Help Me Get Back on the Road After My Car Was Stolen

Hi, my name is Michael. I am an 18-year-old full-time student starting my second year at SJSU as a mechanical engineering major. I recently had my only car, a 1994 Acura Integra, stolen in San Jose. I need this car to commute an hour to and from school and work. It was eventually recovered, but not without damage. The thieves stripped and vandalized the car, leaving it undrivable and in need of serious repairs.

As someone who relies on this car daily for both school and work, this situation has hit me hard. I’ve already had to pay for towing and other unexpected costs just to get the car back. Unfortunately, because it’s a salvage title vehicle, it does not qualify to have full coverage insurance, meaning I’m fully responsible for all the repairs.

I’ve been doing what I can to assess and repair/replace the damaged and stolen parts within my ability, like replacing ripped out brake lines and buying a cheap set of wheels and tires to roll the car home. But some of the damage, like bent suspension mounts and body damage, will require a professional body shop and more resources than I currently have. If the damage ends up being too costly or extensive, I may need to put this toward getting another reliable vehicle altogether.

I’m asking for any help, no matter how small, to get me mobile again before the semester starts in a few weeks. Whether it goes toward repairs or a replacement vehicle, every dollar helps. I just want to be able to get to school and work without worrying about how I’ll make it.

Thank you so much for reading and for any support you can offer. Even sharing this helps more than you know.