Step 1: Call your lender first
Ask about a payment deferral, an extension, or a modified payment plan. Many lenders offer hardship options but only if you ask before the account goes to collections.
Step 2: Ask local charities for one-time help
- Community Action Agencies sometimes have emergency funds for transportation.
- Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army may help with a one-time payment in some areas (see our Salvation Army car help guide).
- Churches and congregations often keep small benevolence funds.
- Call 211 to find emergency financial assistance near you.
Step 3: Check public benefits
If you receive TANF, ask your caseworker about transportation supports. Military families can contact Operation Homefront for emergency financial help.
Step 4: Consider refinancing
If your interest rate is high, a credit union or a nonprofit lender like Ways to Work or On the Road Lending may be able to refinance into a more affordable payment.
Be careful with “debt relief” companies that charge upfront fees to negotiate with your lender. You can call your lender yourself for free.
Where to find car payment assistance programs
These are the car payment assistance programs we found, by state. Programs change often, so contact each one to confirm eligibility. TANF supportive services in every state can also help with transportation costs.
| State | Program | Area served |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | On the Road Lending | Statewide (reported) |
| Arizona | Wheels to Work – NACOG & Arizona Central Credit Union | Northern Arizona |
| Arkansas | Community Resource Group | Regional |
| California | Driving Clean Assistance Program | Statewide (government) |
| District of Columbia | Ways to Work – Family Matters of Greater Washington | DC metro |
| District of Columbia | Vehicles for Change | DC (by referral) |
| Florida | Ways to Work | Jacksonville & St. Petersburg |
| Kentucky | Goodwill Cars to Work | Most of Kentucky |
| Louisiana | Ways to Work | Louisiana |
| Maryland | Vehicles for Change | Halethorpe (statewide) |
| Michigan | Vehicles for Change – Detroit | Detroit |
| Michigan | Ways to Work | Michigan counties |
| Minnesota | Family Assets for Independence in Minnesota | Elbow Lake |
| Minnesota | Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties | St. Paul |
| Mississippi | On the Road Lending | Statewide (reported) |
| Nebraska | Ways to Work | Omaha |
| New Jersey | NORWESCAP | Phillipsburg |
| New York | Wheels for Work | New York City, Monticello & Rochester |
| North Carolina | Working Wheels | Asheville |
| North Carolina | Ways to Work | Winston-Salem |
| Ohio | United Way of Greater Stark County | Canton area |
| Ohio | Lorain County Community Action – By Car | Lorain County |
| Pennsylvania | Community Auto – The Lighthouse Foundation | Valencia (Butler & N. Allegheny) |
| Pennsylvania | Ways to Work | Allentown, Langhorne & Stroudsburg |
| Pennsylvania | Women’s Opportunities Resource Center | Philadelphia |
| Pennsylvania | Work ’n Wheels-type programs | Statewide (government) |
| Tennessee | First Wheels (TN DHS) | Statewide (government) |
| Texas | On the Road Lending | Irving / Dallas |
| Texas | Metro Auto Ministry | North Texas |
| Vermont | Capstone Community Action | Barre |
| Virginia | Vehicles for Change | Northern Virginia |
| Virginia | Ways to Work | Lynchburg |
| Virginia | ECDC Enterprise Development Group | Arlington |
| Virginia | TANF-linked car loans | Statewide (government) |
| Washington | Working Wheels – Port Jobs | Seattle |
| Wisconsin | Wheels-2-Work – Central Wisconsin Community Action | Wisconsin Dells |
| Wisconsin | Work-n-Wheels | Eau Claire / Dodgeville (about 40 counties) |
| Wisconsin | JumpStart – West CAP | Glenwood City |
| Wisconsin | Couleecap | Westby |
| Wisconsin | Community Action Inc. | Beloit |
| Wisconsin | Ways to Work | Green Bay |
Protect your credit
Missed car payments hurt your credit score and make the next loan more expensive. If you agree to a hardship plan, ask how it will be reported to the credit bureaus, and check your free credit reports afterward at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Frequently asked questions
Are there free grants to help with car payments?
There is no national grant for car payments, but local charities, churches and community action agencies sometimes provide one-time help. Call 211 to find them.
What if I am unemployed?
Ask your lender for a hardship deferral right away, apply for unemployment benefits, and contact 211 for emergency assistance.