Urgent Help Needed for Car Repair and Family Stability

Hi there,

Skip to the last paragraph for the goal, or read on for the explanation.

I have been trying for months to avoid doing this, but after the call I received today, I have nothing left to do. I have to set aside my pride and ask for help. My heart is shattered right now that I even have to do this.

My car broke down in mid-July. Since then, we have been through hell trying to get it fixed. It's a 2021 Hyundai Tucson with engine failure. The lowest quote to get it fixed is $10,844. Trust me, I've already explored all avenues of how to get this covered. Insurance won't cover it because it's a mechanical failure. Hyundai won't cover it because I'm the second owner, so it's not in warranty and it's not part of the recall. Hyundai denied my request to cover it anyway. The extended warranty that I purchased doesn't cover it because I'm a couple hundred miles past the expiration. I was able to get them to agree to cover $6,000 of the repairs after a lot of back and forthand sharing my situation with them. Lemon law doesn't apply because I've had the car too long. I can't sell it, because working it's only worth about $14,500 (and that's when it can run), and my loan has a remaining balance of $28,239. Voluntary repossession would still leave me responsible for paying the remaining balance on the loan AND make it even more impossible for me to get approved for any kind of car. I am still responsible for making the payments each month ($670) plus having full coverage insurance since it's financed ($190), so I can't afford much, and I don't qualify to take out a second loan on another car anyway. I don't qualify for any personal loans or lines of credit. The dealership has been very gracious and not charged me the storage fee of $45/day the entire time it's been sitting there while we waited for me to come up with the money, but that time has run out. I have until Wednesday, 11/13/2024, to make a decision on what to do before they start charging (pay the diagnostic and get it towed back to my house to sit, pay to start the repairs, or start incurring the storage fee until they have it towed to a tow yard for non-payment).

If I don't have a car, I am unable to continue to work. (It is impossible to get my kids (ages 3 and 9 months) dropped off at different places every morning, make it to my 4 different jobs on time, pick them up, and get back home using public transit. I've looked into it a few times already.) I have to support my two young children along with myself, in a state I can barely afford even with all the work I'm doing to make ends meet.

My immediate goal is at least $400; this would be to tow my car from the dealership to my house and pay the diagnostic fee. Ideally, I'd love to just raise the amount needed ($5,000) to cover the cost of the repairs so I don't have to also pay to tow it back in the future whenever I can gather the money I need.

I'm truly sorry to need to ask for help. I know times are tough for everyone, so honestly, I don't expect this to go far. I just have to try.

Thanks for reading if you've made it this far, and thank you, from myself and the babies, if you're able to donate.