Turn That Old Car Into a New Opportunity
Got an old vehicle taking up space in your driveway? When you donate your junk car in Minneapolis, you do more than clear out clutter. Your old vehicle becomes a teaching tool at Newgate School, a nonprofit automotive training center that has served the area for 50 years.
- We accept running and non-running vehicles, and we handle all the paperwork and towing at no cost to you.
- Every dollar from the sale of your donated car goes directly into free automotive training for young adults.
- You receive a tax-deductible receipt while a student gains the skills to build a lifelong career.
Our students work on real cars from day one, learning engine diagnostics, brake repair, bodywork, and refinishing by doing the work rather than sitting through lectures. That beat-up sedan in your driveway could become someone's first real step toward a stable future.
A Simple Donation Process
We've made the process easy because your time matters. Give us a call or fill out our short online form with a few details about your vehicle. We'll schedule a free tow pickup at your home, your workplace, or wherever the car is sitting.
There's no cleaning, no driving the car anywhere, and no stack of complicated paperwork to sort through. To donate your junk car in Minneapolis, all you really need is a title in your name and a set of keys. We pick up, handle the title transfer, and mail you a receipt for your taxes. That's it.
Vehicles We Accept and Paperwork You'll Need
We take a wide range of vehicles in pretty much any condition. Running, not running, rusted, dented, or just tired after a long life on the road. Here's a quick look at what we accept and what you'll want to have on hand before our tow driver arrives.
| Vehicles We Accept | Documents You'll Need |
|---|---|
| Cars (running or not running) | Vehicle title in your name |
| Trucks and SUVs | Current registration, if available |
| Vans and minivans | All sets of keys |
| Motorcycles | Valid photo ID of the title holder |
| Boats with trailers | Signed title release (we help with this) |
| RVs and campers | Lien release, if any loan has been paid off |
If your title is lost or damaged, don't let that stop you. Give us a call, and we'll walk you through getting a duplicate from the Minnesota Department of Vehicle Services before we schedule the pickup.
Donate Your Junk Car in Minneapolis, MN, to Build Real Careers
Every vehicle we receive becomes a classroom tool. Our students work on donated cars to learn auto mechanics and auto body repair through 100% hands-on training. No textbooks, no classroom lectures, just real work on real cars under master-level instructors who have spent years in the industry.
The sale of donated vehicles funds tuition-free education for young adults ages 19 to 35. Students pay nothing, removing the financial barrier that keeps so many talented people from pursuing a career in the automotive trade. Nearly all of our graduates leave with a job already lined up at a local shop or dealership, and most land work within the Twin Cities metro where they grew up.
Where Your Donation Goes
We're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and we're fully self-sustaining through vehicle sales. When you donate your junk car, the proceeds cover instructor pay, shop equipment, hand tools, and the full cost of each student's training. We accept no tax-based government funding, so donors like you are the whole reason we can keep our doors open and our tuition at zero.
Your junk car donation also helps fuel our Wheels for Women program, which provides free, reliable vehicles to working single mothers across the seven-county metro area. To date, we've awarded nearly two million dollars' worth of cars to moms who needed a way to get to work, school, or the daycare drop-off. When you donate an old car, you may be giving a mother the one thing standing between her and a better life for her kids.
Ready to Make a Real Difference?
Donating is quick, the pickup is free, and the impact lasts for years. Fill out our online donation form or give us a call to get started. When you donate your junk car in Minneapolis, the car collecting dust in your driveway becomes the thing that helps a young adult build a career or a working mom get back on her feet right here in town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I donate a car that doesn't run to Newgate School?
Yes, we accept cars that don't run, as well as vehicles that are rusted, dented, or otherwise off the road. Our students use non-running cars as hands-on teaching tools for diagnostic and repair training. We provide free towing, so there's no need to get the car started before pickup.
Is my junk car donation tax-deductible?
Yes, Newgate School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your junk car donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. You'll receive a receipt after we pick up your vehicle and a final tax acknowledgment once the car is sold. Keep both for your records at tax time.
Where is the closest place to donate an old car near me?
Newgate School is located on 2900 East Hennepin Avenue, and serves the full seven-county Twin Cities metro area, including Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties. We'll come to you with free towing, no matter where in the metro you're parked.
What paperwork do I need to donate my junk car?
You'll need the vehicle title in your name along with the keys. If your title is lost, we can walk you through getting a duplicate from Minnesota DVS before pickup. A photo ID and a lien release (if a loan was previously on the car) round out the basics.
How long does the junk car donation process take?
From the moment you reach out to the day we tow your car, it is usually just a few business days. The pickup itself takes about 15 to 30 minutes. We handle the title transfer on our end, so you don't have to set foot inside a DMV office.
What happens to my car after I donate it?
Depending on its condition, your donated car becomes a training vehicle for our auto mechanics or auto body students, gets refurbished for our Wheels for Women program, or is sold at auction to fund our free training. Every outcome supports our mission of building careers for young adults in the Twin Cities.
Do I need to live in here to donate my old car to Newgate?
You don't need to live inside city limits to donate an old car to Newgate School. We cover free pickup across the entire seven-county Twin Cities area. If you're just outside that region, give us a call, and we'll do our best to make it work.