Keeping Lane County Moving.
Keeping People Moving Forward.
When an unexpected car repair threatens your ability to work, attend school, or support your family — we're here to help before the situation becomes a crisis. Drive Forward Lane County was founded to reduce transportation barriers before vehicle problems become larger problems with employment, school, volunteering, or stability.
Our mission is to provide financial assistance for essential vehicle repairs to qualifying residents of Lane County, Oregon, including Eugene, Springfield, and surrounding communities. We are currently in the early stages of fundraising and grant development, and we do not currently have dedicated funding available for vehicle repairs.
Drive Forward Lane County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to removing transportation barriers for Lane County residents by working to provide financial assistance for essential vehicle repairs for qualified individuals who are working, looking for work, attending school, volunteering, or participating in other community-serving activities. You must currently live in Lane County, Oregon, to qualify for assistance.
You must currently live in Lane County, Oregon, to qualify for assistance.
Drive Forward Lane County is currently in the early stages of fundraising and grant development. We do not currently have dedicated funding available for vehicle repairs. Applications may still be submitted. Any potential assistance is considered on a case-by-case basis and depends on whether donated funds, parts, labor, or other resources can be obtained for that specific situation. Submitting an application does not guarantee assistance.
Serving All of Lane County
Eugene · Springfield · surrounding communities
Please Read Before Requesting Assistance
You must currently live in Lane County, Oregon, to qualify for assistance. Repair assistance is available only to residents of Lane County, Oregon.
Drive Forward Lane County is currently in the early stages of fundraising and grant development. We do not currently have dedicated funding available for vehicle repairs.
Applications may still be submitted. Any potential assistance is considered on a case-by-case basis and depends on whether donated funds, parts, labor, or other resources can be obtained for that specific situation.
Submitting an application does not guarantee assistance. Applications are reviewed individually based on eligibility, the circumstances of the request, and whether resources can be located for that specific situation. If we believe we may be able to pursue resources for your situation, we will contact you.
An application is required to be considered for assistance. Repair assistance requests are not handled by phone or voicemail. Please do not call or leave a voicemail requesting repair assistance — messages requesting repair assistance will not receive a return call.
A car repair shouldn't derail your life
Across Lane County, Oregon — from Eugene and Springfield to our rural, coastal, and mountain communities — many hardworking people are doing everything they can to move forward. They're working, seeking work, going to school, or volunteering — yet they may not have the savings to absorb an unexpected repair costing hundreds or thousands of dollars. When a vehicle breaks down, a mechanical problem can quickly become a financial crisis.
The Reality
An essential repair — brakes, a starter, an alternator, a wheel bearing — can easily cost $500 or more. For a household without emergency savings, even a routine vehicle problem creates real financial pressure.
The Chain Reaction
When a vehicle can't be driven, missed work means lost wages — and lost wages can threaten rent, utilities, groceries, insurance, and ultimately employment itself.
Our Response
We step in before the crisis happens. One essential repair can protect a job, preserve a household's independence, and keep a family moving forward.
The scale of need is real
More than 381,000 residents call Lane County home. For many, a personal vehicle isn't a convenience — it's a lifeline to work, school, healthcare, and family.
Across urban, suburban, and rural communities — many without access to public transit.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Nearly 1 in 7 residents lives below the federal poverty level, with no cushion for emergencies.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Nearly half of Oregonians cannot cover a $500 emergency expense — one repair can derail everything.
Source: Oregon State Treasury
The road to getting back on track
Our process is simple and straightforward. We're here to help before an unexpected repair becomes a larger financial crisis, so you can keep working, learning, and moving forward.
Check Eligibility
You must currently live in Lane County, Oregon. You'll also need a valid license and to need your car for work, school, or volunteering.
Submit Application
Fill out our intake form with your details, vehicle info, and documentation of your need.
Get an Estimate
We'll arrange for an estimate at one of our approved repair facilities to assess your vehicle.
Get Back on the Road
If an application and repair are approved and sufficient funding is available, DFLC coordinates payment toward the authorized repair through an approved repair provider.
Essential repairs that keep you moving
Our program is designed to support smaller essential repairs that restore safe, reliable transportation — not cosmetic work or luxury upgrades. Every donation helps build our ability to support essential vehicle repairs for qualified Lane County residents, protecting what reliable transportation makes possible: employment, income, education, independence, and the ability to care for a family in Lane County, Oregon.
Drive Forward Lane County is currently focused on smaller essential safety and reliability repairs that may realistically be supported through donated funds, parts, labor, or other case-specific resources. Major repairs or repairs requiring high-cost components are generally outside the scope of our current assistance efforts.
See all covered repairsWe invest in people, not just vehicles
Integrity
We act with honesty and accountability in every decision.
Compassion
We treat every individual with dignity and respect.
Community
Strong partnerships create lasting impact.
Stewardship
We responsibly manage every donation entrusted to us.
Transparency
We are committed to open communication.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
Sometimes the most powerful intervention is the one that prevents the crisis from happening at all. When reliable transportation is lost, the impact extends far beyond the vehicle — a single mechanical failure can trigger a cascade that affects employment, education, health, and family stability. One repair today prevents a crisis tomorrow.
Missed work and lost wages
A single missed shift can mean the difference between making rent and falling behind. Multiple absences often lead to job loss.
Difficulty maintaining employment
Without reliable transportation, even the most dedicated employee can't guarantee they'll show up on time, every day.
Missed classes or training opportunities
Education and job training are the path to better jobs — but only if you can get there.
Difficulty meeting essential obligations
Without reliable transportation, everyday responsibilities like getting to work, attending school, or caring for family become overwhelming challenges.
Increased financial hardship
Without a vehicle, income drops while other costs pile up — rides, late fees, and missed opportunities compound.
Greater reliance on emergency assistance
A preventable crisis spirals into an emergency that costs the community far more than a repair ever would.
The Bottom Line
Helping someone repair a vehicle costs far less than addressing the long-term consequences of unemployment or prolonged financial instability.
An essential vehicle repair today can help prevent a transportation problem from becoming a larger employment or financial crisis tomorrow. As funding and donated resources become available, DFLC works to connect qualified Lane County residents with essential repair assistance — an investment in our community's stability, not just a fix for one car.
Support Your Community
Every donation — whether monetary or car parts — helps keep a Lane County neighbor employed, in school, and moving forward. Click below to email us about donating:
DonateNeed Help With a Repair?
You must currently live in Lane County, Oregon, to qualify for assistance.
If you live in Lane County and need your car to get to work, school, or volunteer commitments — you may be able to apply for help.
Check EligibilityDrive Forward Lane County is currently in the early stages of fundraising and grant development. We do not currently have dedicated funding available for vehicle repairs. Applications may still be submitted. Any potential assistance is considered on a case-by-case basis and depends on whether donated funds, parts, labor, or other resources can be obtained for that specific situation. An application is required to be considered — repair assistance requests are not accepted by phone or voicemail. Submitting an application does not guarantee assistance.
Trusted partners powering our mission
We work alongside local businesses, repair shops, and community organizations that share our commitment to keeping Lane County moving forward. Together, donations and community support help build our ability to connect qualified residents with essential vehicle repair assistance and restored opportunities.
IMPORTANT FOR APPLICANTS
Our community partners support the mission of Drive Forward Lane County, but they do not process applications or provide repair assistance directly on our behalf.
Please do not contact our community partners directly to request vehicle repair assistance, funding, or approval.
All requests for assistance must be submitted directly through Drive Forward Lane County using our application process.
APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE
Wrench Automotive
Approved Repair Facility
Wrench Automotive is an approved repair facility that has agreed to work with Drive Forward Lane County. Their skilled technicians and commitment to honest, reliable service help make them a valued community partner as we build our repair assistance program and work toward arranging repairs for qualified applicants.
wrenchautomotive.netInterested in partnering with us? We're actively looking for local businesses and community organizations to join our mission.
One repair can change everything
Reliable transportation is essential for maintaining employment, pursuing education, supporting a family, and contributing to our community. Unfortunately, many Oregonians are only one unexpected repair away from financial hardship.
One County. Many Communities. One Shared Need.
Lane County covers more than 4,500 square miles, stretching from the Oregon Coast through the Willamette Valley and into the Cascade Mountains. Transportation needs can look very different across a county this large.
For residents of Eugene and Springfield, an unexpected vehicle breakdown can create a serious barrier. For residents of rural, coastal, and mountain communities, where public transportation options may be more limited, losing access to a reliable vehicle can create an even greater challenge.
A dependable vehicle can be an important connection to employment, job searching, school and workforce training, groceries, childcare, medical services, and other essential needs.
You must currently live in Lane County, Oregon, to qualify for assistance.
of Oregonians cannot cover a $500 emergency expense.
One unexpected vehicle repair shouldn't prevent someone from working, learning, or supporting their family.
Drive Forward Lane County was created to remove those barriers by helping qualified Lane County residents obtain essential vehicle repairs. We are not simply paying for vehicle repairs — we are helping protect what reliable transportation makes possible: employment, education, income, independence, and the ability to care for a family.
Drive Forward Lane County serves eligible residents throughout Lane County, Oregon — from Eugene and Springfield to rural, coastal, and mountain communities and the communities in between. Our goal is to help prevent an essential vehicle repair from becoming a larger barrier to employment, education, stability, and self-sufficiency.
Reliable transportation creates opportunity
Every donation helps protect what reliable transportation makes possible — the ability to get to work, stay employed, attend school, care for a family, and avoid a financial crisis. Your gift helps build our ability to support essential vehicle repairs for qualified Lane County residents who are working, actively seeking employment, attending school, or serving our community through volunteer work.
Reliable transportation creates opportunity. Opportunity creates independence. No gift is too small.
Have Questions About Donating?
Whether you're curious about donating parts, making a monetary gift, or giving in honor or memory of someone, we're happy to help.
What Your Donation Helps Build Toward
Drive Forward Lane County does not have dedicated repair funding available at this time. Donations today help build the resources we need so that, as the fund grows, we can assist with essential repairs like those below.
Toward shop supplies and small parts needed to complete an essential repair.
Toward diagnostic testing, fluids, filters, or other essential repair-related costs.
Toward batteries, electrical repairs, or other essential components that keep a vehicle reliable.
Toward brake repairs, wheel bearings, cooling system repairs, or other important safety-related repairs.
Toward several smaller essential repairs that help someone safely return to work, school, or volunteer service.
Toward building the resources to assist with essential safety and reliability repairs as our fund grows.
Every repair is unique. Donations are combined with other community contributions to build the resources needed to assist with essential vehicle repairs for Lane County residents.
One Repair Can Change Everything
Your donation doesn't just purchase a part — it can help someone get to work tomorrow, avoid lost wages, remain employed, continue school or training, and care for their family. It is an investment in keeping a hardworking neighbor moving forward and avoiding a larger financial crisis. Together, we're keeping Lane County moving — one repair at a time.
Donate NowDrive Forward Lane County is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
To donate parts or ask about monetary gifts, .
Support Drive Forward Lane County in More Ways
Beyond a financial gift, there are easy ways to make your everyday shopping count. Purchase an item we need, or support us at no extra cost every time you shop.
Walmart Spark Good
Purchase Something We Need
Support Drive Forward Lane County by purchasing needed items directly from our Walmart Spark Good Registry. Our registry includes supplies and equipment that help us build and operate our repair assistance program as we work toward serving Lane County residents.
Shop Our Walmart Registry
Fred Meyer Community Rewards
Support Us While You Shop
Fred Meyer shoppers can support Drive Forward Lane County at no additional cost by linking their Rewards account to our organization. A portion of every eligible purchase helps build our vehicle repair assistance fund.
Organization Number:
IG505
Donate money on Givebutter · Purchase an item on Walmart · Support while shopping through Fred Meyer
Community Support
Drive Forward Lane County is grateful for the community support and in-kind donations we have received as we continue building the organization and fundraising for future transportation assistance.
We gratefully acknowledge AAA and Costco for their in-kind donations and support of our mission.
These contributions are separate from dedicated vehicle repair funding and do not mean that repair funds are currently available.
Start your application
Ready to apply for vehicle repair assistance? Head to our Apply for Assistance page to complete the full application — it gathers your information, vehicle details, the repair needed, and supporting documents in one place.
You must currently live in Lane County, Oregon, to qualify for assistance. Repair assistance is available only to residents of Lane County, Oregon.
Drive Forward Lane County is currently in the early stages of fundraising and grant development. We do not currently have dedicated funding available for vehicle repairs. Applications may still be submitted. Any potential assistance is considered on a case-by-case basis and depends on whether donated funds, parts, labor, or other resources can be obtained for that specific situation. An application is required to be considered — repair assistance requests are not accepted by phone or voicemail. Submitting an application does not guarantee assistance.