Car & Truck Dealers
Floor plan financing to carry inventory, plus working capital for reconditioning, marketing, and payroll between sales cycles.
From dealerships floor-planning inventory to repair shops buying a second lift, automotive businesses run on financing. Here's every option that fits the sector—and how to get funded fast.
Automotive business loans are financing for companies across the automotive sector—car dealerships, repair shops, body shops, tire and parts stores, and car washes. There's no single "automotive loan." Instead, these businesses combine standard financing (SBA loans, working capital, lines of credit, term loans, and equipment financing) with floor plan financing for dealers that carry vehicle inventory. The right mix depends on whether you need to fund inventory, equipment, real estate, or cash flow.
Automotive businesses can use every product on the market. Match the type to what the money is for:
| Option | Best for | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Floor plan / inventory financing | Dealers stocking vehicle inventory | Varies by lender |
| Equipment financing | Lifts, alignment racks, scanners, paint booths, tire machines | 1-7 days |
| Working capital | Payroll, parts, slow seasons | 1-3 days |
| Line of credit | Flexible, ongoing access for parts & repairs | 1-7 days |
| SBA loans | Lowest rates, real estate, acquisitions, expansion | 30-60+ days |
| Term loan | A defined project, build-out, or expansion | 1-7 days |
| Revenue-based financing | Strong sales, flexible repayment | 1-5 days |
Floor plan financing is the one product unique to vehicle dealers: a revolving line that advances the wholesale cost of each car and is repaid when that unit sells—so you can fill a lot without draining cash. Most other automotive businesses lean on equipment financing and a line of credit.
The automotive sector isn't one business—a dealership, a repair bay, and a car wash all have different cash-flow shapes. Here's where each one usually starts:
Floor plan financing to carry inventory, plus working capital for reconditioning, marketing, and payroll between sales cycles.
Equipment financing for lifts and diagnostics and a line of credit for parts. See auto repair business financing and the auto repair shop financing guide.
Paint booths, frame machines, and ADAS calibration are capital-heavy. Start with auto body shop financing.
Inventory-driven and seasonal—a line of credit smooths tire-season buying and slow winter months. Compare lines of credit.
Equipment-heavy with steady ticket volume. See car wash financing for SBA and equipment options.
Bays, lifts, and fluid systems financed as equipment, with working capital to cover supply runs and staffing.
Knowing the use points you to the right product—and keeps the cost of capital in line with the benefit:
floor plan financing so a dealer can stock the lot without locking up cash in unsold units.
equipment financing for lifts, alignment racks, scanners, ADAS systems, tire machines, and paint booths—the equipment usually serves as its own collateral. See auto lift financing.
SBA and term loans to buy a building, add bays, or expand a lot.
a line of credit or working capital loan to cover payroll, parts, and marketing through slow months.
buying an existing shop or dealership—see how to finance buying an auto repair shop.
Standard underwriting applies across the sector. Most lenders look for:
Note: dealers seeking floor plan lines and any business pursuing an SBA loan face additional, program-specific requirements (such as dealer licensing and longer documentation). We'll point you to lenders who understand automotive.
01
Decide what you need the funds for—inventory, equipment, real estate, or cash flow—and which product fits.
02
Have 3-6 months of bank statements and basic financials ready; add dealer licensing if you're seeking a floor plan line.
03
One application reaches multiple lenders, including those familiar with automotive businesses.
04
Choose the best terms and get funded—short-term options often in 1-3 business days.
Financing for companies in the automotive sector—dealerships, repair shops, body shops, tire and parts stores, and car washes. There's no single "automotive loan"; businesses combine standard financing (SBA, working capital, lines of credit, term loans, equipment) with floor plan financing for dealers carrying inventory. The right mix depends on whether you're funding inventory, equipment, real estate, or cash flow.
Floor plan (or inventory) financing is a revolving line a dealership uses to buy vehicle inventory. The lender advances the wholesale cost of each vehicle and is repaid when that unit sells, so the dealer can stock a lot without tying up cash. It's specific to dealers and separate from a term or working capital loan.
Yes. Lifts, alignment racks, diagnostic scanners, ADAS calibration systems, tire machines, and paint booths can all be financed through equipment financing, which spreads the cost over the equipment's useful life and preserves working capital. The equipment usually serves as collateral, so approval is often faster than an unsecured loan.
On the business: revenue, time in business, credit, and cash flow. Most lenders look for ~6+ months in business, consistent monthly deposits, and roughly 550+ credit, with 3-6 months of bank statements as the core document. Floor plan lines and SBA loans add program-specific requirements.
Vehicle inventory (floor plan), shop equipment, real estate or build-outs, hiring and payroll, parts inventory, marketing, and bridging seasonal slow periods. Matching the financing type to the use keeps the cost of capital in line with the benefit. Apply to see your options.
See What You Qualify ForWhether you're floor-planning inventory, buying a second lift, or expanding to a new location, we'll match you with lenders that understand automotive cash flow. One application, multiple offers, guidance all the way to funding.