trailer Donations.

Many Utah residents know that Kidney Kars accepts donated cars, trucks and SUVs. But one of the most common questions we receive is:

“Does Kidney Kars accept boat donations?”

The answer is yes—the National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho does accept boat donations. However, the process is a little different than donating a car.

 

Does Kidney Kars Take Boats?

Yes. Kidney Kars can accept boats and boat trailers when they have resale value and can help generate funds for local kidney patients and kidney disease programs.

Because the purpose of every donation is to raise money for Utah and Idaho kidney patients, we are unable to accept boats or trailers that cannot be resold or reused.

Before a boat donation can be approved, we ask donors to email:

  • Photos of the boat exterior
  • Photos of the boat interior
  • Photos of the motor
  • Photos of the trailer
  • Photos of the front and back of the boat title
  • Photos of the front and back of the trailer title

These photos are reviewed by the auction and sales professionals who help us determine whether the boat is suitable for donation.

Do Boats and Trailers Need Titles?

In most cases, yes.

Only boats manufactured before 1986 are exempt from Utah title requirements.  But boat trailers (regardless of the year of manufacture) must now have a title.

Even boat trailers that were previously untitled generally must obtain a title before they can be sold, donated, transferred, or disposed of.

If you do not currently have a trailer title, don’t panic. Kidney Kars can help guide you through the process. In many cases, obtaining a title simply requires:

  • A VIN or serial number inspection
  • An application for title through the Utah DMV

Having proper ownership documentation helps ensure that your donation can be sold and that the proceeds can support local kidney patients.

Does Kidney Kars Provide Free Boat Towing?

Unfortunately, no.

Kidney Kars has access to towing services for road vehicles, but we do not have the equipment or staff necessary to transport boats and trailers.

If your boat donation is accepted, the boat and trailer must be delivered to our North Salt Lake City location at the donor’s convenience.

Once accepted, our staff will provide delivery instructions and help coordinate the next steps.

Is Donating a Boat the Same as Donating a Car?

The overall goal is the same—turning an unwanted vehicle into support for kidney patients—but the approval process is slightly different.

For car donations, many vehicles can be accepted immediately.

For boat donations, we first need to review photographs and ownership documents because factors such as condition, trailer condition, titles, and marketability all affect whether the donation can be accepted.

The first step is simple:

Call Kidney Kars at (801) 226-5111 during business hours (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.) or email photos of your boat and trailer.

Once the photos are reviewed, we will let you know whether the donation can be accepted and provide instructions for delivery.

Is the Tax Deduction the Same as a Car Donation?

Yes.

Boat donations are subject to the same IRS charitable contribution rules that apply to vehicle donations.

After your donation is completed, you will receive a tax receipt from the National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho.

Generally:

  • Donors may claim up to $499 as allowed by IRS rules.
  • If the donated boat sells for more than $500, the Foundation will provide additional documentation showing the actual selling price.
  • Donors may then use that documentation when determining their charitable deduction, subject to IRS regulations and their individual tax situation.

As always, donors should consult a qualified tax professional regarding specific tax questions.

Turn Your Boat Into Hope for Kidney Patients

Whether it’s a fishing boat, ski boat, pontoon boat, or another recreational watercraft, your donation may help provide emergency financial assistance, patient education, kidney disease screenings, and other vital programs throughout Utah and Idaho.

If you’re considering donating a boat, call Kidney Kars at (801) 226-5111 or email photos of your boat, trailer, and titles to begin the review process.

Your unwanted boat could make a meaningful difference in the lives of local kidney patients and their families.

Colorado introduces HB 26-1019

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Our next-door neighbors in Colorado recently introduced Legislature (HB 26-1019)  that will require mandatory health-care coverage for preventive kidney function screening. As Benjamin Franklin said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Currently, the best national estimate for how much is spent on dialysis treatments in the U.S. healthcare system roughly $50–60 billion per year, with Medicare bearing the majority of that expense.

The act adds kidney function screening services as mandated preventive health-care services for which insurance policies or contracts in the state must provide total-cost coverage. Beyond the potential to save up to $60 billion in healthcare costs, preventing kidney failure whenever possible would spare countless individuals and families from the profound physical, emotional, and financial burdens of this devastating disease.

While policymakers face many competing priorities, preventive kidney health remains an area where relatively small investments can yield significant returns. Early screening helps identify disease before it progresses to kidney failure, reducing both human suffering and healthcare cost

In the meantime, nonprofits like the National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho have been quietly doing the work for more than 25 years, investing nearly 30% of their modest budget in screening programs. One can only imagine what could be accomplished if prevention received the same enthusiasm as some of the other issues that regularly find their way onto legislative agendas.

 

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1019?fbclid=IwY2xjawSVZAFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFVUjVNVjJLSDF5ZTJtb0ZQc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHgEHIYffmRbxry2_83nSTj13yQz61dwQAaZ8zGhmw3LmyYAVupbM97PU5Cq__aem_BFM5zTgNwt1Kq31lS855UA

Thank You to Utah Kidney Kars Donations of Utah!

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5/31/2026

Dear Kidney Foundation of Utah

I feel compelled to express my appreciation to Utah Kidney Kars donors for all the support you have shown me over the past 3 years as I continue my college journey.

Kidney Foundation financial support has made it much easier to focus on my schoolwork as I work towards a master’s degree and hopefully later a PhD.  It was very helpful to have a scholarship to (first) go to Salt Lake Community College. I had to make up for some of the high school years I spent on dialysis).  Graduating from Salt Lake Community College allowed me to transfer to the University of Utah, which has been something I have been getting used to!  It has taken me some time to acclimate to this new university environment.

 I understand part of our Kidney Patient Educational Scholarships come from Kidney Kars donations in Utah

Because people in Utah donate their car locally to the National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho. the proceeds stay in Utah to help provide some lucky Utah kidney patients with scholarships.  So I’d like to thank everyone in Utah (and Idaho) who has donated an old car to Kidney Kars at http://www.towKars.org  so that I could receive a Kidney Foundation scholarship. I could have never earned an academic scholarship (from having lost so much school before I got my kidney transplant).  I am now at the University of Utah – where I hope to apply to a masters program (and maybe even a PhD)!

Thank you to everyone who donated to Kidney Foundation of Utah (and Kidney Kars)!

Sincerely,

A. Peterson

https://slcc.edu/academics/index.aspx

https://www.utah.edu/

Can I get a Vacation Voucher for donating my car?

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Receiving a benefit for donating a car (like a Vacation Voucher) will reduce or eliminate your tax deduction.

When donating a vehicle to Kidney Kars of Utah, the IRS expects the transaction to be a true charitable gift, meaning you don’t receive something of significant value in return.

If ANY charity offers a gift, voucher or incentive for a car donation, the IRS will view the arrangement as a quid pro quo instead of a charitable contribution.

If a charity offers you a gift as a benefit in exchange for your car donation, the value of that benefit (vacation voucher) can reduce or even eliminate your tax deduction. That’s why donors should carefully consider who and why they are choosing to donate a car.  Receiving a promotional gift will affect the tax advantages of donating your vehicle donation.

Don’t fall for Gift Vouchers (they are often for Time Share Presentations anyway).

The value of the voucher will reduce—or eliminate—the tax deduction you can claim. Because tax situations vary, donors should consult a tax professional to understand how receiving a gift or incentive may impact their individual deduction.

 

To read more about why the IRS does not allow charities to offer gifts when accepting car donations please visit: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/substantiating-charitable-contributions?utm_source=chatgpt.com

2026 Transplant Games of America!

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From June 18-23, 2026, Denver will become the home of one of the world’s most inspiring celebrations of life, the 2026 Transplant Games. People from across the country and around the world will gather in the Mile High City to honor the incredible donor families who gave the gift of life and to celebrate the life-changing impact of organ, eye, and tissue donation.

The Games bring together transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, caregivers, people waiting for a transplant, medical professionals, volunteers, supporters, and spectators for an unforgettable week filled with connection, competition, and celebration. With 20 athletic events and more than 60 special programs and activities, the 2026 Transplant Games will highlight powerful stories of hope, resilience, and second chances, showing what’s possible through the gift of donation.

 

For more information visit:  https://www.transplantgamesofamerica.org/2026-transplant-games