How an Emergency Car Repair Loan Works
These are personal installment loans, not auto loans — the money isn't tied to the car itself, so you can use it for the actual repair bill, a rental car, or a tow, whatever the emergency actually costs. You fill out one application with basic details, and a lender network reviews your information and shows you offers from lenders willing to work with your situation. If you accept an offer, the lender — not FastTrack — sets the final rate, term, and repayment schedule, and those terms vary by state and by lender.
What Lenders Typically Look At
- Proof of steady income (a job, benefits, or another regular source)
- An active checking account for funding and repayment
- State of residence — some products are not available in every state
- Basic identity and contact information
None of this requires a perfect credit history. Most matching services do not perform a hard credit pull just to show you offers — a hard inquiry, if any, typically only happens after you choose a specific lender and move forward with their offer.
Can You Get a Car Repair Loan With Bad Credit?
Often, yes. Many lenders in our network specialize in fair, poor, or rebuilding credit and weigh income and stability alongside your score. That said, a lower score usually means a higher rate and a smaller loan amount — shop the offer you receive against at least one other option before accepting.
Other Ways to Cover an Unexpected Repair Bill
A matching service is one option, not the only one — and it's worth knowing the alternatives before you decide:
- Ask the repair shop directly about in-house financing or a payment plan — many shops offer this and it can be cheaper than a loan
- A 0% introductory-APR credit card, if you already have one with available credit and can repay before the intro period ends
- A local credit union personal loan or a payday-alternative loan (PAL), which often carries a lower rate than online lenders
- Borrowing a smaller amount from savings or a family member to reduce the total interest paid
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can I actually get the money?
Matching typically takes under two minutes; funding time depends on the lender you choose, and many offer next-business-day funding once you accept an offer.
Will applying hurt my credit score?
Submitting the initial request does not involve a hard credit pull. If you accept a specific lender's offer, that lender may run its own check at that point.
What if I only need a small amount, like $300–$500?
Smaller amounts are usually easier to get approved for and cost less in total interest — only borrow what the repair actually costs. See our $500–$2,000 comparison for how amount affects approval speed.
Is FastTrack Lending the lender?
No. FastTrack Lending is a free matching service that connects you with third-party lenders in its network. Loan approval, rates, and terms are set entirely by the individual lender and vary by state.