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Car Repair Loans for Essential Repair Costs

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  • Borrow £1,000 to £8,000
  • Repay over 12 to 60 months
  • Check eligibility with no impact on your credit score
Check my eligibility now This won't affect your credit score

Representative example: Amount of credit £2,000 for 24 months. Interest rate: 41.2% pa (fixed). 24 scheduled monthly payments of £123.64. Total amount payable: £2,967.43. Representative 49.9% APR.

How a car repair loan could help

If you are looking for car repair loans, you may be dealing with a cost that cannot easily wait. A failed MOT, worn tyres, damaged brakes, gearbox trouble, or an unexpected warning light can all leave you needing to fix your car quickly while trying to protect your monthly budget.

A personal loan can be one option when you need to spread the cost of essential repairs over fixed monthly repayments. With 118 118 Money, if accepted, you can borrow £1,000 to £8,000 and repay over 12 to 60 months. You can start with an eligibility check to see whether you are likely to be accepted before you apply, and it will not affect your credit score.

Borrowing should be considered carefully. Before applying, it is worth comparing the repair cost, how urgently the work needs doing, and whether the monthly repayments would still fit comfortably alongside your other bills and essentials.

Check whether a car repair loan could be right for you
Use the eligibility checker to see whether you are likely to be accepted before you apply.
Check my eligibility This won't affect your credit score
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Why people look for car repair loans

Most people searching for help with car repair costs are trying to solve one immediate problem without throwing the rest of their finances off course.

Keep Your Car On The Road. If your car is essential for commuting, school runs, caring responsibilities, or everyday errands, spreading the repair cost over time may help you get moving again sooner.

Cover Larger Garage Bills. Some repairs can cost more than expected. Engine work, clutch replacements, MOT-related fixes, tyres, brakes, suspension, or electrical faults can all put pressure on your monthly budget.

Fixed Monthly Repayments. A personal loan gives you an agreed repayment amount each month, which can feel easier to manage than trying to absorb one large repair bill at once.

No Security Required. 118 118 Money personal loans are unsecured, so you do not need to use your car as security to apply.

Check Eligibility First. You can see whether you are likely to be accepted before you apply, and the eligibility check will not affect your credit score.

Borrow Within A Set Range. If accepted, you can borrow from £1,000 to £8,000 and repay over 12 to 60 months, depending on your individual circumstances.

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3 Simple Steps to Check Your Eligibility

  • Check your eligibility with no impact to your credit score
  • Review your offer, set up your Direct Debit and sign
  • Receive funds in 15 minutes*
Check my eligibility This won't affect your credit score. *This can vary from 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on your bank.
118 118 money helpers illustration

What to consider before applying

Start with a proper repair quote. If you can, ask the garage for a written estimate before you borrow. That gives you a clearer idea of how much you actually need and helps avoid borrowing more than necessary.

Focus on essential work first. If the bill includes urgent safety-related repairs as well as non-essential extras, it may help to separate what needs doing now from what can wait.

Think about affordability, not just speed. Getting the car fixed quickly matters, but the repayments still need to fit your budget month after month. Take time to work out what feels realistic.

Compare your options. Depending on the size of the bill, there may be alternatives worth considering, such as using savings, asking the garage whether it offers staged payments, or delaying non-urgent parts of the work.

Understand the total repayable amount. A lower monthly payment can sometimes mean repaying for longer and paying more overall. Make sure you are comfortable with the total cost, not only the monthly figure.

Be aware of missed payment charges. On 118 118 personal loans, missed or late repayments incur a £12 charge. Borrow only if you are confident you can keep up with repayments.

If you are still weighing things up, you can also explore practical help in our Money Guidance section before deciding whether to borrow.

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Car Repair Loans FAQs

A personal loan can be used for many legitimate essential costs, including car repairs, if that type of borrowing is suitable for your circumstances and affordable for your budget.

If accepted, you can borrow from £1,000 to £8,000 and repay over 12 to 60 months, depending on your individual circumstances.

No. 118 118 Money says its eligibility check lets you see whether you are likely to be accepted before you apply, without affecting your credit score.

No. 118 118 Money personal loans are unsecured, which means you do not need to use your vehicle as security.

Once approved and fully set up, funds could be received quickly. 118 118 Money says timing can vary from 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on your bank.

Check whether the repayments are affordable, get a written quote from the garage if possible, and think about the total amount repayable over the full loan term before you decide.

Need to see whether a loan could help cover your repair bill?

Start with an eligibility check and get an early indication before you apply. It will not affect your credit score.

Check my eligibility
118 118 money helpers illustration
118 118 money helpers illustration

Credit is subject to status, affordability and credit checks. Credit is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. Terms and conditions apply. Missed or late repayments on a 118 118 personal loan incur a £12 charge.