A car repair loan lets you pay the garage now and spread the cost over monthly repayments, as long as those repayments still leave enough for your regular bills. We offer a free broker service that checks a panel of FCA authorised lenders and brokers with one soft search. The lender decides whether to lend and pays any loan into your bank account, so you pay the garage yourself.
What a car repair loan can pay for
You can use a personal loan for work needed to get your car running again. The loan is in your own name, with no guarantor and nothing pledged as security.
- Repairs after a breakdown
- Work needed after an MOT failure
- Parts such as tyres, a clutch or a battery
Our Borrowing Barometer found vehicle costs were the stated reason for 12.4% of the 196,367 applications made through us between January and June 2026 (24,328 applications), the fourth most common reason. Their share stayed between 10.6% and 13.8% in every amount band, from £100 to £300 up to £2,501 to £5,000. These are self reported applications, not approved loans, and vehicle costs can cover more than repairs.
Get the exact cost before you borrow
- Request a written, itemised quote showing parts and labour. Ask whether VAT is included and whether there are other charges.
- Ask what needs fixing now and what can wait. Tell the garage you must agree any extra work before it starts.
- If the car failed its MOT, use the failure result to check which faults must be fixed.
- For a large bill, ask another garage to quote for the same work so you can compare.
- Apply for the quoted cost rather than rounding the amount up. You pay interest on each pound you borrow.
Our £300 loan guide can help you compare borrowing for a smaller garage bill.
What a car repair loan costs
The amount, interest rate and repayment term determine the cost. At the same rate, a shorter term costs less in total but means higher monthly payments. A longer term reduces each payment but keeps you paying interest for longer.
Check the monthly payment against what you have left after essentials and existing debts. Our £500 loan guide and £1,000 loan guide show worked repayments at our representative APR. Your offered rate may differ.
For high-cost short-term credit (APR of 100% or more, repaid within 12 months), the FCA price cap means interest, fees and charges together can never be more than the amount borrowed. A loan repaid over more than 12 months is usually outside that cap, so compare the total amount repayable.
Who can apply
Lenders set their own criteria, but as a general guide you will usually need to be a UK resident aged 18 or over, with a regular income the lender can verify, a UK bank account, and to pass the lender's own affordability and credit checks.
Some lenders on our panel consider applications from people with bad credit if the repayments are affordable now. Recent missed payments, defaults or county court judgments (CCJs) make approval less likely. Nobody can promise approval.
FCA rules require every lender to check that you can afford the repayments before it lends, and lenders look at your credit history as part of that. No genuine lender offers loans with no credit check.
Other ways to pay for a repair
- A garage payment plan. Ask if you can spread the bill and whether interest or fees apply. Check when each payment is due.
- Warranty or breakdown cover. Check whether your existing cover pays for the fault before authorising repairs. Ask the provider what it needs from the garage.
- Car insurance. Your policy may cover damage after an accident or theft. Check the excess and what the insurer will pay before deciding to claim.
- A credit union loan. Credit unions are not-for-profit and their interest is capped by law. Use the credit union finder to look for one you can join.
How to apply
For our quote, have your personal, income, outgoings and UK bank details ready. You do not upload documents. If you continue, the lender may ask for proof of income or check your bank statements. Read its rate and repayments before you agree.
Borrowing responsibly
Compare the total amount repayable over the full term before you agree to a loan. Every lender on our panel is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. If a repair bill would leave you unable to cover essentials, get free, impartial help from MoneyHelper before taking on another repayment.
Representative Example: Borrow £1,000 over 18 months. 18 monthly repayments of £89.22. Total amount repayable: £1,605.96. Interest: £605.96. Annual interest rate: 59.97% (fixed). Subject to application approval by the lender. Not all lenders offer loans up to £5,000. Representative APR 79.5% (Variable). Any representative monthly repayment shown is for illustration only, based on our representative APR. Your actual repayments will be confirmed by the matching lender if your application is approved.