Do a 15-minute sweep before the tow truck arrives. Remove the garage-door remote, spare house keys, toll transponder, parking permits, disability placards, insurance card, registration, glovebox papers, and all personal items. Check under seats, visors, consoles, pockets, trunk compartments, and the spare-tire well. Factory-reset the infotainment system so Bluetooth pairings, HomeLink, saved addresses, and contacts are cleared. Remove optional add-ons you are keeping, such as a dash cam or child seat. Leave the keys and the signed-over title with the car.
Your pre-pickup checklist
Remove access and security items
Start with anything that can open a door, gate, or building. Take out the garage-door remote, spare house keys, office keys, mailbox keys, storage-unit keys, gate cards, and building fobs. Check the driver door pocket, sun visor, center console, cup holders, and any small tray near the steering wheel. If a remote is built into the visor, clear it later during the electronics reset.
Pull billing and account items
Remove the toll transponder, parking pass, prepaid parking card, campus permit, work permit, and any hangtag tied to your name or payment account. Then log in to the toll or parking account and remove this vehicle from the account. Do not rely on the physical tag alone. Account records can keep billing to a plate or vehicle unless you update them.
Take out glovebox documents
Open the glovebox and remove your insurance card, registration copy, maintenance receipts, loan papers, warranty papers, and any document with your address, account number, or signature. Check the owner manual sleeve and any folder tucked behind it. Keep only what belongs to you. Do not put the signed-over title back in the glovebox yet; you will leave it with the keys at the end.
Sweep cabin and trunk
Move through the car like a grid. Check under the seats, between seat cushions, seat-back pockets, door pockets, visors, sunglass holders, center console, floor mats, cargo nets, and every cup holder. Then check the trunk, cargo-area side panels, tool tray, jack area, and spare-tire well. Remove cash, medications, sunglasses, chargers, garage receipts, children’s items, work gear, and anything private or valuable.
Wipe stored electronic data
Factory-reset the infotainment system if the car powers on. Clear Bluetooth pairings, synced contacts, call history, navigation history, saved home address, saved work address, garage-door programming such as HomeLink, Wi-Fi settings, and app logins. If you cannot complete a full reset, manually delete each paired phone and saved address you can find. Also remove USB drives, SD cards, CDs, and phone cables.
Remove optional aftermarket items
Take aftermarket items only if you are keeping them and removal will not damage the vehicle or change what you described to Heartland Wheels. Common examples include dash cams, phone mounts, upgraded stereos, portable GPS units, custom floor mats, child seats, roof-rack accessories, and removable cargo organizers. Leave factory parts, required safety equipment, and installed components in place unless you clearly excluded them earlier.
Leave keys and title
Put the vehicle keys with the car, including the main key, fob, and any spare you agreed to provide. Leave the signed-over title with the car in a clear envelope or folder, not hidden inside a stack of papers. Title-signing rules can vary by state and title situation, so if a name, lien, or title field is unclear, check with the Iowa DMV before signing.
Keep this page focused
This checklist is only for what to remove before the vehicle leaves. Do not use it as your title, plate, insurance, or tax checklist. For plates, use our License Plates After Donation guide. For release of liability, use our Release of Liability After Donation guide. If you are unsure whether something is personal property or part of the vehicle, ask one question: would the next holder need it to move, identify, or safely handle the car? If not, take it out.
Common questions
Should I leave the insurance card in the glovebox?
No. Remove the insurance card and any proof-of-insurance copy from the glovebox, console, or owner manual sleeve. Those documents show personal information and should not leave with the car. Keep them with your records until you decide what to do with the policy for that vehicle.
What if my infotainment screen will not turn on?
Remove what you can by hand first: USB drives, SD cards, CDs, cables, and phone accessories. If the screen is dead, you may not be able to reset stored data yourself. Still check for removable devices and paperwork, and remove any garage remote or access device that is not built into the vehicle.
Can I remove a dash cam or upgraded stereo?
Yes, if it belongs to you and removal does not damage the car or change its described condition. Take removable items such as a dash cam, portable GPS, phone mount, or child seat. Be careful with installed stereos, alarms, or wiring. If removal would leave loose wiring or missing parts, leave it installed.
Where should I put the signed-over title and keys?
Place the signed-over title in a folder or envelope and keep it with the keys for pickup. Do not bury it in the glovebox paperwork you are removing. The driver or receiving process needs the keys and title with the vehicle, so make those two items easy to find.
More donation prep guides
A clean sweep protects your privacy and prevents future billing. Remove access items, payment tags, personal documents, valuables, and stored electronic data. Leave the vehicle intact, and leave the keys and signed-over title with the car. Your donation through Heartland Wheels supports Heritage for the Blind (EIN 58-2164446). When your sweep is done, you are ready for free pickup.