Frequently Asked Questions

How can I donate my vehicle and get a tax-deduction?

Rides for Refugees picks up vehicle donations of any type of vehicle, in any condition (working or nonworking), anywhere in the United States. Start a vehicle donation online, or call 844-503-RIDE (7433) today! All vehicle donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

What happens to my vehicle donation?

Rides for Refugees picks up vehicle donations of any type of vehicle, in any condition (working or nonworking), anywhere in the United States. In some cases (depending on location and vehicle age, mileage, and condition), we can redistribute donated cars and SUVs to refugees. In most cases, donated vehicles are sold at auction and the proceeds are used to purchase vehicles for our refugee applicants that will provide them with years of reliable transportation. When we receive high-value vehicle donations, the sale proceeds from one vehicle allow us to purchase multiple vehicles.

Regardless of their value and whether they are directly redistributed or sold at auction, every donated vehicle is a precious gift, because it helps get a refugee family on the road to self-reliance. Start a vehicle donation online, or call 844-503-RIDE (7433) today! Thank you for your support!

If you have questions, please contact us at Hello@RidesForRefugees.org.

How can I make a tax-deductible monetary donation?

Thank you for your support! You can make a monetary donation by visiting our Donate page and donating by credit/debit card (just look for a big orange button). Or, you can donate in the following ways:

  • Venmo: @RidesforRefugees. We accept regular currency as well as Bitcoin and cryptocurrency.

  • PayPal: www.PayPal.Me/RidesforRefugees. On PayPal, you can donate and also create charity fundraisers for Rides for Refugees, or set up $1 donations at checkout on all your PayPal purchases.

  • Employee or individual Donor Advised Funds (DAF): Rides for Refugees is available as a charitable giving option through Schwab, Fidelity, and Vanguard investment portals.

  • Corporate giving and grants: Please contact us to arrange corporate giving and grants, including vehicle donations by dealerships.

How much my of donation to Rides for Refugees will go to help refugees in need?

We are a volunteer-only organization, and we are committed to keeping overhead costs low and spending the large majority of our funding on direct services. In 2024, we spent a whopping 93% of our funding getting vehicles to refugees in need (e.g., purchasing vehicles, repairing donated vehicles, vehicle registration). Donors to Rides for Refugees can be assured their gift will be an investment in refugees’ self-reliance, local communities, and the U.S. economy.

Why is it important to help refugees in the United States succeed?

Beyond the moral reasons to help those who have been displaced, there are also economic reasons. Refugees contribute significantly to the United States economy and to the economic and social health of the communities in which they are resettled. A 2024 study by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services found that refugees and asylees contributed nearly $124 billion to the U.S. economy, above what they cost the government between 2005 and 2019. Helping refugees get on their feet accelerates their ability to be contributing members of their communities, states, and the United States. So, an investment in refugees’ self-reliance and economic opportunity helps us all.

Why is it important for refugees in the United States to have vehicles?

Many refugees in the United States live in places where public transportation is either not available at all, or is not a practical solution to get them where they need to go. (In fact, according to the American Public Transportation Association, 45% of residents of the United States lack access to public transportation.) Vehicles help refugees find gainful employment; have reliable transportation to work, school, and other necessary destinations; and even use their vehicles for income by driving for rideshare and/or delivery companies. Vehicles mean opportunity—to work, go to school, care for family, and become financially independent.

When refugees succeed in becoming financially independent, it lifts a burden from the social safety net programs and nonprofits who would otherwise need to support them. It also means refugees can become more productive members of their communities and strengthen the local, state, and national economies.

How do you vet the refugees who receive vehicles?

The refugees who receive vehicles from Rides for Refugees have permanent legal residency in the United States and were resettled by the U.S. government. So they have already been thoroughly vetted by the government, sometimes over a period of years. Rides for Refugees ensures that the refugees meet our eligibility requirements (see below) by requiring copies of visas, passports, IDs, and enrollment letters for government programs. We also do background checks using a U.S. government multi-agency database, and by checking employment when possible. Additionally, by requiring a nonprofit or employer cosigner on each application, we ensure that there is another organization vouching for each applicant.

What are the requirements for receiving a vehicle?

In order to qualify for a vehicle or vehicle grant from Rides for Refugees, applicants must:

  • Be a refugee who fled to the United States from another country

  • Need private transportation to foster self-reliance

  • Have permanent legal residency in the United States (not a temporary or parolee status, no pending asylum case)

  • Have a U.S. driver license or be in the process of earning one

  • Be enrolled in or income-eligible for one or more government programs for low-income earners

  • Be able to afford fuel, insurance, and maintenance for a vehicle

To apply for a vehicle, refugees must complete an application cosigned by a nonprofit organization or employer who knows the applicant(s) and can attest to the accuracy of information submitted in the application.

How can I request an application for a vehicle or vehicle grant?

Sponsoring organizations or refugees can request an application by writing to us at Hello@RidesforRefugees.org. Please note, we send applications on a rolling basis, as funding allows. We receive many more requests for vehicles than we can fulfill.

How can I ask a question that isn’t answered here?

Please contact us at Hello@RidesforRefugees.org if you have other questions.