LendPro gives tire and auto repair shops one application, at the counter or by text, that reaches the lenders configured for the shop, from LendPro's network of 18+ lenders and 25+ lending programs, with soft-pull pre-qualification where the provider supports it. LendPro's multi-lender platform sits behind 1stMILE checkout, powers TireBoost for independent tire shops, and works with Midas, a LendPro partner, and AAMCO franchisees. LendPro is not a lender. Lenders make all credit decisions and set all terms.
Key takeaways
- Tire shop financing lets a customer pay for tires, brakes or repairs over time through a lender the shop offers, and LendPro is not a lender.
- Service advisors can offer one application at the counter or by text link, reaching lenders from LendPro's network of 18+ lenders and 25+ lending programs.
- Advisors should check each pre-qualified amount against the out-the-door estimate before the customer picks an offer.
- LendPro's multi-lender platform sits behind 1stMILE checkout, powers TireBoost for Tire Boost Group member shops, and works with Midas and AAMCO franchisees.
Why do customers defer auto repairs?
"Every approval we can't get is a repair that doesn't get performed."Rob Murphy, Vice President of Credit Services, 1stMILE
Nobody plans for a failed transmission or four worn tires. The customer came in for an oil change, the technician found worn brakes, and now the service advisor is holding an estimate the customer did not budget for. The Federal Reserve found that 63 percent of adults would cover a $400 emergency expense using cash or its equivalent, so more than a third would not. Many repair tickets are well above $400.
Source: Federal Reserve Board, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2024, released May 28, 2025.
When the shop offers one lender, three things happen. Customers with strong credit get approved. Customers with fair or limited credit get declined and defer the repair. And customers who get approved for less than the estimate pick the cheapest fix or nothing. A multi-lender setup helps with all three: one application reaches several lenders, offers show side by side or in the shop's waterfall order, and the customer can choose No Credit Needed at the start.
What is the approval-versus-estimate gap?
An approval that does not cover the repair order is not much better than a decline. If a customer pre-qualifies for $900 on a $1,600 brake and suspension job, the advisor has to cut work or the customer walks.
An approval only matters if it gives the customer enough purchasing power to move forward.
In 1stMILE's checkout, 1stMILE checks approval amounts against the estimated repair ticket. Outside 1stMILE checkout, LendPro shows pre-qualified offers side by side, or in the shop's order if the traditional waterfall setting is on, and the advisor compares each pre-qualified amount with the estimate before the customer picks one. A customer who wants a higher amount after an approval starts a new application.
Illustrative example: a $1,600 estimate. One lender pre-qualifies $900. Another lender pre-qualifies $1,800. The customer selects that offer, completes the provider's full application and, after final approval, authorizes the full job. Amounts and terms are set by each lender.
Service advisor workflow, at the counter and by text
- Offer financing with the estimate, not after the objection. "You can split this into payments."
- Choose the entry point. At the counter, the customer scans a QR code or uses a shop tablet. If the customer is waiting in the lobby or left the car for the day, the advisor texts a link.
- The customer picks a path on their phone. See If You Pre-Qualify, or No Credit Needed when the shop offers it, which skips the primary lenders.
- Pre-qualified offers appear. Side by side when several providers pre-qualify the customer, or in the shop's order if the waterfall setting is on. If a lender declines, the application is routed to another applicable lender, if one is available. In 1stMILE's checkout, 1stMILE also checks amounts against the estimated repair ticket.
- The advisor checks each offer against the repair order. Lender, pre-qualified amount and terms. The advisor also confirms what each provider covers.
- The customer selects an offer and completes the provider's full application. Employment, debit card and/or bank details may be required. The customer agrees to the provider's terms and submits, the lender may run a hard inquiry, and then the customer authorizes the work.
- The advisor finalizes the sale in LendPro. Invoice and e-sign, at the counter or by text or email link.
- Settlement follows the job. Settlement is processed in LendPro when the customer receives the goods or service.
Configure financing for each sales channel. Online and in-store lender availability, application requirements, and results may differ. LendPro works with the retailer to establish the appropriate configuration for each channel.
Where the provider supports pre-qualification, it uses a soft pull and won't affect credit scores. A lender may run a hard inquiry if the shopper accepts an offer.
"LendPro has been a great partner. The application is easy for the customer, and the response is very fast."Sabrina Booth, Eurocare Missouri City
We will walk through your lenders, tiers and entry points in a live demo.
What lender tiers fit a tire and auto repair shop?
| Tier | Who it serves | Types of programs |
|---|---|---|
| Prime | Lowest-cost terms for customers with strong credit, on tires, parts and labor where the program allows | Bank and card programs |
| Near prime | Catch prime declines on larger repair orders | Installment lenders |
| Subprime and No Credit Needed | Installment and lease-to-own options for limited or rebuilding credit | Installment and lease-to-own providers |
LendPro's network spans 18+ lenders and 25+ lending programs; see how the tiers work in waterfall financing, and ask for the current lender lineup for your state during a demo. Lease-to-own is a rental-purchase agreement, not a loan. Total cost is higher than the cash price. Each lender sets its own approval criteria and terms. Availability varies by retailer, state and purchase. Lease-to-own generally covers goods such as tires and wheels, not labor, so confirm what each provider covers before you rely on it for repair work.
Tire tickets add up fast: four tires plus mounting, balancing, valve stems, alignment and road hazard protection. Check the pre-qualified amount against the out-the-door total, not the tire price. A set of tires and an engine replacement are very different tickets, and each lender sets its own limits, so review your lender mix for those ticket sizes with LendPro. LendPro uses a financing flow configured for each location based on the lenders assigned to that location and the requirements of those programs. Contact LendPro to review configuration changes.
Where does LendPro show up for Midas, AAMCO and 1stMILE shops?
Midas
Midas is a LendPro partner in auto service.
1stMILE
LendPro's multi-lender platform sits behind 1stMILE's automated credit matching for auto service, tire and repair shops. Customers submit one application at checkout, shops choose their financing options with LendPro configuring the flow for each location, and customers can apply online, on service pages, by text, by QR code or in the shop. The partnership was announced August 27, 2026. Through it, merchants also gain access to additional card and installment programs through 1stMILE checkout. See LendPro for 1stMILE.
TireBoost
See Tire Boost Group.
AAMCO franchisees
Through a partnership with the National AAMCO Dealers Association, announced January 13, 2025, AAMCO franchisees can offer multi-lender pre-qualification to their customers.
Follow-up for independent shops
Auto Shop Agents puts financing inside AI sales and follow-up for independent repair shops, so a customer who left with a declined estimate can be reached again, with the customer's consent.
How does TireBoost help independent tire shops?
Tire Boost Group, a membership network for independent tire shops launched October 8, 2026, offers customer financing as TireBoost, Powered by LendPro. It targets a familiar loss: a customer gets a tire quote, leaves to think it over and buys online, leaving the shop only a mount and balance, without distributor and manufacturer rebates.
A member shop offers one application at the counter or by text link, reaching lenders from LendPro's network of 18+ lenders and 25+ lending programs. Offers show side by side by default, or in the shop's waterfall order, with soft-pull pre-qualification where the provider supports it.
Members also get vendor discounts, a TireBoost.com shop page and group buying; LendPro fees are separate, discounted for members. See Tire Boost Group.
Lease-to-own is a rental-purchase agreement, not a loan. Total cost is higher than the cash price. Source: PR Newswire, October 8, 2026.
Bring your current lenders. We will show how LendPro would be configured for your stores.
How can a shop win back deferred repairs?
Every shop has a list of customers who heard "you need brakes soon" and said "next time." Financing gives that list a reason to come back.
- With the customer's consent, text the link with the declined-work reminder. The customer pre-qualifies from home and books when they know the payment.
- Put financing on service pages. Customers researching a repair can check their buying power before they call. See embedded pre-qualification.
- Re-engage pre-qualified customers. LendPro can re-engage pre-qualified customers with Pre-Qualified and Open-to-Buy offers on behalf of the shop that created the lead, through SPLICE Software Data-Driven Dialogs (text, chat, call, email, voice). LendPro also notifies the shop when a customer applies, and for 30 days after pre-qualification its follow-up marketing helps pre-qualified customers return to complete the lender's full application; the lender makes the final decision. This outreach happens with the customer's consent; customers can opt out at any time (reply STOP to texts). See store alerts and follow-up marketing.
- Show a payment option on the written estimate. Use lender-approved language so the customer sees a monthly figure next to the total.
- Track deferred work that converts. If financed follow-ups close, the shop has found revenue that was already on the books.
"The LendPro platform has brought us a lot of business, and we've saved a tremendous amount of time not having to apply to each lender separately."Brian Goldstein, General Manager, Eurocare Missouri City
What should a shop measure, and what mistakes cost jobs?
What to measure
- Application rate on larger repair orders. Compare Daily Applications by location and associate with repair orders above your threshold. Your own calculation shows whether advisors offer financing consistently.
- Approval rates by lender. The Approval Rates report shows pre-qual and full-app approval rates and average approval side by side.
- Coverage of the estimate. Export to CSV and compare average approval with your average estimate. This is your own analysis.
- Deferred work recovered. Track declined-work estimates that later close with financing in your shop system.
- Results by advisor and location. Sales Performance shows results by store and associate when Employee Tracking is on.
Common mistakes
- Offering financing only after the customer says no. By then the customer has already decided to defer.
- Accepting a short offer as the answer. A partial amount often means cutting safety work. Check the other offers on screen, or the No Credit Needed path; another provider may cover the job.
- Assuming lease-to-own covers labor. Confirm what each provider covers; labor-heavy repairs may need an installment option.
- Only applying in the shop. Customers who drop the car off need a text link.
- One lender for every ticket. Tires and major repairs often need lenders with different limits.
Read how to choose a financing platform, or book a live demo.
Frequently asked questions
How does financing work at a tire shop?
The advisor offers financing with the estimate, and the customer pre-qualifies by QR code or text link, picks an offer and completes that lender's full application before the work starts. The lender pays the shop, and the customer repays the lender or makes lease payments to the lease-to-own provider.
Can customers finance auto repairs with bad credit?
Some may qualify through near prime, subprime and No Credit Needed programs; each lender decides. Lease-to-own is a rental-purchase agreement, not a loan. Total cost is higher than the cash price.
Can customers apply by text?
Yes. The advisor texts a link or shows a QR code, and the customer pre-qualifies on their phone. Where the provider supports pre-qualification, it uses a soft pull and won't affect credit scores. A lender may run a hard inquiry if the shopper accepts an offer.
What if the pre-qualified amount is less than the repair estimate?
In 1stMILE's checkout, 1stMILE checks approval amounts against the estimated repair ticket. Elsewhere, the advisor compares each pre-qualified offer with the estimate, and a customer who wants a higher amount after an approval starts a new application.
Does LendPro work with 1stMILE?
Yes. LendPro's multi-lender platform sits behind 1stMILE's automated credit matching, and merchants also gain access to additional card and installment programs through 1stMILE checkout.
Can Midas and AAMCO shops use LendPro?
Yes. Midas is a LendPro partner, and LendPro partners with the National AAMCO Dealers Association to offer multi-lender pre-qualification to AAMCO franchisees.
Can labor be financed along with tires and parts?
It depends on the provider. Installment lenders set their own rules on labor and parts. Lease-to-own generally covers goods such as tires and wheels, not labor, so confirm what each provider covers.
What is TireBoost, Powered by LendPro?
It is customer financing for Tire Boost Group member shops, reaching lenders in LendPro's network of 18+ lenders and 25+ lending programs with one application.