Where to get a car or truck fixed for free.
Find details on how to get your car repaired for free from national and regional charities, churches and even some government programs. Most of the vehicle repair assistance programs are for people who need a car or truck for work, job training or school. Some mechanics or garages will also do the work on a charity, volunteer basis to fix a car or truck. Get information below where to go for free car repair services in your area with links to phone numbers.
National organizations for free car repairs
Community Action Agencies
are a nationwide network to check. Many local CAAs use Community Services Block Grant funds for short-term crisis needs related to employment, and in some regions that includes car repairs. These agencies are partly funded by the federal government and many do operate resources that focus on employment, which will include transportation needs for the unemployed or job-seekers. Even if assistance with car repairs is not offered, they may instead provide other transportation support. Get money from a CAA to pay for transportation for a doctors appointment, job interview, or other emergency needs in a local town or county. Or apply for a grant or loan that can in effect pay for the repair or maintenance of your automobile. Click here for more information on transportation programs from community action agencies . FCC, or Free Charity Cars , helps with transportation needs in almost all states. Part of their service will be to provide free car repairs or maintenance work - and this is in addition to given out a free vehicle. The non-profit relies on donated vehicles from the public or companies, which they repair free or cost, then give for job reasons. Learn more on Free Charity Cars transportation services . If you need transportation to your job, or maybe even for an interview, Ways to Work may be able to help. They provide low interest loans so people can afford to buy a car on their own. The loans can also usually be used to pay for some type of employment related car repairs. So while it is not a free service, the financing can in effect allow people to save possibly hundreds of dollars per year on repairing their vehicle. Learn more on low cost Ways to Work auto loans . Another charity that may be able to refer people to local car repair assistance programs is
Lutheran Social Services
. This is a nationwide network of human service organizations as well as churches. While the exact types of programs will vary by town, county, and state, some of the locations may be able to help with car repairs or offer referrals to free mechanics near you. They may also offer advice on where to get a donated car from. More on Lutheran Services assistance programs . CARS for Christ has parishes, churches, and faith based groups (including Christian charities) that provide free car repairs. The non-profit charity has a focus on helping teenagers, young mothers or fathers, and people starting off in life get or fix a car, including free repairs, oil changes, new tires and more. The charity operates nationwide with the website here https://carsforchrist.com/ or call 770-784-9999.
Local Salvation Army centers
can usually provide information on regional transportation assistance or free car or truck repair programs. While the specifics offered in each county will vary and resources are very limited, some locations can help fix the cars or trucks of people with little to no money or savings to their name. Low-income households as well as the unemployed may also be given free car repairs from a mechanic that partners with the Salvation Army in your community. In addition to the Salvation Army providing some money to pay for a repair, oftentimes a case worker can provide information on programs or agencies that can contribute towards your automobile repair expense as well. More on
Salvation Army
. Repairs from United Methodist Church ministries may be a possibility. Some churches of this faith based organization coordinate resources among their local community, including using volunteer mechanics and car donation programs. Depending on the church, some basic repairs may be done for free or some ministries may offer rides or even a new car. Typically only labor is provided, and the individual needs to pay for any parts. Read about the car repair ministry from United Methodist Church . One of the nation’s largest charity/church organizations (
St. Vincent De Paul
) may have information on or they have very small amounts of money to contribute for automobile repairs. Some of the local SVDP parishes donate used cars to qualified low income families, while other ministries assist with repairs, provide free tires, and more. There are some auto shop owners that may work with a local Society of Saint Vincent Parish to volunteer their time to help repair a car at no cost to the client, provided the parts are paid for by the automobile owner with more information here on how to get help from Society of St. Vincent in your area . Local churches are volunteer based programs offering small car repairs for those in need. Churches will be servicing people who can’t otherwise pay for basic maintenance. The support ministries are run by Christian community groups or churches that donate vehicles to low-income families or single moms. They may collect repairable vehicles, fix them, and pass them on as reliable transportation. Click here for more information on car repairs and gasoline programs from churches . Military families have dedicated national options. The two leading, national non-profits that can help pay for a car repair include the following and they take applications online
Operation Homefront’s Critical Financial Assistance
program can pay for auto repairs for eligible active-duty families and some veterans after a short application review. Dial (210) 659-7756. Semper Fi & America’s Fund also helps injured and critically ill service members and families with transportation needs; the main line is 760-725-3680 and staff can advise on repair situations tied to medical or work stability. If you have a disability and need the vehicle to work , contact your state Vocational Rehabilitation agency . VR services can cover repairs to a car or other transportation needs when they are required for an employment plan. While the government funds it, the local VR agencies are non-profits. Many state VR policies allow payment for vehicle repairs if that is the most reasonable way to enable employment. Start with your state VR office and be ready to show that the repair is necessary for your job goal. The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) website provides a comprehensive directory of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies across all 50 U.S. states, plus D.C., Puerto Rico, and several territories with the website here https://rsa.ed.gov/about/states . Other more regional or local charities will offer repairs, provide referrals to cheap or free volunteer mechanics, or that may be able to fix your car or free . Many local churches (that are not on the list) also offer free car repairs, often using donations from the parish or helping the family find an auto mechanic to do the work. Each will have an application process, and the programs are limited in size, but they can serve as additional options. Those one off programs can be noted in our forum. Or do you have questions or want to read what other people are doing for help when their car breaks down? As we have a dedicated forum about getting help with car repairs , even free work done, that covers all of the US with tips from others, real list examples and more. Another national agency that focuses on providing used cars or financing to low income individuals, but that may be a good place to call to learn about free auto repairs, is
National Consumer Law Center (NCLC)
(formerly Working Cars for Working Families). They partner with local non-profits that give out vehicles or help fix them. It provides a free, searchable database to help low-wage working families find nonprofit organizations across the U.S. that offer used or donated vehicles as well as mechanics in all states. Learn more on
National Consumer Law Center - Working Cars for Working Families
. The leading car donation charity is 1-800-Charity-Cars . You can donate your old automobile to them, and they will then screen individuals to find the best match for your car. Dial 800-242-7489. While they do not directly provide for repairs , they may be able to refer the low-income or single parents or mothers to local repair shops or even churches that offer assistance.
- number of regional non-profit organizations and charities may also provide “new”
used cars to qualified low income families . Some of these locations may also have referrals to either local garages or programs that will repair your existing car for free or at a reduced rate. While the recipient will usually need to use the automobile for work related purposes, the terms of each agency will vary. Read more free cars .
Government assistance programs to pay for car repairs
Start with safety recalls . If the problem to the vehicle is part of a federal government safety recall, the repair is free at a dealership regardless of the vehicle’s age or ownership history . Use the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s VIN lookup to check your car and schedule the fix with a dealer service department with the website link here https://www.nhtsa.gov/ . If your repair is tied to getting or keeping work, check your local American Job Center . Under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, “supportive services” can pay for things necessary to participate in a job or training program which can include the repairs to a vehicle Local workforce boards decide what’s allowed, and many list auto repairs as an eligible transportation expense when it is the only way a participant can attend work or training. Find your nearest American Job Center through CareerOneStop or call the U.S. Department of Labor help line at 877-872-5627 to ask about repair help from the government and what documents they need. Bring proof of income, a written estimate from a mechanic or garage, and something showing the job need, such as a work schedule or interview email. Free car repair assistance programs area provided as part of TANF, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (not states may call TANF by different names). It is a form of cash assistance for families with children who are living in or near poverty. Many states includes one-time car repairs or related transportation costs as auto repairs and access to transportation for a job are critical to breaking the cycle of poverty. Policies vary, but federal guidance allows transportation uses and states publish their own rules. Some state plans explicitly list car repairs as allowable transportation support and learn more on the benefit including TANF cash assistance for car repairs . Several states run emissions repair assistance that can make fixes effectively free if your car failed a test. Each program has its own income and vehicle rules, so read the agency page closely and apply before repairs begin.
Arizona’s Voluntary Vehicle Repair Program
helps with car repairs and it pays up to a set amount toward emissions repairs after a failed test with a small copay at approved shops with the website here https://azdeq.gov/carhelp . It helps with car repairs, with a focus on emission reductions. Get free estimates for emission controls and more. Call 520-628-5395
California’s Consumer Assistance Program
provides repair help for eligible households that fail a Smog Check; apply through the Bureau of Automotive Repair (website https://www.bar.ca.gov/caponline/ ) before authorizing work.
Connecticut's Jobs First Employment Services (JFES) program
from DSS helps pay for transportation needs - which can include minor car repairs with information on the Department of Labor site or customer service at (860) 263-6789. Clark County, Nevada operates Smog Free Clark County, which funds emissions-related repairs for older vehicles; check eligibility and participating stations on the website https://smogfreeclarkcounty.com/apply/ .
Colorado’s Regional Air Quality Council
has launched repair assistance to help vehicles pass emissions standards in the Denver area with multiple car repair options here https://raqc.org/programs . Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance’s (DTA) TAFDC Pathways to Work helps pay for work related costs, such includes car or truck repairs if that is a barrier to a job with the site here https://www.mass.gov/tafdc-pathways-to-work .
Washington DSHS
helps pay for repairs as part of Diversion Cash Assistance (DCA). The government will pay to repair, or maintain, a vehicle for families needing a short-term fix to maintain employment. Call 877-501-2233. The federal government can also provide low interest rate loans and/or grants to a limited number of lower income individuals. These programs can change by the year based on federal funding levels. However when a grant is available near you the grants can be used to in effect provide free emergency car repairs to the applicant. Any type of assistance provided is for people who need a car to get to work, and who do not have access to any other public transportation. The funds from the government program can be used to pay for repairs, maintenance, items such as new tires, and other transportation needs. Find additional information on this automobile repair grant program .