Do a 15-minute sweep before the tow truck arrives: remove the garage-door remote, spare keys, toll transponder, parking permits, disability placards, insurance card, registration, glovebox papers, and all personal items. Check seats, pockets, console, trunk, and spare-tire area. Then factory-reset the infotainment system so Bluetooth pairings, HomeLink buttons, saved addresses, call history, and contacts are gone. Leave the keys and the signed-over title with the car.
Your pre-pickup checklist
Remove Security Items First
Start with security items first. Remove garage-door remotes, gate clickers, spare house keys, mailbox keys, office badges, and anything that could open a building. Check the key ring too. If the donor key has personal keys attached, separate them before pickup. Only the vehicle keys should remain for Heart Wheels and the tow driver. Keep personal keys aside.
Pull Billing Devices
Remove the toll transponder from the windshield, dashboard, or glovebox. Then log in to the toll account and remove this vehicle from the account so future charges do not follow the car. Also check prepaid parking, charging, car wash, or access stickers that could bill you later. Keep any device tied to your name or payment method.
Clear Glovebox Documents
Take out the insurance card, registration, repair receipts, financing notes, warranty papers, parking permits, disability placards, and any paper showing your address, policy number, or account number. Check the glovebox, owner’s manual sleeve, door pockets, and center console. Do not remove the signed-over title; that belongs with the vehicle at handoff.
Sweep Cabin And Trunk
Work front to back. Check under every seat, between seat cushions, seat-back pockets, cup holders, visors, sunglasses holders, the center console, and all door bins. Open the trunk, cargo area, tool tray, and spare-tire well. Look for cash, phones, medication, keys, garage cards, sunglasses, documents, clothing, and anything a family member may have left behind.
Wipe Stored Vehicle Data
Factory-reset the infotainment system if the car has one. Delete Bluetooth pairings, call history, contacts, garage-door HomeLink buttons, saved Wi-Fi, navigation favorites, and the saved home address. If you are unsure how to reset it, use the settings menu or owner’s manual. Remove USB drives, SD cards, CDs, and phone cables before the car leaves.
Remove Optional Add-Ons
If they are yours and easy to remove, take dash cams, phone mounts, upgraded stereo faceplates, portable GPS units, child seats, cargo organizers, and aftermarket floor mats. Do not strip parts needed to operate or represent the vehicle as donated. Keep the car intact and as-described so Heart Wheels receives the vehicle in the condition you reported.
Leave Required Handoff Items
Leave the vehicle keys with the car. Leave the signed-over title with the car too, placed where the tow driver can receive it or as Heart Wheels directed. Do not leave your insurance card, personal registration papers, or unrelated records inside the title envelope. If you have more than one vehicle key, leave the keys intended for the donated vehicle.
Related Tasks To Handle Separately
Two related cleanup tasks sit outside this sweep. Use our License Plates After Donation guide. Use our Release of Liability After Donation guide. If another paper or device makes you unsure, use the conservative rule: remove personal, valuable, or billable items, and leave only what Heart Wheels needs to move and transfer the vehicle. A quick photo of the items you removed can help you confirm the cleanout later. For state-specific document questions, confirm with the Nevada DMV before the car leaves.
Common questions
Should I leave my insurance card in the car?
No. Remove the insurance card and any insurance paperwork from the glovebox or console. Those documents can show policy numbers, addresses, and named drivers. Keep them for your records or for your insurer. The car should leave with the vehicle keys and the signed-over title, not your personal insurance documents.
What if I forget something after pickup?
Contact Heart Wheels right away and describe the item and where it may be. Recovery may not be possible once the vehicle leaves your driveway, storage lot, or Las Vegas apartment garage, so do the sweep before the driver takes the car. Focus especially on documents, electronics, keys, medication, and small valuables.
Can I remove my dash cam or child seat?
Yes, if it belongs to you and can be removed without damaging the vehicle. Take dash cams, child seats, phone mounts, and similar personal add-ons before the car leaves. Do not remove built-in equipment or parts that affect the vehicle’s condition, safety, or the description you gave during the donation process.
More donation prep guides
A careful 15-minute cleanout protects your privacy and prevents billable items from leaving with the car. Remove remotes, toll devices, documents, valuables, and stored electronic data. Leave only the vehicle keys and signed-over title with the donation. Heart Wheels supports Heritage for the Blind (EIN 58-2164446) through your vehicle gift. When your sweep is done, you are ready for the next handoff step.