Clients
Here are the stories that inspire us.
Click on the photos below to read our client testimonials!

Derrica
Derrica is a certified nursing assistant who loves her job but had an unreliable car that made it hard to consistently get to work. She often had to depend on friends for rides. We helped Derrica get a 2020 Nissan Sentra, and now she’s the one giving friends rides!
A single parent, she says having a reliable car is essential to taking care of her family and has enable her to set new goals like going back to school and moving up in her career.
“I am very thankful for On the Road Lending. If I know someone who needs a ride to work, I won’t mind helping because I was once that person. I’m going to take good care of my car.”

Tami
When Tami came to On the Road Lending, she didn’t own a vehicle and depended solely upon public transportation. She lived in Fort Worth and had a two-hour commute each way to her job in Arlington that involved several busses, a rideshare, and walking two miles each way.
“I absolutely loved my job, but the anxiety of the commute was overwhelming,” Tami says.
Because of credit issues due to a tumultuous divorce and her current living situation—she had just started a new contract job and was living in temporary housing—she knew a traditional car loan would not work for her. Researching alternatives, Tami contacted Fort Worth’s Economic Development Department, which put her in touch with us.
“On the Road Lending took control and handled everything. The staff is professional, courteous and made me feel at ease with the process. I now drive a beautiful 2018 oceanic blue Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SUV,” Tami says.
Like so many of our clients, Tami uses her car to give back to the community.
“Not only has having a car changed my life, but also it has changed the lives of numerous other women,” she says. “I’m involved in a sober living home that helps at-risk women and am now able to help with rides to jobs and medical and dental appointments.”
Tami says On the Road Lending has played an integral part in her once again becoming an independent and successful woman. Her next goal is home ownership!

Lisa
Lisa drove to Dallas from Georgia in a car that was on its last mile. She had two part-time jobs, as a security officer and a nurse’s aide, but was struggling financially to make ends meet—especially after she had to start taking Uber and the bus to work. There were many opportunities for her to work as a hospice aide, but she couldn’t take them because the bus lines couldn’t get her to the client in a timely manner.
Then, while attending a financial education class at Catholic Charities, Lisa learned about On the Road Lending. We analyzed her income and budget and made her a loan on a 2014 Toyota Camry. Lisa’s dream was to become a licensed nurse. With a car, she has been able to finish her education, get a full-time job as a hospice nurse, take extra jobs because she could easily drive to them, and save money to buy a house. She has never been late on a payment. Lisa was also able to support her daughter as she pursued her degree in social work. Once her daughter received her degree, she became a client of On the Road Lending and now has a car of her own, too!
“I couldn’t have reached my dream of becoming a nurse and getting a house of my own without On the Road Lending,” Lisa says. “My car lets me help people. I believe when something good happens, you share it. In two words, my experience with On the Road Lending is—gratitude and generosity. This program really works!”

Glenn
Glenn lives in Corpus Christi and needs a reliable vehicle since his work and home are more than 15 miles apart. He works an early morning shift at H-E-B, and the older truck he drove constantly put him at risk for being stranded on the freeway at 2 a.m. Since getting his 2017 Chevy Cruze through On the Road Lending, his worries about getting to work have disappeared.
“Now I have the confidence that my coworkers can trust me to be there no matter the schedule,” Glenn says.
Glenn found us through H-E-B Federal Credit Union, one of our marketplace partners. When the credit union couldn’t make him a loan because of his credit history, we were able to step in and provide a loan based on getting to know Glenn and his ability to pay.
With reliable transportation, Glenn has been able to participate in H-E-B management training and is taking on more responsibility at work.
“I have great plans for the next calendar year. With a car I can trust, my world of improvements continues,” he says. “I will likely be elevated to a manager’s position within the next six months, and it all started with not having to worry about a truck that had seen its best days. Confidence built confidence, and my leaders saw it. Thanks for everything On the Road Lending. You are my hero!”

Patrice

Raul
Raul is the oldest of four siblings and is eager to set a positive example for them. He’s also determined to escape the financial insecurity he’s lived with all of his life. Though his father has two degrees, he has been challenged by crippling student debt. Raul is a graduate of Southern Methodist University working as a paralegal, but, he says, he lacked financial literacy and didn’t understand the positive impact good credit can have on economic mobility.
When we met Raul, he was taking the bus or ride-sharing to work. He completed a budget, saved for a down payment, and began working on improving his credit with one credit card. He purchases one budgeted item with the card each month and pays it off completely. With those accomplishments achieved, we were able to get Raul into a 2017 Toyota Corolla LE.
“Financing a vehicle, improving my credit, and building better money habits will set me up for my life to come,” Raul says. “As the oldest I am looking toward attending law school, a first in my family. This opportunity with On the Road Lending is going to benefit the next phase of my life.”

Janna

Tammie

Torrie

Jessica

Latavia

Alfie

Fortune
Fortune moved to the U.S. from Zimbabwe in 2016 with asylum status. At first he lived with his cousin, but, being a hard worker with a master’s degree, he soon had a full-time job and a place of his own. The missing piece to his new life was transportation. Getting a reliable car was impossible without a high-interest loan because he had no credit history.
When we met Raul, he was taking the bus or ride-sharing to work. He completed a budget, saved for a down payment, and began working on improving his credit with one credit card. He purchases one budgeted item with the card each month and pays it off completely. With those accomplishments achieved, we were able to get Raul into a 2017 Toyota Corolla LE.
“Financing a vehicle, improving my credit, and building better money habits will set me up for my life to come,” Raul says. “As the oldest I am looking toward attending law school, a first in my family. This opportunity with On the Road Lending is going to benefit the next phase of my life.”

Michelle
Michelle has been through some tough times. She had a difficult divorce that left her deep in debt and a job that required long hours seven days a week—without over time. Unable to keep going at that pace, Michelle and her son moved in with her mother, and she began to look for ways to rebuild.
When we met Raul, he was taking the bus or ride-sharing to work. He completed a budget, saved for a down payment, and began working on improving his credit with one credit card. He purchases one budgeted item with the card each month and pays it off completely. With those accomplishments achieved, we were able to get Raul into a 2017 Toyota Corolla LE.
“Financing a vehicle, improving my credit, and building better money habits will set me up for my life to come,” Raul says. “As the oldest I am looking toward attending law school, a first in my family. This opportunity with On the Road Lending is going to benefit the next phase of my life.”

Karimah

Trey
Trey grew up in a home that he says taught him unacceptable behavior was acceptable. His mom died when he was only 15, and he went from being an honor-roll student to being a homeless dropout selling drugs to survive. He ended up in the Texas juvenile justice system and later prison. In 2011 he was sentenced to eight years in prison and eventually ended up in high security, removed from the general prison population and in seclusion 23 hours a day.
“It was at the end of that year in seclusion that I began to change my life,” Trey says. “I started taking college courses and learned to weld. From there, I was accepted into the prison entrepreneurship program. That program completely changed my life. I was given a special review in January of 2018 by the parole board and was released. I went to work six days later. Within a few weeks I had a driver’s license and a bank account, and within 30 days I had saved over $1,000.”
Trey now has a vision of success for himself—and it includes a loan for a reliable car through On the Road Lending!
“I want to be the father that my son deserves,” Trey says.
Update from Trey after paying off his car loan:
“I had a lot of doors shut in my face before On the Road Lending. I have an amazing story of how my car helped me. After I got out of prison in March of 2018, I was living in a halfway house at 635 and Coit, and my job was on Illinois and Westmoreland in Oak Cliff. I had to get up at 3:30 a.m. and ride a bicycle to the Forest Lane train to get to work by 6 a.m. At 6:30 p.m., it was the same battle back. I was locked in and just surviving.
When I got my Sonata through On the Road Lending, I was able to take a job with a construction company. Now I make $17 an hour. Having a vehicle made all of this possible. My credit score is now 715. After I paid off my car, I got a low-interest loan on another car from a dealer. I used the On the Road Lending approach—it’s an older car with low mileage.
Everything is coming together now. I have custody of my son, and we’ve moved from an apartment into a two-bedroom home that I’m fixing up. My son just got accepted to the DISD science and engineering magnet. He’s in driver’s ed, and when he gets his license, I’m going to give him my Sonata.”

Jalicia

Kela

Carl
Carl is had provided for his family with his own lawn care and moving business. He took out an auto title loan on his truck to build his credit, but the truck broke down. When the truck was repossessed, it hurt his credit and sent his family into severe financial distress. He had to sell all of his lawn equipment just to pay his bills. With the help of Bridge Builders, a faith-based charitable organization, Carl got a job as a steelworker, but bought a cash car that was falling apart.
When we met Raul, he was taking the bus or ride-sharing to work. He completed a budget, saved for a down payment, and began working on improving his credit with one credit card. He purchases one budgeted item with the card each month and pays it off completely. With those accomplishments achieved, we were able to get Raul into a 2017 Toyota Corolla LE.
“Financing a vehicle, improving my credit, and building better money habits will set me up for my life to come,” Raul says. “As the oldest I am looking toward attending law school, a first in my family. This opportunity with On the Road Lending is going to benefit the next phase of my life.”

David

Sierra

Yasmin

Felicia
For victims of family violence, having a car can be the key to escaping and starting a new life. Felicia was one of those victims of abuse who has grown into a strong survivor. Like so many of our clients, her abuser ruined her credit and kept her trapped in a relationship by controlling her physically, emotionally and financially. Our partner agency Safe Haven helped her grow stronger, and we provided her with the loan for a reliable car that has helped her make a new life for herself. Now Felicia has two jobs and has taken a refresher course in her field of study. “I have learned from my past relationships and situations and am now focused on what is best for me. I know I have to make smarter decisions and wiser choices. My goal now is to save money for my future. I’m working on purchasing a home!” she says.

Pam
Pam used to get up at 2:45 a.m. every workday. After having her breakfast, getting dressed, praying and meditating, she started walking to the bus stop at 3:45 to catch the 4:07 bus. She would wait at the uncovered stop, without a bench, in the searing summer heat, the freezing winter cold or the driving rain. Sometimes the bus was on time, and others it wasn’t. Once on board, the bus made several stops before Pam took her first train, which also was not always on time. Pam took the train downtown, where she often had to run to transfer to a second train. That train took her to Irving, the suburb where her job is. But the train didn’t exactly get her there. She had to walk 15 minutes in the dark to her job. The whole process took 2.5 hours—each way. The journey is only 20 minutes by car. What did Pam decide to do with all of her extra time after On the Road Lending helped her get a car? The first thing she said she was going to do was help others in need through her church. You can learn more about Pam here.

Sandra
Sandra found us through St. Luke’s Community Church. A single mother with a two-year –old and a 17-year old, she had a high-mileage older vehicle plagued with constant costly repairs. When she came to us, she no longer had a car, and her son was giving her rides from their home in Jubilee Park (in South Dallas) to her job in Plano. When she told us her story, she emphasized that she wanted to learn how to be more financially secure for her children. Like many of our clients, Sandra couldn’t believe we would take a chance on her and was afraid that our program was too good to be true. We worked through her fears by providing guidance and financial education and helped her select a new 2016 Toyota Corolla. Now Sandra is a firm believer in On the Road Lending. “It didn’t hit me until I got behind the wheels of the car,” she says. “I broke down and cried my eyes out just knowing I would be able to get to work on time and not lose my job. Having a car is peace of mind. Thank you, again!”

Carolyn
Carolyn had a high-mileage Mazda deemed unsafe by her mechanic—whom she saw far too often. With an unreliable car, getting to her job at an area hospital and raising her three children were constant struggles. After On the Road Lending got Carolyn into a reliable, fuel-efficient car, she had the time and energy to look at some new possibilities for her family. First, she completed her associate’s degree, and next she graduated from a training program to be a minister at Potter’s House. “Life is good,” she says. “On the Road Lending truly got us on the road to a better future.”
We have now helped Carolyn’s 19-year old daughter get a car. She has a great job at Amazon in the Inland Port area of Dallas, which has no mass transit. There would have been no way for her to have taken (or kept) this job without her own car.

Jim
Café Momentum recruited Jim from New York to work with its nonprofit program that provides paid culinary internships and life skills training for juvenile offenders to foster successful reentry into the community. Prior to moving to Texas, Jim had good credit and had saved for his move. Unfortunately he had to maintain the mortgage on his home in New York longer than expected. With his savings depleted, he depended on credit to pay expenses, which lowered his credit score. When his car was totaled in a severe hailstorm in Dallas, he found that he couldn’t get an affordable loan for a replacement vehicle. Jim and his wife, Araceli, have adopted 17 children in need over the last 23 years, and currently had six living at home. When we heard about Jim, he only had a few days left on the rental car his insurance company was providing. We have never moved so fast to help someone and were able to get Jim qualified and into his Honda Civic within three days! Jim has dedicated his life to giving back, and we’re proud we could keep him going.
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