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Many lenders offer personal loans, and funds can often be deposited into your account within 24 hours. However, be sure to shop around and compare rates, fees and terms before applying.
Another option is asking a friend or family member for help. If this is your choice, make sure you put the loan agreement in writing to avoid strain on your relationship.
Personal Loans
There are a few ways you might borrow money for car repairs. You can dip into your emergency savings, use a credit card or seek out financing options such as personal loans or title loans.
Before you accept any loan offer, it’s important to read the terms and conditions carefully. This could include your repayment plan my loan , interest rates, fees and other information that will affect how much you pay in the long run. You should also make sure that you’ll be able to afford your monthly payments in addition to paying for the repairs.
Personal loans are a popular way to borrow money for unexpected expenses, including car repair costs. These loans are typically unsecured, meaning you don’t need to provide any collateral in order to qualify. You may need to submit basic personal information such as your name, address and Social Security number in order to apply for this type of loan. Lenders will typically also want to verify your employment and income. In addition, some lenders will require a debt-to-income ratio (DTI) that fits within their guidelines.
Other loan types such as payday and title loans are known for their predatory lending practices and are typically not recommended unless necessary. With a payday loan, you’ll need to provide a post-dated check or allow the lender to withdraw funds directly from your bank account. These loans also have high interest rates and can put you in a cycle of debt that’s difficult to break out of.
Title Loans
Car title loans are a form of no-credit-check lending in which borrowers pledge the title to their car to receive fast cash. The industry, which targets people who are written off as credit risks by traditional lenders, maintains that it provides a valuable service. But consumer advocates see it as predatory, since the loans often come with triple-digit interest rates and can result in car repossession if borrowers cannot pay their debts.
Some lenders may install a GPS device on your car or make a copy of the key to monitor it. Those tactics may help them repossess the vehicle if you fail to repay, and some states allow lenders to charge customers hefty fees to do so.
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, one-in-five auto title loan borrowers have their vehicles repossessed. The agency has also found that many borrowers who take out a title loan roll over their debt or borrow again soon after paying off their first loan, which can dramatically increase the overall cost of their borrowing.
Other ways to finance the cost of fixing your car include personal loans and credit cards. Most unsecured personal loans offer fixed interest rates that are far lower than the interest charged on title loans, and some credit card companies offer special cards for consumers with bad credit that have low rates and other benefits.
Credit Cards
Credit cards can be useful tools for paying for car repairs because they offer convenience, flexibility and extra perks. For example, some auto repair shops that partner with credit card issuers offer co-branded cards with special financing options for qualifying services. These cards have relatively forgiving credit approval standards and may even accept those with poor or no credit scores.
The problem with these types of cards, however, is that their interest rates are often very high after the promotional period ends. And funding your car repair with a credit card can hurt your credit utilization ratio, which is one of the biggest factors that influences your credit score.
Instead, a better option for many people is to use a personal or cash back credit card that offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for a set amount of time. This way, you can pay off the balance in full before interest charges begin. Then, you can put the remaining balance on a low-interest credit card or work it off through your monthly payments. Alternatively, some people are able to find a friend or family member who can lend them money or sell something they have to cover the cost of repairs. When borrowing from loved ones, be sure to set clear repayment terms to avoid any misunderstandings or hard feelings.
Other Lending Services
There aren’t loans specifically for car repairs, but you can use a personal loan or credit card to cover the costs. Make sure you choose a lender with a low minimum interest rate and that doesn’t charge an origination fee. PenFed, Patelco, and First Tech are good options, along with SoFi and Upstart. Beware of financing add-ons such as extended warranties or services and car insurance; these can increase the amount you owe.
You may also want to consider keeping an emergency slush fund or getting a warranty on your car to help pay for unexpected repairs. These are better alternatives to expensive auto repair loans. You can find a list of affordable loan lenders on our site. Alternatively, you can also contact local community organizations or faith-based groups to see if they offer assistance.
