Owning a vehicle makes it easier to get from point a to point b for any number of daily activities and responsibilities. Having this form of transportation can certainly make life easier; but it does come with a wide range of costs.
Cost of Owning a Vehicle
Owning a vehicle costs money, plain and simple. There are a number of costs, in addition to the actual cost of the car, that vehicle owners are required to pay each year. These include:
- Insurance – owning a car requires insurance and insurance costs money.
- Taxes – depending on the state and locality, taxes can be significant.
- Maintenance – regular scheduled maintenance such as oil changes and tires costs money.
- Repairs – when a car breaks down repairs are necessary.
- Fuel – whether gas or electric, fuel costs are still required.
Maintenance versus Repairs
Some people group vehicle maintenance and repairs in the same category. While both cost money, they are actually two very different things.
Car Maintenance
Vehicle maintenance is the regular upkeep required to keep a vehicle in running condition. Manufacturers publish a maintenance schedule designed to ensure the vehicle is maintained in running condition. Following this schedule will help limit the number of repairs.
Maintenance includes replacing parts that are designed to wear out, like wiper blades, air filters, and tires among others. These are all parts that need to be replaced regardless of the vehicle manufacturer and wear with age Maintenance also includes items like:
- Oil changes
- Alignment
- Fluid replacement
These are different from repairs.
Car Repairs
Car repairs are done when a certain part malfunctions or wears out. These can be anything from a transmission replacement to a window switch replacement and anything in between.
These repairs can range in cost anywhere from less than $100 for something simple to thousands of dollars for something more significant like an engine or transmission replacement.
Using Title Loan Proceeds to Cover Car Repairs
The funds form a car title loan can be used for any expense. It is up to the borrower to decide how they want to use the funds from their car title loans. For a vehicle that requires a repair getting a car title loan to cover the cost of the repair is an option.
It is advisable to let your lender know that your vehicle is in need of a repair and that the repair will be taken care of with the loan proceeds. This may affect the max loan amount, but shouldn’t have a major affect if the repair does get done. Perhaps the check engine light is on. It is still possible to get a title loan with the check engine light on.
Preparing for the Title Loan to Cover Car Repairs
Prior to applying for a car title loan to cover a repair you want to ask yourself the following questions:
- How much will the repair cost?
- Does the vehicle value support the loan amount to cover the repair?
- Is the vehicle still drivable?
- Will driving cause more harm to the vehicle?
Title Loan Amount and Repair Cost
The first two questions are needed to help ensure you can borrow enough to cover the repair. To figure out what you can borrow, find out your vehicle value. The title loan max is usually 50% of vehicle value.
To next question about drivability relates to title loans where you need to bring the vehicle to the lender. If the answer to this question is no, then you will need to find title loans that don’t require the car. These are a specific type of title loan that involves sending in pictures of the vehicle instead of an in-person inspection.
Summary
Owning a car does require regular maintenance and occasional repairs. These items can and do cost money. Unexpected repairs can cost a significant amount of money. If you have equity in the vehicle, then a car title loan may offer a way to cover these repairs.