Before the tow truck takes the car, do a 15-minute sweep. Remove the garage-door remote, toll transponder, parking permits, disability placards, insurance card, registration, glovebox papers, and every personal item. Check pockets, consoles, visors, under seats, and the trunk. Factory-reset the infotainment system so Bluetooth pairings, HomeLink buttons, saved contacts, and any saved home address are gone. Leave the keys and signed-over title with the car.
Your pre-pickup checklist
Secure remotes and house access
Start with anything that opens a door, gate, office, or storage unit. Remove the garage-door remote, spare house keys, workplace fobs, mailbox keys, and gate cards. Check the visor, cup holders, center console, door pockets, and key ring. A remote left in the car can still give access after the vehicle leaves.
Stop toll and parking billing
Pull the toll transponder, parking garage tag, hangtag, and any pay-by-plate permit you keep in the car. Then remove this vehicle from the toll or parking account. Some accounts can keep charging until the vehicle is deleted or the tag is deactivated. Do the account step before you put the transponder away.
Remove glovebox documents
Take out the insurance card, registration copy, maintenance folders, receipts, old inspection papers, and any document with your address, policy number, or phone number. Check the owner’s manual pouch and side pockets inside the glovebox. Keep donation and tax-related records in your home file, not inside the car.
Sweep cabin and trunk spaces
Use one bag and move front to back. Check under the seats, between seat cushions, seat-back pockets, door pockets, visors, console trays, cup holders, cargo nets, and the trunk. Lift the trunk floor and check the spare-tire well. Look for sunglasses, tools, chargers, medications, documents, cash, and kids’ items.
Reset stored vehicle data
Factory-reset the infotainment system if the car has one. Delete Bluetooth pairings, saved contacts, call history, navigation favorites, saved home or work addresses, garage controls, and HomeLink buttons. If a full reset is not available, delete each stored item manually. Check the screen, dash menu, and phone projection settings.
Remove optional add-on items
Take removable aftermarket items you plan to keep, such as dash cams, phone mounts, upgraded stereos, roof accessories, or child seats. Only remove items that are yours and can come out without damaging the car. Leave the vehicle intact and as-described. Do not strip factory equipment or parts needed for towing.
Leave transfer items inside
Leave the keys and the signed-over title with the car. Put all keys and fobs together where they are easy to find, such as the front seat or cup holder. Do not pack them with your personal items. If the title-signing instruction is unclear, ask before pickup instead of guessing.
State-linked items to handle separately
Some items are not a clean-out issue; they are a state paperwork issue. For license plates, use our separate guide: License Plate Steps After Donation. For release of liability, use our separate guide: Release of Liability After Donating a Car. If a government-issued item or account rule is unclear, do not guess. State rules can follow either approach: the donor keeps or cancels the item, or the item stays with the vehicle until transfer is processed. Check the Tennessee DMV for the current rule before you decide.
Common questions
What if I find something after the tow truck arrives?
If you are still at the car, pause the handoff long enough to remove the item. Do not send anything you need back later. The safest rule is simple: if it is personal, valuable, identifying, or billable, take it before the vehicle leaves.
Should I remove a toll tag that is hard-mounted?
Remove it if you can do so without breaking glass, cutting wiring, or damaging the vehicle. If it cannot be removed safely, contact the toll account provider and remove the vehicle from the account. The account step matters because charges can continue if the vehicle stays active.
Can I leave repair records in the glovebox?
Keep records that show your name, address, phone number, credit card details, or account numbers. If you want general maintenance history to stay with the car, remove identifying pages first. When in doubt, take the folder and keep it with your donation records.
More donation prep guides
A clean handoff protects your home access, accounts, paperwork, and privacy. After your 15-minute sweep, keep removed items together and leave only what the transfer needs: the keys and signed-over title. Your donated vehicle through TuneIn Rides supports Heritage for the Blind (EIN 58-2164446). If any checklist item is unclear, ask TuneIn Rides before free pickup begins.