How to Finance Your Mods

What are our cars without their modifications? Who wants a stock 95 Honda Civic when you can have one with flared arches and a roll cage? But all those mods we so desperately love cost money and in some cases, quite a lot of it. But don’t worry, there’s no need to start selling the furniture just yet. There are plenty of budget projects you can take on and when you’re done choosing one, here are a few tips on paying for those mods without listing everything in your house on eBay.

Finance Parts

The first and easiest option is to source your parts from a dealer that offers financing options on parts. It’s a quick and easy fix, especially if you can get your parts from the same dealer. The only issue here is that these finance plans tend to be long-term and you’re tying up part of your income for months or even years to come.

Get Sponsorship

The tried and trusted route of many a drifter is to get on the phone and start calling parts manufacturers and ask if they’d like to sponsor a project. Anything from rims at cost price to a custom intake for free could make a massive difference to your project budget. And you know what they say; if you don’t ask you don’t get. Bear in mind though that any manufacturer that agrees to sponsor your project by giving cut-price or even free parts is going to expect you to be at dozens of events showing off your car with their parts.

The Short-Term Loan

A short-term loan is a pretty good option as it allows you to get your hands on those much-needed dollars as soon as possible. And it’s not only that. Most providers of these kinds of loans aren’t too worried about your credit history or rating. So if you’ve taken a financial hit in the past, no need to worry, you can still get those mods on your ride.

This kind of loan is particularly beneficial to drivers who may have an unexpected repair bill right before an event or even those who have been invited to drive at an event but who don’t have the sponsorship money to make the trip. A quick cash injection means that their car will be out on the track making money where it belongs instead of parked up in the garage.  

The Credit Card

Now, we know what you’re going to say; the credit card is a bad idea, and we agree to a certain extent. The reason we’re listing it here is to warn you about using it properly. If you have a part to buy and your salary is coming in later, then by all means, knock yourself out. But if your budget is taking a hit and you need to add some spending power to it, the credit card is an expensive way to do so. Use the credit card for emergencies or don’t use it at all.

Used Parts

Look, this is a budget project, right? So the most obvious choice is to buy used parts. But don’t just pick stuff up on Craigslist. Look for reputable forums with classified sections and go from there. And if you can’t find that, then ask the local drift club for some advice. There’s always a market for used spare mod parts, and once you’ve found your feet in it, you’ll save a ton of cash.

Modding your car is something that every car owner should be able to do. And if you follow the tips above, there’s no reason why you can’t start your project tomorrow. Just remember, keep that credit card under lock and key.