When you live in America, having a car is essential in most areas. There are a few larger cities where you will not need to have a car, but if you don’t live in one of those places you will find it is difficult to get by without a vehicle. America has not been designed or built for pedestrians, but rather to accommodate a lot of cars. This leaves a lot of people needing financial assistance for car repairs.
Car repairs are usually expensive. How much they cost depends on what is being repaired, what mechanic shop is doing the work, and the type of car that it is. A BMW, for example, could have repairs that are $2,000 or more. Not many people can afford to make car repairs that are hundreds or thousands of dollars, and they will need financial assistance to make them, or they won’t be able to get the repairs done.
Without getting the car repairs, there are people who will no longer have transportation. This could keep them from being able to get to work and school, leading to bigger problems. It is crucial that people be able to get their necessary car repairs. If you need help paying for them you will need to consider some of the options below.
Financial Assistance to Repair Your Car
You may have to get creative to get financial assistance to get your car fixed. There are not a lot of programs that will just outright help people with paying for the repairs. You can utilize the programs below and the options to help with obtaining financial assistance. The more options you consider the better position you will be in to get the help that you need.
First Class Halt – They help people by allowing them to make monthly payments on the repairs that they need. They will also provide some assistance paying for some of the repairs in certain cases. Being able to finance the repairs makes it easier for many people to have their car fixed. That way you will get the repair you need and still have the transportation that is essential. To get more information and apply for assistance, click here.
Operation Homefront – This organization will help pay for car repairs for those who are military members, veterans, and their families. They do this through their Critical Financial Assistance program. You will need to submit an application and provide the necessary paperwork showing you are in the military or are a veteran. To get more information and apply for car repair assistance through their Critical Financial Assistance program, click here.
Working Cars for Working Families – This organization will help working families obtain a car and repair one. You have to show that you are a working family and need the vehicle for transportation to and from work. They will provide you with the transportation assistance needed so that you can keep working. To get more information and apply for their program, click here.
Automotive Service Assistant – This non-profit organization has a goal of helping people with their car repairs. They realize that car repairs are often unaffordable for people and yet the transportation is needed for work purposes. They seek to help support those people and their efforts, by providing assistance paying for the car repairs. They try to provide financial assistance to 20 applicants per month. You can submit an application for the program to see if you are one of the 20 each month who are selected. To get more information and apply for the program, click here.
211 – Call this number to inquire about any local programs that may exist that will help with paying for car repairs. The number is provided by the United Way and it is a free referral service that anyone in the country can use. When you call the number you tell them what type of assistance you are in need of and they will check their database to see if there are programs in your area that can help. To get more information about the 211 referral program, click here.
Crowdfunding – While this may not be a population option for many people, it is one that can help at times. Crowdfunding is a route that will have you asking people to help chip in to cover the repair bill. You will let people know, including your friends and family members, which you need money to fix your car. Some of them may choose to chip in some money to help out.
Finance Options – You may want to look into financing the repair. You can do this by putting the cost of the bill on a credit card and then paying for it over time. Another option is to ask at the mechanic shop if they offer any financing options. Some car repair centers have programs that will allow you to finance the cost of the car repair. Then you can make monthly payments on the repair bill. This makes it easier to pay for the repair, since you are not paying for it all at once. The car repair shop may have other suggestions as well, including if they know of local programs that may be willing to help that they can refer you to.
Churches – These are great places to turn to for help of all type. Whether you are a member of the church or not, you can reach out to them to see if their congregation would be willing to help with your situation. Their congregation may be willing to take up a donation to help you pay for the repair bill, or they may have a mechanic in the congregation who would be willing to help you out by doing the repair for you. Churches are located all around the country and they have a mission of helping the people who live in the communities where they are located. Reach out to all the churches in your area to see if one may be of assistance.
