Compare Lenders for Car Expense Personal Loans with Auto Approve

Auto Approve Loans is a free connecting service, not a lender, and the brand name does not mean anyone gets a yes without review: every lender sets its own rules, runs its own checks and makes every credit decision. This page compares ten national lenders that offer personal loans and that drivers often consider when a repair bill, insurance deductible or set of tires lands at the wrong time. Auto Approve Loans is not affiliated with any of the companies below unless a lender states otherwise, and no lender paid for placement in this comparison.

All figures come from each lender's own published disclosures or, where a lender does not publish a figure, from consistent independent reviews, and they reflect what we found at the time of our latest review. Rates, fees and state rules change often, so always confirm the current numbers on the lender's own site before you apply. If you want definitions for any term used here, our plain-English glossary entry on APR and the rest of the glossary explain them.

How Auto Approve Loans Compares Lenders

Auto Approve Loans compares lenders on six published facts: loan amount range, APR range, repayment terms, origination or administration fees, funding speed and stated credit or state limits, then judges fit for a $500 to $5,000 car expense.

We focus on the numbers that change what a car repair actually costs you. A lender with a low starting APR can still be a poor match if its smallest loan is $3,000 and your brake job is $700, because you would pay interest on money you do not need. Likewise, an origination fee of 8% on a $2,000 loan takes about $160 out of your proceeds before the shop is paid, which matters more than a one-point difference in APR.

• Loan amount range: the published minimum and maximum, including state minimums where the lender lists them.
• APR range: the lowest and highest annual percentage rate the lender advertises.
• Terms: the shortest and longest repayment period, in months.
• Fees: origination or administration fees, which are usually deducted from the money you receive.
• Funding speed: how quickly funds can arrive after approval and verification, as the lender describes it.
• Credit notes: a published minimum score if one exists; most of these lenders do not publish one.

Overview Table of Ten Personal Lenders

The overview table lists published loan amounts, APR ranges, terms, upfront fees and funding speed for all ten lenders, so you can see at a glance which ones can lend as little as your car expense needs.

Two patterns stand out. First, nine of the ten lenders top out at an APR of roughly 36%, so borrowers with fair or limited credit should expect offers near the high end. Second, only Oportun advertises loans below $1,000, which matters if you need $500 for a battery or a set of brake pads.

Upstart

Upstart is an online lending marketplace that offers personal loans from $1,000 to $75,000 with APRs of about 6.3% to 35.99% and terms of three or five years, through partner banks and credit unions.

• Amounts: $1,000 to $75,000; minimums are higher in some states, such as $3,100 in Georgia and $1,500 in Hawaii.
• APR: about 6.3% to 35.99%, with the lowest rates reserved for the most qualified applicants.
• Terms: three or five years only.
• Fees: an origination fee may be deducted from proceeds; Upstart does not publish a fixed range on its main loan page.
• Funding: funds can be sent as soon as the next business day after approval.
• Credit: no published minimum score; Upstart says it also weighs income, employment and education.

Who it may suit: a borrower with thin credit but steady income who needs at least $1,000, for example a $1,200 alternator and battery job. The shortest term is 36 months, so a small repair can cost more in total interest than a shorter loan would.

Avant

Avant offers unsecured personal loans from $2,000 to $35,000 with APRs from 9.95% to 35.99%, terms of 24 to 60 months and an administration fee of up to 9.99%, aimed largely at fair-credit borrowers.

• Amounts: $2,000 to $35,000; minimums vary by state.
• APR: 9.95% to 35.99%.
• Terms: 24 to 60 months.
• Fees: an administration fee of up to 9.99%, deducted from the loan proceeds.
• Funding: often the next business day when approved by 4:30 p.m. Central time on a weekday; extra document requests can slow this down.
• Credit: no published minimum score.

Who it may suit: a driver with fair credit facing a larger bill, such as a $2,500 transmission repair. Because the minimum is $2,000, Avant is usually not a fit for a $600 brake job, and a near-10% fee would take roughly $200 out of a $2,000 loan.

LendingPoint

LendingPoint advertises personal loans from $1,000 to $36,500 with APRs of 7.99% to 35.99% and terms of 24 to 72 months, with fees of up to 10% depending on the borrower's state.

• Amounts: $1,000 to $36,500; higher minimums apply in some states, including Georgia, Colorado and Hawaii.
• APR: 7.99% to 35.99%.
• Terms: 24 to 72 months.
• Fees: origination or other fees up to 10%, depending on state of residence.
• Funding: as soon as the next business day after approval.
• Availability: not offered to residents of Nevada or West Virginia.
• Credit: no published minimum score.

Who it may suit: fair-credit borrowers who need $1,000 to $5,000 for something like a catalytic converter replacement and want an online process. Watch the fee: on a $1,500 loan, a 10% fee leaves about $1,350 for the repair.

Oportun

Oportun offers small unsecured personal loans from about $300 to $10,000, does not require prior credit history, and charges an administrative fee of up to 10% of the principal, with APRs that can approach 36%.

• Amounts: $300 to $10,000 for unsecured loans, through bank partners in most states; some states have higher minimums.
• APR: Oportun does not publish an APR range on its main loan page; its illustrative examples show APRs near 36%.
• Terms: not published as a range; its example loan uses a 30-month term with payments every two weeks.
• Fees: administrative fee of up to 10% of the principal.
• Funding: Oportun does not publish a specific timeframe; independent reviews describe one to four business days.
• Credit: no credit history is required, though credit reports are requested for all applicants.

Who it may suit: borrowers with little or no credit history who need a small amount, such as $500 for a battery and tow. Expect a high APR, so compare it against a repair shop payment plan before you sign.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit, an online lender connected to Upgrade, offers personal loans from $1,000 to $50,000 with APRs of 11.69% to 35.99%, terms of 36 to 60 months and an origination fee deducted from proceeds.

• Amounts: $1,000 to $50,000.
• APR: 11.69% to 35.99%.
• Terms: 36 to 60 months.
• Fees: an origination fee is deducted from the loan; Universal Credit's own site was not accessible for us to confirm the current range, and independent reviews report figures between roughly 4% and 10%.
• Funding: about one business day after you accept and clear verification.
• Credit: the lender does not publish a minimum; independent reviews report a floor of about 560 to 580.

Who it may suit: borrowers with bad or fair credit who need $1,000 or more, such as a $1,800 collision deductible plus rental. The 36-month minimum term means more total interest on small balances.

Mariner Finance

Mariner Finance offers personal loans from $1,000 to $25,000 with APRs from 15.99% to 35.99% and terms of 12 to 72 months, online and through a network of local branches.

• Amounts: $1,000 to $25,000; online loans run about $1,500 to $14,000, with other amounts through branches. Georgia loans must exceed $3,000.
• APR: 15.99% to 35.99%.
• Terms: 12 to 72 months.
• Fees: origination fees may apply; Mariner does not publish the amount on its main loan page.
• Funding: Mariner does not publish a funding timeframe.
• Credit: no published minimum score; Mariner considers credit history, income and debts.

Who it may suit: borrowers who prefer to sit down with someone at a branch and who need $1,000 or more. The 12-month shortest term helps keep interest lower on a mid-size bill, such as a $1,500 AC compressor.

Lendmark Financial Services

Lendmark Financial Services is a branch-based installment lender licensed in 24 states, with maximum APRs of 35.99%, terms of 12 to 72 months and minimum loans of $2,000 or $3,000 depending on the state.

• Amounts: minimum $2,000 in Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi and $3,000 in other listed states; the largest unsecured loan is $8,000, with bigger loans requiring collateral.
• APR: maximum 35.99%; Lendmark does not publish a minimum APR.
• Terms: 12 to 72 months.
• Fees: origination or other fees may apply based on state law.
• Funding: Lendmark does not publish a funding timeframe.
• Availability: licensed in 24 states, mostly in the South, Midwest and West.

Who it may suit: borrowers in a covered state who need $2,000 to $5,000 and value local service. Lendmark is not designed for small repairs under $2,000.

OneMain Financial

OneMain Financial offers personal loans from $1,500 to $30,000 with fixed APRs of 11.99% to 35.99%, terms of 24 to 60 months, origination fees, and an option to secure the loan with a vehicle.

• Amounts: $1,500 to $30,000; larger amounts require a first lien on a vehicle. State minimums apply, such as $3,000 in California and $3,100 in Georgia.
• APR: 11.99% to 35.99% fixed; unsecured loans generally carry higher APRs.
• Terms: 24 to 60 months.
• Fees: origination fees apply and vary by state; OneMain lists them in a separate fee disclosure.
• Funding: as soon as one hour after closing to an eligible debit card, or about one to two business days by bank transfer.
• Credit: no published minimum score.

Who it may suit: borrowers with fair credit who own a car and may qualify for a lower rate with a secured loan backed by collateral. Using your car as collateral means it could be repossessed if you stop paying, so weigh that risk carefully.

Upgrade

Upgrade offers personal loans from $1,000 to $50,000 with APRs of 7.74% to 35.99%, terms of 24 to 84 months and origination fees of 1.85% to 9.99% deducted from proceeds.

• Amounts: $1,000 to $50,000.
• APR: 7.74% to 35.99%.
• Terms: 24 to 84 months.
• Fees: origination fee of 1.85% to 9.99%, taken from the loan proceeds.
• Funding: within one business day of clearing verification.
• Credit: no published minimum score; certain offers may not be available in all states.

Who it may suit: borrowers with fair to good credit who need $1,000 to $5,000, for example a $1,200 set of tires plus alignment. A long term lowers the monthly payment but raises total interest, so pick the shortest term you can afford.

Best Egg

Best Egg offers personal loans from $2,000 to $50,000 with APRs of 6.99% to 35.99%, terms of 36 to 60 months and origination fees of 0.99% to 9.99%, and is not available in every state.

• Amounts: $2,000 to $50,000; higher minimums apply in Massachusetts, Ohio and Georgia.
• APR: 6.99% to 35.99%, which includes the origination fee.
• Terms: 36 to 60 months.
• Fees: 0.99% to 9.99%, deducted from proceeds; terms of four years or longer carry a fee of at least 4.99%.
• Funding: as little as 24 hours, though deposits can take one to three business days after verification.
• Availability: not offered in Iowa, Nebraska, Vermont, West Virginia, the District of Columbia or U.S. territories.

Who it may suit: borrowers with good credit facing a $2,000 to $5,000 bill, such as a transmission rebuild. Best Egg is not built for small repairs because of its $2,000 minimum and 36-month shortest term.

Which Lender Fits a $500 to $5,000 Car Expense?

The best lender for a car expense is usually the one whose minimum loan matches your bill, whose fee is lowest, and whose shortest term you can afford, rather than the one advertising the lowest starting APR.

Match the lender to the size of the bill. Here is a quick way to sort the list:

• Under $1,000: only Oportun advertises loans this small; otherwise consider a shop payment plan or a credit union small-dollar loan.
• $1,000 to $2,000: Upstart, LendingPoint, Universal Credit, Mariner Finance, OneMain Financial (from $1,500) and Upgrade.
• $2,000 to $5,000: all ten may fit, including Avant, Best Egg and Lendmark Financial Services.
• Fair or limited credit: Oportun, Universal Credit, Avant and LendingPoint are often discussed for this group, but approval is never certain.

Before you borrow, get a written, approved auto repair estimate from the shop so you know the exact amount. Borrowing $2,000 for a $1,400 job adds interest on $600 you never needed.

What Personal Loan Fees Do to a Small Repair Loan

An origination fee shrinks the cash you receive, so on a small personal loan a 5% to 10% fee can cost as much as several months of interest and should be counted before you compare APRs.

Most lenders in this comparison deduct the fee from your proceeds. On a $2,000 personal loan with an 8% fee you would receive about $1,840 but repay the full $2,000 plus interest. If the repair costs exactly $2,000, you either borrow more or cover the gap yourself. The APR already includes the fee, which is why the personal loan rates guide for car expenses recommends comparing APR rather than the interest rate alone.

Use our numbers as a starting point. Representative example: a $2,000 personal loan repaid over 12 months at 24% APR would cost about $189.12 per month, or $2,269.43 in total ($269.43 in interest). This is an estimate; your actual rate and terms are set by the lender. You can test other amounts and terms in the personal loan calculator.

Applying Directly vs Using a Connecting Service

Applying directly lets you choose one lender, while a connecting service like Auto Approve Loans sends one request that may reach several participating lenders, saving time but sharing your information more widely.

Going lender by lender means filling out several forms and possibly facing several credit checks. Most lenders on this list offer prequalification with a soft credit check that does not affect your score, and a hard inquiry happens only when you formally apply. With a connecting service, auto loan approval for repair costs still depends entirely on each lender; the service does not decide anything. Lenders reached through our network may or may not include any company listed here.

Whichever route you take, read the full offer before you sign, including the fee, APR, number of payments and any late fee. You can also check what borrowers say about our process in Auto Approve reviews, and see the basic requirements on the loan eligibility and requirements page.

How We Keep This Comparison Accurate

We check each lender's own published disclosures first, use consistent independent reviews only when a lender does not publish a figure, and say plainly when a number could not be confirmed.

• Lender figures can change without notice, and state laws set different minimums, maximums and fee caps.
• Advertised APR ranges show the lowest and highest possible rates; your offer depends on credit, income, debts and state.
• Funding times start after approval and verification, and your bank may take longer to make the money available.
• We do not rank lenders by payment from them, and inclusion here is not an endorsement.

Auto Approve Loans updates these notes when lenders change their disclosures. If a figure on this page no longer matches a lender's disclosures, the lender's version is the one that applies to you.