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Residency is an exciting opportunity to get in-depth training within your chosen medical specialty. But these years also come with challenges. Residents are typically required to work long hours while earning just a fraction of what licensed physician’s make. At the same time, you likely have living expenses to cover, plus a mountain of education debt to pay back. This leads many residents to consider medical moonlighting as a way to bring in extra income.

Moonlighting simply means working a second job in addition to a primary job. For residents, it can be a chance to not only earn extra money, but also gain experience in new settings and broaden your career horizons. But there are also some significant downsides to consider. Here’s what residents need to know about medical moonlighting.

How Does Medical Moonlighting Work?

Medical moonlighting essentially means working a second job as an independent physician while still being in residency. Residents often take on moonlighting jobs to supplement their salaries, pay down student loan debt, and to get additional experience and practice beyond their responsibilities in their residency program.

Many medical moonlighting jobs fall under the category of what’s called “locum tenens” jobs, where you substitute for other medical professionals that are out on leave or help provide additional coverage at hospitals that are temporarily short-staffed. Often, you are able to pick and choose shifts that work with your schedule.

While moonlighting might seem like the perfect solution to financial stress, the policies and restrictions on resident moonlighting can be tricky to navigate. While residents who are licensed physicians are legally allowed to take on jobs providing medical care, residency programs typically have their own policies on whether residents can take on extra work.

Some programs prohibit moonlighting entirely, while others might limit moonlighting to residents further along in the program. Many programs will require you to get prior permission from a supervisor before you start moonlighting and you may have to formally state your reasons and goals for moonlighting.

Some residency programs allow you to take moonlighting shifts at the hospital facility where you are currently working, but you may be restricted from taking work outside of your hospital network.

Also keep in mind that the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) guidelines state that residents have an 80 hour weekly limit, on average, over each four-week period, with at least 10 hours of rest between duty hours. Plus, one of every seven days must be free of patient care duties and educational obligations.


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There Are Two Ways to Moonlight

There are two types of medical moonlighting that residents can pursue: internal and external.

Internal moonlighting involves working extra shifts at the hospital where you are primarily employed as a resident. External moonlighting, by contrast, means picking up extra shifts at a clinic, a practice, an urgent care center, or a different hospital than where you’re training.

External positions are usually locum tenens. Both residents and physicians can work locum tenens jobs, and residents often prefer these jobs to taking on an external part-time job with a single employer. For one reason, they provide flexibility and don’t require having an independent medical license (as opposed to a training license), your own malpractice insurance, or having privileges at a specific hospital.

Pros and Cons of Moonlighting in Residency

Medical moonlighting has benefits and drawbacks. Here’s a closer look at reasons for and against moonlighting in residency.

Advantages of Moonlighting During Residency

Earn Extra Income

Taking on a few moonlighting shifts per month can add up to substantial extra income — especially on a resident’s salary. As for how much money you can make moonlighting in residency, the answer will depend on the type of work you end up doing and the area you’re in. The average pay range is $100-$200 per hour, depending on the location and job duties.

Recommended: Guide to Medical Student Loan Refinancing

Gain Valuable Experience

You might be able to get experience that you don’t typically get in your residency program or you may get additional practice with certain skills or procedures. The extra hours in another area of the hospital — or in another hospital nearby — can give you insight into how other units operate.

The more experience you get, the more robust your resume will become. A great resume can lead to more job opportunities in the future.

Test Out Different Practice Settings

There are many types of workplaces physicians can choose to work in. Moonlighting offers the opportunity to test out some different settings, such as group practices, private practices, urgent care centers, and community clinics.

When your residency ends and it’s time to find a full-time job, having experience in more than one healthcare setting may help guide you toward (or away from) certain types of workplaces.

Expand Your Network

Moonlighting can provide the opportunity to work with more professionals in your field. If you choose external moonlighting, you may be able to develop relationships with physicians, residents, administrators, and other healthcare providers who you wouldn’t otherwise meet in your residency program. Expanding your network can expand your future career opportunities.

Disadvantages of Moonlighting During Residency

Less Free Time

As a resident, you’re likely already working long hours on a grueling schedule while also trying to hone your skills in your chosen specialty. On top of your current workload, even an extra shift here and there can mean you lose out on time with friends and family — or precious sleep.

More Stress

Taking on too much work can lead to mistakes and high stress levels. If you’re earning extra cash now but the quality of your work in your residency is compromised, moonlighting might not be worth it for you. As a resident, your first job is to learn, practice your skills, and build a foundation for your career. It can be a bit of a balancing act.

Medical Malpractice Coverage

With an internal moonlighting position, you’ll work under your training license and have liability coverage and protection under your residency program’s malpractice policy. But external moonlighting might require you to purchase a pricey professional liability insurance policy that you may or may not be able to afford.

Some locum tenens staffing agencies provide malpractice insurance but you’ll want to make sure the coverage is sufficient.

Could Raise Your Monthly Loan Payments

If you’re paying back your student loans on an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, moonlighting can increase your monthly payments. Under an IDR plan, you pay a percentage of your income. The more income you earn, generally the higher your payments will be.


💡 Quick Tip: Refinancing could be a great choice for working graduates who have higher-interest graduate PLUS loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and/or private loans.

How to Start Moonlighting in Residency

So, you’ve weighed the pros and cons, looked into your program and institution policies, and want to move forward with medical moonlighting. How do you find moonlighting opportunities?

If your hospital offers internal moonlighting shifts, that can be a good place to start your search. Internal moonlighting lets you work under your existing training license and malpractice insurance coverage.

If internal shifts are not available or you prefer to work external positions, you can find them through locum tenens staffing agencies. You can also find moonlighting opportunities through online job boards, such as:

•   Moonlighting.org

•   ZipRecruiter

•   Indeed

•   ResidentMoonlighting.com

Moonlighting jobs are available for physicians that work in a variety of medical specialties. It’s just a matter of finding ones available in your area. You might also consider using moonlighting as an opportunity to work in a more generalized specialty, like internal medicine, rather than looking for positions in their more specialized field.

The Takeaway

Moonlighting as a resident can help you earn extra money and start paying down medical school debt, while also gaining more practical experience. But before you start moonlighting in residency, you’ll want to make sure your medical school allows it. You’ll also need to monitor your working hours to ensure you’re following the ACGME 80-hour work week policy. Any internal or external moonlighting you do will be considered part of that 80-hour work week.

If you decide to move forward with medical moonlighting, you can start exploring your options and looking for a moonlighting gig that you think you’ll enjoy, that pays well, and that continues to give you more experience.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). SoFi Student Loan Refinance Loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, PAYE or SAVE. Additional terms and conditions apply. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal.

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Once you’ve decided it’s time to buy life insurance, the big question is whether a term or whole life insurance policy is right for you.

Both achieve the same goal: protecting your loved ones from financial hardship when you aren’t there to provide for them. But they go about doing this in very different ways. To decide which one to buy, a little knowledge is an important thing.

Let’s take a look at what each policy offers and highlight some considerations. By the end of this article, you should have a good idea of whether buying term or whole life insurance is right for you.

What Is Term Life Insurance?

Just as the name implies, term life insurance provides coverage for a set term or number of years. What that means is, if you die during the term of the policy, your beneficiaries receive a lump sum payment.

Here’s an example of how that works. Let’s say you take out $500,000 of term life insurance for 20 years. If you, the policy holder, were to die at year 19, your beneficiaries would receive the half-million dollars. But if the policy ends after 20 years, and you were to die a few months later, there’s no benefit at all.

What’s good about term life insurance is that it can offer coverage when you may need it most. With terms typically running between 10 and 30 years (though other variations are available), this kind of policy can give you the reassurance that, even in the worst-case scenario of your death, expenses like tuition, housing, and daily living costs can still be covered.

Many people purchase a term that will see them through the end of a mortgage or a child’s graduation from college. Some insurance providers offer the option of extending a policy as it comes to its conclusion. This is known as renewable term life insurance; check prices in advance as these extensions can be for a brief time period and tend to be costly.

It’s worth noting that if you buy, say, a 30-year term life insurance policy and are alive at the end of that time period, you don’t get a refund of the funds you’ve doled out. You have paid for protection but you didn’t use it. This may strike some people as “throwing away” their money.

For people who have that sentiment, there are options like “return-of-premium” policies that could help you recoup costs. This kind of life insurance is usually considerably more affordable than whole life, which we’ll explore in a minute. Because you are only buying protection for a specific time period, the premiums (the monthly fee you pay for coverage) are typically lower and are fixed.


💡 Quick Tip: Term life insurance coverage can range from $100K to $8 million. As your life changes, you can increase or decrease your coverage.

What Is Whole Life Insurance?

Whole life insurance is a popular type of permanent life insurance that offers coverage for a lifetime.

Generally speaking, once you get a policy, it stays in effect for the rest of your life, unless you cancel it. When the policy owner passes away, their beneficiaries receive a lump sum payment. This can offer peace of mind and may feel like a necessity if, say, you have a loved one who has a chronic health condition and/or cannot live independently.

Whole life insurance is a more complex financial product than term life insurance. It’s essentially a bundled insurance policy plus savings account. What’s known as “cash value” is built into the policy so you are building equity. Part of your premium (the monthly payment) is usually diverted into a separate account; that account can earn interest and may be tapped, as a loan.

This is not the only kind of life insurance policy with a cash account attached to it. For those who want their cash account to grow in different ways, there are also these kinds of permanent life insurance:

•   Universal life insurance, which earns interest on the cash value account and may allow for flexible monthly payments.

•   Variable life insurance, which allows you to invest the cash part of your policy in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. While these can grow your money faster, they also bring some degree of financial risk if the market drops.

•   Variable universal life, which gives you the ability to invest your savings account in stocks, bonds, and the like, as well as flexible premiums depending on how your cash value performs.

•   Indexed universal life, in which your cash account is linked to a stock market index. It earns interest based on this index, but often there is a minimum rate of return (as well as a limit on how high the interest can go), which makes it less risky than a variable universal life plan.

In general, whole life and the other kinds of permanent life insurance usually have higher initial premiums than term life insurance (its cost may even be a multiple of what you would pay for term insurance). This is due to its lifelong “in effect” status and the way it can help you grow the money in your cash value account.

Recommended: 8 Popular Types of Life Insurance for Any Age

How Do Term and Whole Life Insurance Differ?

Some people hear the differences between term and whole life insurance policies, and know in an instant which one is right for them. Other people have to mull the options for a while and maybe want to make a “pros vs. cons” list. If you fall into the latter camp, don’t worry. Let us help by summarizing some of the key differences right here.

Difference 1: Policy Features

Difference 2: Costs

The cost of a policy is undoubtedly a huge factor in your decision. So let’s cut to the chase: Whole life insurance costs up to 15 times more than term life for the same amount of coverage.

That’s because whole life insurance provides lifelong coverage and also includes that “cash value” savings component. It’s a more complex financial product, while term insurance is just straightforward coverage for a certain number of years.

Also know that while the cash value portion of a whole life policy can be tax-deferred over the life of the policy, when you redeem the cash value, there are usually tax implications due to the interest accrued.

Recommended: How to Buy Life Insurance in 9 Steps

How to Choose Between Term and Whole Life Insurance

When deciding which kind of policy to buy, there is no hard and fast rule. All that matters is what’s right for you. Consider these questions to help figure out your best option.

1. How long do you need coverage to last?

Do you need coverage to last your entire life, perhaps to fuel a trust for your children or provide a death benefit for a family member with a disability? Then you may be happiest with whole life insurance, meaning a death benefit will be paid, even if you live well past age 100.

If, however, you only need to know that a certain time frame is covered (say, the length of your mortgage or until your youngest graduates from college), then term life may work best for you. A policy can usually be purchased in various increments between 10 and 30 years.

2. Do you want just coverage or savings too?

Some people are just shopping for a policy that offers protection and peace of mind. They want to know that, should they die within a certain time frame, their loved ones would receive money to help cover expenses. For this insurance shopper, a term policy may make sense. It will pay a lump sum benefit if the policy holder dies within the term.

But if you are looking for a product that doesn’t just offer coverage but also helps you save, then a whole life plan may be a good move. These policies also have a cash value account that can grow over the years.

3. How much can you spend on life insurance?

There’s a pretty big disparity in the price of the two main kinds of life insurance. Whole life policies, which deliver ongoing, permanent coverage, typically cost much more than term insurance, which is only active for a limited number of years. Estimates say that a person will have to spend anywhere up to 15 times more for whole life versus term insurance. Also, the interest on the cash value of a whole life policy is usually subject
to taxes as well.

4. Does my age determine whether I should get term or whole life insurance?

In general, your age doesn’t determine whether you should buy term or whole life insurance. For instance, people often purchase a policy when they marry or are expecting their first child. These milestone events mean you have people depending on you, and you may well think now is the time to get life insurance coverage. However, deciding on term insurance that runs until your child’s 21st birthday or whole life insurance which delivers permanent coverage is a matter of personal preference and finances.

There are some cases in which term insurance is likely to be the better bet. For instance, if you and your partner took out a mortgage together, you might want term insurance that covers the length of your home loan. That way, if anything were to happen to you, your spouse doesn’t wind up being solely liable for all that debt.

Another scenario is buying life insurance when you are quite old and want to get coverage. In this case, term life insurance is likely to again be a good bet. You could buy a term of 10 or 20 years if you are in good health.

For those with medical issues, what’s called simplified issue or guaranteed issue term insurance may be best. These are typically small policies that cover end of life expenses, and they require no medical exams.

5. What if I Already Have Life Insurance and Want to Change My Policy?

It’s human to change your mind. No matter how much research you do, time and circumstances can make you rethink your purchase. Some term life insurance policies can be turned into whole life or other types of permanent insurance. This may have to occur within a certain time window, and it’s likely to trigger pricier premiums. Talk to your insurance company about your options. Your term may also be renewable or extendable.

With whole life insurance, changes to the policy may result in surrender charges, since the policy is a permanent one. Check with the policy provider to know what to expect.


💡 Quick Tip: Term life insurance coverage can range from $100K to $8 million. As your life changes, you can increase or decrease your coverage.

The Takeaway

While no one wants to think about their death, the silver lining to life insurance shopping is you know you’ll secure a way to provide for your loved ones when you’re no longer here.

To recap the two different approaches: Term life insurance has a time limit on coverage, and tends to be considerably more affordable. Whole life is a form of permanent life insurance that offers lifelong protection and an additional cash account, but tends to cost much more than term. As you weigh your needs and options, don’t be swayed by what others buy. This is an important financial decision that should be tailored to your specific situation, finances, and aspirations.

SoFi has partnered with Ladder to offer competitive term life insurance policies that are quick to set up and easy to understand. Apply in just minutes and get an instant decision. As your circumstances change, you can update or cancel your policy with no fees and no hassles.

Explore your life insurance options with SoFi Protect.

Coverage and pricing is subject to eligibility and underwriting criteria.
Ladder Insurance Services, LLC (CA license # OK22568; AR license # 3000140372) distributes term life insurance products issued by multiple insurers- for further details see ladderlife.com. All insurance products are governed by the terms set forth in the applicable insurance policy. Each insurer has financial responsibility for its own products.
Ladder, SoFi and SoFi Agency are separate, independent entities and are not responsible for the financial condition, business, or legal obligations of the other, SoFi Technologies, Inc. (SoFi) and SoFi Insurance Agency, LLC (SoFi Agency) do not issue, underwrite insurance or pay claims under LadderlifeTM policies. SoFi is compensated by Ladder for each issued term life policy.
Ladder offers coverage to people who are between the ages of 20 and 60 as of their nearest birthday. Your current age plus the term length cannot exceed 70 years.
All services from Ladder Insurance Services, LLC are their own. Once you reach Ladder, SoFi is not involved and has no control over the products or services involved. The Ladder service is limited to documents and does not provide legal advice. Individual circumstances are unique and using documents provided is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice.

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Personal loans can be either secured or unsecured. A secured personal loan has collateral that backs the borrower’s promise to repay the loan. An unsecured personal loan does not require collateral, and the only thing backing the borrower’s promise to repay is their creditworthiness.

The collateral requirement is the main difference between secured and unsecured personal loans, but there are other differences that may inform your decision about which type of loan is best for your financial needs.

What Is a Secured Personal Loan?

A secured personal loan is a loan for which the borrower pledges collateral that the lender can take possession of if the borrower fails to repay the loan. Put in simpler terms: If you default on your car loan, for example, the bank can repossess your car. For the lender, collateral equals a certain level of security.

Collateralized loans are common for mortgage and auto loans. A home is collateral for a mortgage, and a vehicle is collateral for an auto loan. They are somewhat less common for personal loans, though.

A personal loan isn’t tied to a particular asset in most cases, so there’s not an obvious item to pledge as collateral. The asset pledged must be owned by the applicant, and the lender will evaluate its value to be sure it’s equal to the amount of money being loaned. In some cases, a physical asset such as a vehicle is put up as collateral, but the collateral could also be an asset like a savings account or certificate of deposit.

Pros of Secured Personal Loans

While it may seem like the lender benefits more with a secured personal loan, there may also be advantages for the borrower.

•   Lenders typically see secured personal loans as less risky than their unsecured counterparts because there is an asset to back the loan if the borrower defaults.

•   Borrowers may get a lower interest rate on a secured personal loan than they might on an unsecured personal loan.

•   Secured personal loans can be a good way for borrowers to build credit, as long as they make regular, on-time payments.

Cons of Secured Personal Loans

Things that a borrower might see as a drawback to a secured personal loan might be a benefit to the lender. But each party to the loan agreement takes risks.

•   The lender is able to recoup its losses by seizing the collateral if the borrower defaults on their secured personal loan. However, it may take a while to liquidate that asset. If the collateral is a physical asset, such as a vehicle, it may take some time to find a buyer willing to pay the price the lender has set.

•   For the borrower, the main drawback to a secured personal loan is the possible loss of the asset pledged as collateral if they default on their loan.

•   The application and approval process may include more steps for a secured personal loan than an unsecured one because the asset’s worth will need to be valued.

💡 Quick Tip: Before choosing a personal loan, ask about the lender’s fees: origination, prepayment, late fees, etc. SoFi personal loans come with no-fee options, and no surprises.

What Is an Unsecured Personal Loan?

A personal loan that is backed mainly by the creditworthiness of the borrower is an unsecured personal loan. Sometimes called a signature loan, an unsecured loan does not require any collateral to guarantee the loan.

Defaulting on an unsecured personal loan can certainly have a negative effect on the borrower’s credit, but there wouldn’t be an asset to lose in addition.

Pros of Unsecured Personal Loans

Like their secured counterparts, unsecured personal loans can have benefits for both lender and borrower.

•   Lenders may be able to charge a higher interest rate on an unsecured personal loan because there isn’t any collateral to secure the loan. (This is a drawback for the borrower — see below.)

•   The borrower won’t lose an asset if they default on an unsecured personal loan.

•   The application process for an unsecured personal loan is generally much quicker than for one that’s secured because there is no asset to be valued.

•   Funds may be disbursed the same day or within a week, depending on the lender.

Cons of Unsecured Personal Loans

It may be relatively easy to find lenders who offer unsecured personal loans, but there are aspects that may be considered drawbacks.

•   Interest rates on unsecured personal loans may be higher than for secured personal loans because there is no asset backing the loan.

•   Some lenders may have minimum credit score requirements for approval of an unsecured loan, so applicants with poor credit may not qualify.

•   If the borrower defaults, their credit score may be negatively affected.

•   Applicants with lower credit scores may not qualify for loan amounts as high as those with higher credit scores.

Recommended: Personal Loan Calculator

Choosing Between Secured and Unsecured Personal Loan

There are lots of reasons for considering a personal loan in general, but choosing between a secured and an unsecured personal loan means taking some specifics into account.

Do You Have Collateral?

One of the main things to consider when thinking about applying for a secured personal loan vs. an unsecured personal loan is whether you have an asset of value that you’d be willing to risk.

If you do have such an asset, you may want to compare lenders who offer secured personal loans. Some online lenders offer secured loans, but they’re more commonly available through banks or credit unions.

Lenders may offer higher loan amounts for a loan backed by collateral than for one that isn’t, so if you need to borrow a large amount, it might be worth looking into a secured personal loan.

What Are You Planning to Use the Funds For?

Personal loan funds can generally be used for a wide variety of things, like debt consolidation, unexpected medical expenses, home improvement costs, and more.

If you need funds to pay multiple vendors or contractors — common in the case of wedding or home improvement costs — or you plan to consolidate other high-interest debt, an unsecured personal loan might be the right choice for you.

If you plan to purchase a specific item that might be considered an asset, however, the lender may want to attach that asset as collateral on the loan, thus making it a secured loan. Examples of this might be a secured personal loan to purchase land or to buy a boat.

What Type of Lender Is Right for the Loan You Need?

Another factor to consider when choosing between a secured or unsecured personal loan is the type of lender you’d rather work with.

Unsecured loans may be available through banks, credit unions, or online lenders. Not every financial institution offers unsecured loans, however.

Secured loans are more commonly offered by banks and credit unions — it’s less common to find one through an online lender.

If you have a savings account or certificate of deposit at your bank that you’d be willing to put up as collateral, it might be worth looking into a secured loan with your current bank.


💡 Quick Tip: Generally, the larger the personal loan, the bigger the risk for the lender — and the higher the interest rate. So one way to lower your interest rate is to try downsizing your loan amount.

Qualifying For a Personal Loan

There are different factors that go into qualification for a personal loan.

Each lender may have its own credit score, income, or debt-to-income ratio requirements, in addition to other factors. If you’re applying for a secured personal loan, each lender may have its own requirements for valuation of collateral.

It’s a good idea to compare lenders so you’ll have an idea of what they commonly require for an applicant to qualify for a personal loan. With that knowledge, you can better evaluate your own credit for the likelihood of being approved — or not.

Reviewing Your Credit Report

You can get a free copy of your credit report annually from each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax™, Experian™, and TransUnion™. It’s a good idea to check all three because not all lenders report payment history to all three bureaus. The credit bureaus don’t share information with each other, so getting a complete picture of your credit may mean looking at all three reports.

Your credit report contains personal information about you and information about past and current credit accounts in your name.

Personal information includes:

•   Name, current as well as any other names you may have gone by in the past

•   Addresses, current and previous

•   Birthdate

•   Social Security number

•   Employer

Lenders typically report:

•   The total amount of the installment loan or line of credit

•   Your record of on-time payments

•   Any missed payments

If you’ve had any bankruptcies, foreclosures, or repossessions, they will likely be included on your credit report as well.

If there is missing, incomplete, or incorrect information on your credit report, you can file a dispute with the credit bureau. It’s a good idea to clear up any errors before you start applying for a loan so you don’t have any unexpected roadblocks on the way to qualification.

If, in the process of reviewing your credit report, you find that you don’t have much of a credit history or your credit isn’t up to qualification standards, you may decide to take some time to work on improving your credit situation. That could mean increasing your income, lowering your expenses, paying down or consolidating existing debt, or just learning how to better manage your overall finances.

Recommended: How to Get Approved for a Personal Loan


The Takeaway

There are situations where an unsecured personal loan might be the right financial tool for you, and there may be others that would be better suited to a secured personal loan. The main difference between the two types of loans is that one requires collateral — a secured personal loan — and the other doesn’t — an unsecured personal loan. Deciding between the two depends on the borrower’s willingness to risk the loss of collateral, as well as their overall creditworthiness.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Almost everyone needs to finance car repairs sooner or later. It might be a breakdown on the highway, a fender bender at the supermarket parking lot, or perhaps (ugh) someone steals your catalytic converter.

Whatever the case, car repair bills can be significant and arrive without warning, stretching your budget to the max. If you’re in this situation, consider these five strategies to pay for urgent repairs and get back on the road again.

Strategies to Pay for Car Repairs

If you get hit with a large car repair bill or are thinking ahead and know a big-ticket item is coming up, consider the following ways to pay for the work that needs to be done.

1. Dip Into Your Emergency Fund

You may have heard it said that you should keep an emergency fund easily accessible for precisely this situation — an unexpected expense. But should you really use your emergency fund to pay for car repairs?

Dipping into your emergency fund might be a solution if you don’t have other cash available to pay for repairs. And, for many people, having a vehicle up and running is vital to their work and personal lives. In this way, it is a valid reason to tap your emergency fund.

What’s more, using your emergency savings instead of reaching for your credit card could save money on interest and other applicable costs.

Of course, if you dip into your emergency fund, you may need to spend time building it back up so you’re prepared for any other emergencies.


💡 Quick Tip: Some lenders can release funds as quickly as the same day your loan is approved. SoFi personal loans offer same-day funding for qualified borrowers.

2. Use Your Insurance

Is your car repair related to an accident? If so, your car insurance may help. It’s designed to protect you financially by covering some of the repair costs for vehicle damage and the medical bills related to any injuries.

The type of coverage and circumstances can vary.

•   For example, comprehensive insurance may help with some costs even if the accident didn’t involve another car or if the damage was caused by an unexpected event, like a tree falling on your hood.

•   Collision insurance doesn’t typically cover damage caused by normal wear and tear. This means that your coverage may not include things like theft, vandalism, or weather damage.

•   There is one type of insurance — what’s known as mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) — that covers some types of repairs. Therefore, if you have damage caused by routine use of the vehicle and you have an MBI policy, you may want to check to see if the repair is covered.

Before going this route, consider whether using your insurance will actually be cheaper than paying out of pocket. Making an insurance claim could cause your insurance rates to rise.

It’s wise to understand how your car insurance works. The specific instances that your insurance will cover should be laid out in your insurance policy. The amount of your policy deductible as well as the repair and type of coverage will likely be some factors you review with your insurance carrier.

3. Try to Negotiate

Whether you have to replace multiple tires after driving over road debris or you have to install new brakes due to normal wear and tear, you may be looking at a hefty repair bill.

The good news is that car dealerships aren’t the only places where you can haggle over your car. Local car repair shops might be willing to cut you a deal to win your business.

•   Consider asking the repair shop for a written quote explaining precisely what is wrong with your vehicle, how the mechanic plans to fix it, and what the cost will be.

•   Once you have this written estimate in hand, you may want to get a second opinion. Sometimes auto mechanics will offer you a discount on a quote from another shop to get your business.

•   You could also ask the mechanic to limit their quote to only the essential repairs to ensure that they don’t try to upsell you on prematurely replacing all your tires when the problem you need addressed is your power steering.

4. Put It on a Credit Card

It can be important to protect yourself against excessive credit card debt, but if you need to shell out hundreds, or even thousands of dollars for a quick car repair, you may find yourself reaching for that plastic lifeline.

You may feel as if you don’t have options, but proceed with caution. Using a credit card may come at a high price. Credit cards can carry high-interest rates that, if not paid off in a timely manner, can drive up the original cost of the car repair. If you can’t pay off your credit card debt right away, you may end up spending much more for your repairs by the time you make your final payment.

5. Consider a Personal Loan

Another option for paying for car repairs when you have no cash on hand may be taking out a personal loan. Personal loans are sometimes overlooked as a way to come up with cash fast, but in the right circumstances, a personal loan can come in handy.

A personal loan can often offer lower interest rates vs. options such as using your credit card. This could help you save money when facing unexpected car repairs.

•   A personal loan is typically an unsecured installment loan, which means that you borrow a set amount and pay it back in equal monthly installments over a fixed period. “Unsecured” means that the loan is not tied to any physical piece of property through a lien, but instead offered to borrowers based on factors like creditworthiness.

•   Another benefit of using a personal loan to pay for car repairs is the relatively quick application process. While you’ll need to meet certain qualifications set by your chosen lender in order to secure financing on a personal loan, some lenders disburse loan funds within a few days.

Depending on your situation, a personal loan might be the right option when it comes to helping you get back behind the wheel and onto the road.

Recommended: Smarter Ways to Get a Car Loan

The Takeaway

If you need to pay for car repairs, you have a few options to consider, from tapping your insurance (if appropriate) to using your emergency fund to taking out a personal loan. If the latter seems like the right move for you, shop around to find the offer that’s the right fit for you.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

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Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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