Cruz Fresno makes donating a car in the Fresno Metro simple: we come to you. Whether you’re in Tower District, Fig Garden, Hoover, or out toward Clovis or Fowler, your pickup is truly free. There’s no towing bill now or later—the cost is covered from the charity’s sale proceeds, never charged back to you. Running or not, we arrange a local flatbed or hook-and-chain tow truck to pick up your vehicle where it sits.
Here’s how it works for Fresno donors: you call us or submit our online form, we confirm your address and a pickup window, and you can leave the signed California title and keys in an agreed spot with the vehicle. A local towing partner from the Fresno area—used to neighborhoods like Sunnyside, West Fresno, Woodward Park, and beyond—usually arrives within a few business days, depending on routing and how rural your location is. You don’t have to drive anywhere or pay anything. Your donation supports Heritage for the Blind’s services for people who are blind or visually impaired, and you’ll receive a tax receipt for at least $500.
How to schedule your free local pickup
1. Tell us about your car and where it sits
Call Cruz Fresno or complete our secure online form with your contact info, Fresno-area address, and basic vehicle details. Let us know if it runs, where it’s parked (driveway, street, apartment lot), and any access issues common in areas like Tower District, Downtown Fresno, or apartment complexes near Shaw Ave.
2. Choose a convenient local pickup window
We’ll confirm that your address is within our Fresno Metro coverage—which includes places like Clovis, Sanger, Kerman, and nearby communities—and then offer available pickup windows. Most donors get a tow scheduled within a few business days, though more rural addresses outside the core city grid might take a bit longer for routing.
3. Prepare your California title and keys
Before pickup, sign your California title as the seller. Remove your plates if you wish and take out personal belongings. Then place the title and keys in the agreed location—often the glove box or under a floor mat—so the Fresno-area tow driver can complete the pickup even if you’re not home at the time.
4. Park the vehicle where a tow truck can reach it
Make sure your vehicle is accessible for a flatbed or hook-and-chain truck. In tighter neighborhoods like Tower District or older blocks in West Fresno, try to leave the car in a driveway or a legal street spot with enough space to load. If it’s in a gated complex, arrange any gate or parking permissions in advance.
5. Meet the driver or let us tow without you
On pickup day, a local tow operator familiar with Fresno streets will call or text within your window. You can meet them, or, if paperwork and keys are in the vehicle as arranged, they can complete the tow without you present—helpful for busy donors or those no longer living at the Fresno property.
6. Receive your tax receipt from Heritage for the Blind
After your car is picked up and sold, you’ll receive a tax receipt from Heritage for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. For most Fresno donors, the initial receipt is for at least $500; if it sells for more, you’ll get updated documentation to use with IRS Form 1098-C at tax time.
Local pickup gotchas
Tight alleys and crowded street parking in older Fresno areas
Tip: In dense neighborhoods like Tower District, Downtown Fresno, or near Fresno City College, a flatbed needs space to maneuver. If possible, move the car to a driveway or wider street beforehand, or tell us in advance if the tow truck will need to approach from a specific direction.
Gated communities, apartment complexes, and HOAs
Tip: If you live in a gated complex in North Fresno, Clovis, or around Woodward Park, your tow can be delayed if the driver can’t get in. Provide gate codes, entry instructions, and any HOA rules about towing or visitor parking so the local driver can access and load the vehicle smoothly.
Very rural addresses outside the core Fresno Metro
Tip: Donations from more rural areas—farther out toward Caruthers, Easton, or Prather—are absolutely welcome, but routing a truck may take an extra day or two. Share landmarks, driveway conditions (dirt/gravel), and if a large flatbed can turn around, so we can send the right equipment the first time.
Missing or incorrect California title at pickup
Tip: Not having the correct California title signed can slow down the donation. Before pickup, locate your title and make sure the name matches your registration. If you’ve lost it, let us know ahead of time so we can explain options for obtaining a duplicate from the California DMV.
If at-home pickup is tricky
If at-home pickup is tricky—for example, your Fresno property has no safe place for a tow truck, your vehicle is tightly blocked in, or you’re between addresses—you still have options. In some cases, we can coordinate meeting the tow driver at a friend’s house, your workplace, or a more accessible spot within the Fresno Metro, such as a public lot where towing is allowed. We’ll work with you to find a nearby, legal place for pickup that’s easier for a flatbed to access while still keeping your donation 100% free and convenient.
Fresno pickup coverage
Cruz Fresno serves donors throughout the Fresno Metro, including Tower District, Woodward Park, Fig Garden, Sunnyside, West Fresno, and nearby communities like Clovis, Sanger, Kerman, and Fowler. Pickups in central Fresno usually happen within a few business days; outlying Central Valley areas may take a bit longer based on truck routing. For California titles, you’ll sign as the seller and can remove your plates if you choose; always follow California DMV guidance for reporting the transfer of ownership after donation.