If your car’s registration has lapsed or the tabs are long expired, you can still donate it in Minneapolis. For a donation, what matters most is that you have a valid Minnesota title in your name – not current registration stickers. Twin City Wheels works with Heritage for the Blind to accept vehicles all over the Twin Cities, even if they haven’t been registered or driven in years.
You don’t need to renew your registration or pay back fees just to give the vehicle away. Once you sign the title over, Twin City Wheels arranges a free tow from your driveway, street parking, or garage anywhere from Uptown and Nokomis to Brooklyn Park, Saint Paul, or Eagan. The vehicle does not need to run or pass inspection. After pickup, the car becomes the charity’s responsibility. You’ll get a tax receipt, and you should submit a simple transfer notice to the Minnesota DVS so you’re not on the hook for future tickets, taxes, or fees. It’s a straightforward way to clear that expired-tabs vehicle out of your life and support services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
How to get your free pickup scheduled
1. Check that you have the Minnesota title in your name
Expired registration is usually fine; the key is a valid title. Find your Minnesota title and make sure your name matches the vehicle’s ownership record. Even if the tabs on your plates from Hennepin, Ramsey, or Dakota County are years out of date, Twin City Wheels can typically accept the donation as long as the title is in your name and not marked as junked.
2. Tell us about your car with expired registration
Submit a quick online form or call to provide basic info: year, make, model, location (e.g., Northeast, Richfield, Maple Grove), and whether it still has plates. Let us know the registration is expired so we plan for towing instead of driving. This helps us confirm we can accept it and lets the tow partner prepare the right truck and timing.
3. Schedule free towing anywhere in the Twin Cities
Once your donation is approved, we’ll arrange a free tow that fits your schedule. Whether the car is in a downtown Minneapolis ramp, on the street by your Powderhorn duplex, or in a Bloomington apartment lot, our towing partner will pick it up at no cost to you. The vehicle does not have to be drivable, insured, or legally roadworthy.
4. Sign the title at pickup and hand over the keys
When the tow truck arrives, you’ll sign the Minnesota title over to Twin City Wheels’ program benefiting Heritage for the Blind. The driver will guide you through the signature spots. If you still have the keys or remote, hand them over; if not, we can usually still take it. After loading, the vehicle becomes the charity’s responsibility, not yours.
5. File a simple transfer notice with Minnesota DVS
To protect yourself from future liability, complete a Notice of Sale/Transfer with the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services. This can usually be done online or at a local DVS office in places like Edina, Roseville, or Brooklyn Center. It lets the state know you donated the car, so tickets, taxes, and registration notices won’t be sent to you anymore.
6. Receive your tax receipt and clear the space
After the car is processed, you’ll receive a tax acknowledgment from Heritage for the Blind. Most donors can deduct at least up to $500; if it sells for more, you’ll get IRS Form 1098-C details. You can talk with your tax professional about your specific situation. Meanwhile, you’ve freed up your garage or street space and helped support people with visual impairments.
Potential complications to watch for
The name on the title doesn’t match your ID
Tip: If the title lists a previous owner, a nickname, or an ex-spouse not on your current ID, the tow driver may not be able to complete the transfer. Resolve ownership first at a Minnesota DVS office—such as in downtown Minneapolis or Saint Paul—so the correct owner is listed on the title before scheduling your donation pickup.
There’s a lien still listed on the title
Tip: If a bank or lender is printed on the title as a lienholder, we may need a lien release letter or updated title before accepting the donation. Check the front of your title for any lienholder information and, if present, contact that lender or the Minnesota DVS to obtain a lien release so the ownership transfer can go smoothly.
The car was previously declared salvage or junk
Tip: Some vehicles with salvage, rebuilt, or junk branding can still be donated, but the rules are tighter. Have your title handy and tell Twin City Wheels exactly how it’s labeled. We’ll review Minnesota guidelines and let you know what’s possible before you schedule towing, so you’re not surprised at the pickup appointment.
You forget to notify Minnesota DVS after donating
Tip: Even though you’ve signed the title, the state may still show you as the last recorded owner. File a Notice of Sale/Transfer with Minnesota DVS right after pickup. This simple step helps prevent headaches from future parking tickets, toll notices, or registration bills tied to a car you no longer own.