Vehicle Requests

Vehicle Assistance Program: Eligibility and Application Guidelines:

You Must Meet the Following Basic Criteria to Qualify for a Vehicle Assistance Program – Eligibility & Application Guidelines

Because demand is high and vehicle availability is limited, applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered:

Eligibility Requirements:
A referral or recommendation is required from either a county or city social services agency or a recognized faith-based organization confirming the need for reliable transportation.

You must be a resident of Montgomery County, Maryland, and have a valid Maryland driver’s license.

You must have stable housing and not be experiencing homelessness or living in a shelter.

You must be employed full-time, working at least 30 hours per week, and provide proof of a job offer or recent employment within the past 30 days.

You must demonstrate sufficient income to cover vehicle-related expenses such as insurance, maintenance, and fuel, in addition to household living expenses.

Income verification is required, such as recent pay stubs or other proof of income.

You must provide details about your household size and any additional household income.

You must have no major driving infractions, including DUIs or DWIs, and no other vehicle in your household.

You must be drug-free, able to cover approximately $500 for taxes, tags, and title, and be at least 25 years old. Applicants under 25 must have children.

You must not have received a free car grant or participated in another vehicle donation program within the past six months.

Additional Information:
All applications are carefully reviewed, and due to limited resources, we cannot assist every qualified applicant. On average, one vehicle is donated each week, depending entirely on available donations. Approved applicants are placed on a waiting list, with an estimated wait time of two to three months.

How "Low-Income" Is Defined:
In Montgomery County, income limits are set by HUD (U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development) as a percentage of the Area Median Income (AMI). There are three main tiers:

Tier% of AMIWhat It MeansExtremely Low Income30% AMIDeepest need; qualifies for most subsidized programs Very Low Income50% AMIQualifies for most federal housing assistance Low Income80% AMIUpper threshold; qualifies for some programs

2025 Income Limits by Household Size (Montgomery County)
Based on HUD's 2025 figures, Montgomery County's "Very Low Income" limit (50% AMI) is $81,000, and the "Low Income" limit (80% AMI) is $129,600 MMP — these are for a single qualifying borrower, but limits scale with family size.
For Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), the 2025 household income limits in Montgomery County are:

1 person: $41,800
2 persons: $47,800
3 persons: $53,750
4 persons: $59,700
5 persons: $64,500
6 persons: $69,300

These represent the Very Low Income (50% AMI) cutoffs used for housing assistance eligibility.

Context: Why These Numbers Are High
Montgomery County is an expensive area. The median household income in Montgomery County is approximately $128,733 Neilsberg, which is far above the national median. This means a family earning $60,000–$70,000 — which would be solidly middle-class in most U.S. counties — is considered "low income" here by federal standards.

Bottom Line for a Typical Low-Income Family of 4

A family of 4 in Montgomery County qualifies as:

Extremely low income if earning roughly ~$36,000–$40,000 or less
Very low income if earning up to ~$59,700
Low income (80% AMI) if earning up to ~$95,000–$100,000

Keep in mind these are ceiling figures — to qualify for most assistance programs, a family must earn below the relevant threshold. Note also that I'm not a financial advisor, and program-specific limits can vary; it's worth checking directly with Montgomery County's Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) or DHCA for the program you're interested in.