Do a 15-minute sweep before the tow truck takes the vehicle. Remove the garage-door remote, spare house keys, toll transponder, parking permits, disability placards, insurance card, registration, glovebox papers, personal items, valuables, child seats, dash cams, and anything in the trunk or spare-tire well. Factory-reset the infotainment system. Delete Bluetooth pairings, HomeLink settings, saved addresses, and your saved home address. Leave the keys and the signed-over title with the car.
Your pre-pickup checklist
Remove security items first
Start with anything that opens your home, garage, office, or gate. Check the visor, center console, door pockets, cup holders, ashtray, and key ring. Remove garage-door remotes, gate fobs, spare house keys, storage-unit keys, office badges, and neighborhood access cards. If a remote is built into a clipped visor unit, take the whole removable device.
Pull billing items next
Remove the toll transponder from the windshield, dashboard, or license-plate mount. Then log in to the toll account and remove this vehicle from the account so future tolls do not attach to you. Also remove paid parking decals, apartment garage permits, campus permits, hangtags, and disability placards. Keep anything tied to billing, access, or personal eligibility.
Clear glovebox documents
Open the glovebox and pull every paper before deciding what to keep or shred. Remove the insurance card, registration, service records with your name, loan paperwork, warranty folders, old inspection papers, receipts, and maps with personal notes. Keep a photo or copy of any document you may need later. Do not leave mail, medical papers, or anything with account numbers.
Sweep cabin and trunk
Move through the car from front to back. Check under the seats, between cushions, seat-back pockets, floor mats, visors, door pockets, center console, rear cargo pockets, and all cup holders. Then open the trunk or hatch. Look in side compartments, tool trays, cargo nets, emergency kits, and the spare-tire well. Remove cash, chargers, sunglasses, medications, tools, photos, and personal gear.
Wipe saved electronics data
Turn the car on if needed and factory-reset the infotainment system. Delete Bluetooth pairings, call logs, contacts, garage-door HomeLink buttons, navigation history, saved home address, saved work address, and app logins. If you cannot find a reset option, delete each profile manually. Remove USB drives, SD cards, phone mounts, charging cables, and any device plugged into the data port.
Remove optional add-ons carefully
Take aftermarket items only if they are easy to remove and you still leave the car intact and as-described. Common removals include dash cams, portable GPS units, upgraded speakers that are not built in, removable stereo faceplates, bike racks, cargo boxes, and child seats. Do not remove factory parts, safety equipment, or anything that would make the vehicle materially different from what you described.
Leave keys and title
Leave the keys and the signed-over title with the car. Put them where the pickup driver can receive them, not hidden inside a locked vehicle. Title rules are state-specific; if the printed owner, lien, or signature area is unclear, pause and ask the Louisiana DMV before writing on the title. Use our License Plates After Donation guide for plate questions. Use our Release of Liability After Donation guide for that filing.
Make one keep pile
Use one bag or box for everything you remove. Sort it after the vehicle leaves, not during the sweep. Make three small groups: keep, shred, and return or cancel. Keep keys, permits, medical items, photos, tools, and electronics. Shred documents with your name, address, policy number, account number, or vehicle identification number if you no longer need them. Return or cancel items tied to billing, access, or parking. This keeps the cleanout fast and reduces the chance that something valuable goes out with the tow.
Common questions
Should I leave my insurance card in the car?
No. Remove the insurance card and any proof-of-coverage papers from the glovebox. They contain personal information and may not be needed once the vehicle is donated. If you need a record, take a photo or keep a copy before you cancel or update the policy.
Do I need to remove my toll transponder if the account is closed?
Yes. Remove the physical transponder anyway. Then check the account to confirm the vehicle is removed. A transponder, sticker tag, or plate-mounted device can still be tied to billing records, access records, or account information even if you think the account is inactive.
What if I forgot something in the car?
Contact Crescent Wheels as soon as you notice. Give your name, the vehicle year, make, and model, and describe the item clearly. Retrieval is not always possible after a vehicle has moved through the donation process, so the best protection is the 15-minute sweep before pickup.
Can I remove a stereo, dash cam, or child seat?
You may remove personal add-ons such as a dash cam, child seat, portable GPS, or removable stereo faceplate. Leave the vehicle intact and consistent with the description you gave. Do not remove factory-installed parts, airbags, seat belts, catalytic converters, batteries, or required safety equipment.
More donation prep guides
A clean sweep protects your privacy, your accounts, and your records. Take the security items, billing items, documents, personal property, and saved electronic data. Leave the keys and signed-over title with the vehicle. Crescent Wheels supports Heritage for the Blind (EIN 58-2164446), and your completed cleanout helps the donation move forward without loose ends. When you are ready, use this checklist beside the car.