Agents play a critical role in not only identifying candidates to receive a donated vehicle but also setting client expectations for the process and vehicle.
How the Program Works
Throughout the year, Auto Angels receives donated vehicles from generous community members. Our volunteer mechanics inspect and repair each car for safety and reliability before it is ever offered to a client. Once a vehicle is ready for transfer, our Benevolence Team springs into action.
The Benevolence Team maintains regular communication with all seven agency partners. When a vehicle becomes available, agencies are contacted and invited to put forward a client they believe is ready and able to meet our requirements. To ensure fairness, we use a rotating round-robin process — cycling through all seven agencies so that each one has an equal opportunity to present a client.
Client Eligibility Requirements
Before your agency refers a client for a vehicle, please confirm they can meet the following requirements:
The Client Interview & Selection Process
Once your agency identifies a potential client, please forward their name and contact information to our Benevolence Team at benevolence@autoangels.org. A Benevolence Team member will personally reach out to complete the application, interview the client, confirm their eligibility, and walk them through the next steps.
After the interview is complete and the client is confirmed, the Benevolence Team notifies our Auto Angels Donated Vehicle Coordinator using a Transfer Form that captures the client’s contact details. The Coordinator then takes over, contacts the client and guides them through the final steps.
The Transfer Process: Step by Step
Once a client is approved, here is what they can expect:
A Few Important Notes About Donated Vehicles
Agency and Benevolence team communication to client – Because our vehicles are donated and lovingly prepared by volunteers, the program works very differently from a traditional purchase. Help us to be upfront with clients about what to expect so there are no surprises:
Clients are responsible for ongoing vehicle care, including keeping fluids topped off and tires properly inflated. Clients in good standing with their agency remain eligible for maintenance and repair services through our shop.
Vehicles are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Because each vehicle represents a significant investment of volunteer time and donated funds, we are not able to hold vehicles while multiple options are compared. We encourage trusting the matching process — every car that leaves our garage has been prepared with their safety in mind.
Vehicle Condition and Transfer: Vehicles are provided as-is at the time of transfer. Donated cars are often 5 to 20+ years old with 100,000–200,000+ miles. We have done our best—through volunteer inspections, repairs, and preparation—to ensure the vehicle is safe and reliable for immediate use, but we cannot offer any guarantees or warranties regarding its future performance, condition, or longevity. Once transferred, the vehicle cannot be returned or swapped. Our goal is to provide dependable transportation that supports your clients’ independence, but real-world wear, maintenance needs, and unforeseen issues can still arise.
Special Requirements: If the client has any special vehicle or personal requirements (mobility, space, size, or weight concerns), agencies should notify clients that Auto Angels might not be able to provide a vehicle meeting the requirements or there might be a delay in receiving a vehicle.
Agencies
