C.A.R.S. Ministry

Your car can change a life!

To drop off your vehicle:

The C.A.R.S. garage is located at the South Barrington campus, we are the very northwest part of the building (near the G Dock). Donations are accepted Monday–Thursday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

To have C.A.R.S. pick up your vehicle:

C.A.R.S. owns and operates our own tow truck. We can arrange to have your vehicle towed from its location. Our pick up schedule is generally Monday through Friday; however towing can also be arranged for Saturday if needed.

When donating your vehicle please provide the following:

• All keys, including truck, gas door, ignition
• Title
• Any accessories

Please remember to remove your I-PASS transponder, garage door opener, audio accessories/equipment, documents from the glove box, and licenses plates.

Support C.A.R.S. by donating a car.

Click here for a donor’s guide to car donations.

Click here for IRS guidelines to donating a car.

C.A.R.S. donation FAQs

Thank you for considering a donation to the C.A.R.S. Ministry. Your donation helps to provide reliable transportation to those in need who qualify within our community. We accept running and non-running cars, trucks, SUV’s, campers, trailers, just about anything, including financial contributions.

How will C.A.R.S. maximize my donation?

The C.A.R.S. Ministry is a self-supporting ministry of Willow Creek Community Church—we do not use money from the church budget to operate. We rely solely on the generosity of donors for ministry operations. We work hard to maximize the value of each donated vehicle, enabling us to make more benevolent repairs and to give away more vehicles. We do this by utilizing optimal sales channels, such as public auto auctions, eBay online auctions, and dealer consignment. The C.A.R.S Ministry develops good relationships with salvage yards to yield higher-than-average values for vehicles that cannot be repaired. In addition, because all repair labor is done by volunteers, the full proceeds from the sale of any vehicle go back into the ministry, helping those we serve.

Your donation is utilized in one of the following ways:

Giveaway

As much as we would like every car we take in to be given away, it’s not possible. The ideal vehicles that we would like to giveaway are 4-door, 4-cylinder, inexpensive on gas, repairs, and insurance. We foresee these vehicles lasting the qualified recipient at least two years. If and when properly maintained , we’ve known them lasting much longer. The vehicles that are given away are inspected and repaired, then test driven before the new owner takes possession.

Sale

We have established relationships to help generate revenue for the ministry and thus recycle resources back to C.A.R.S. to help pay for the parts in other giveaway cars. We do this through a retail nationwide auction such as eBay motors: through a public auction in the Chicagoland area: through the consignment to local dealers who will sell vehicles on our behalf; and finally, if the vehicle is in a condition beyond repair we may need to sell it to a local salvage yard. Our relationship with local salvage yards enables us to yield higher-than-average values.

How much is my donated car worth?

Once C.A.R.S. receives your donation, within 14 days we will notify you the way in which we intend to use your donation. If we determine that your vehicle will be used to further the ministry purposes, thus by giving your vehicle to a qualified individual or by using ministry funds to repair your vehicle, you are then allowed to take the fair market value for your vehicle as described in many car value guides (i.e. Kelley Blue Book or NADA Guides). If we decide it’s not financially feasible to repair your vehicle and we dispose of it in the condition it was donated, you would be allowed to claim the amount we receive for the car. Within 30 days of its sale, we will notify you of the amount we received for it and the way in which it was utilized. Willow Creek Community Church is responsible for filing IRS form 1098-C on your behalf. We must have your Social Security number in order to file this form with the IRS.

Christian Automotive Repairmen Serving ®

Learn if you qualify to receive a car!

Not having transportation in the Northwest suburbs can be debilitating. We rely heavily on our vehicles to get to church, get to work, doctors’ visits and so much more. The purpose of the C.A.R.S. Ministry is to assist you with basic car repair so that you can get back to doing life.

You must be attending Willow Creek Community Church or a regional campus to be considered to receive a car from the C.A.R.S. Ministry. Guests interested in receiving a car must visit the Willow Creek Care Center during service hours and meet with the Care Team to determine eligibility. To meet with the Care Team, come to the Care Center and check in with an Intake Host. Inform the Intake Host of your desire to meet with a Care Team member regarding transportation assistance.

Not having transportation in the Northwest suburbs can be debilitating. We rely heavily on our vehicles to get to church, get to work, doctors’ visits and so much more. The purpose of the C.A.R.S. Ministry is to assist you with basic car repair so that you can get back to doing life.

Process
At the Willow Creek Care Center, all guests interested in car repairs must meet with the Care Team to determine eligibility. At this time, appointments are all online; schedule an appointment.

Willow Creek Care Center Service Hours

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-noon
Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Saturdays, 8-10 a.m.

Eligibility

• You must provide proof of income from the last 30 days (pay stub, bank statement, etc.)
• To qualify you must earn 150% below the Federal poverty level based on household size.
• The vehicle must be registered in your name.
• Vehicle cannot be more than 20 years old.
• Hold a valid drivers’ license

Next Steps

If, after meeting with a Care Team member, you are eligible for a vehicle repair, you are responsible for the full cost of the parts associated with your car repair. Inspections are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

We do not repair transmissions, engines, head gaskets or body work.