The Lift Garage is a 501c3 nonprofit aimed to move people out of poverty and homelessness by providing low-cost car repair, free pre-purchase car inspections, and honest advice that supports our community on the road to more secure lives. The Lift Garage is an affordable, non-profit auto repair service for Minnesotans of limited means. It's an innovative idea that meets a pressing need.
Since opening our doors in 2013, support from our community has made it possible for us to expand the services we provide. In addition to low cost car repair, we also offer free pre-purchase inspections of cars, express services to replace light bulbs, wiper blades, batteries, and free regularly scheduled car-care classes. The Lift continues to grow steadily, and these numbers keep rising, but demand is so great that customers have to wait six months for an appointment.
Working with people experiencing homelessness, longtime social worker Cathy Heying repeatedly saw how devastating the prohibitive cost of commercial car repair could be.
Since opening our doors in 2013, support from our community has made it possible for us to expand the services we provide. In addition to low cost car repair, we also offer free pre-purchase inspections of cars, express services to replace light bulbs, wiper blades, batteries, and free regularly scheduled car-care classes. The Lift continues to grow steadily, and these numbers keep rising, but demand is so great that customers have to wait six months for an appointment.
Working with people experiencing homelessness, longtime social worker Cathy Heying repeatedly saw how devastating the prohibitive cost of commercial car repair could be.
Services
The Lift Garage is an affordable, non-profit auto repair service for all Minnesotans that meet the 150% Federal Poverty Guideline.
We charge only $15 per hour plus the cost of parts at no mark-up.
We serve all counties in Minnesota.
Full payment is due at the time repairs are completed.
We do not accept payment plans.
We accept cash and credit cards for payment, no personal checks.
Arrangements with third-party payers can be made.
Our goal is getting cars safe and back on the road, so we work on brakes, tires, suspension and steering, starting and charging systems, fuel systems, exhaust systems, and heating and cooling systems (not air conditioning).
We charge only $15 per hour plus the cost of parts at no mark-up.
We serve all counties in Minnesota.
Full payment is due at the time repairs are completed.
We do not accept payment plans.
We accept cash and credit cards for payment, no personal checks.
Arrangements with third-party payers can be made.
Our goal is getting cars safe and back on the road, so we work on brakes, tires, suspension and steering, starting and charging systems, fuel systems, exhaust systems, and heating and cooling systems (not air conditioning).
The Lift Garage works with each customer to discuss what documentation is needed to verify your income and eligibility for services at The Lift Garage.
Documents that can be used to verify your income eligibility include, but are not limited to pay stubs, Social Security or SSI income statements, proof of SNAP benefits, proof of Medical Assistance eligibility, or an Income Verification Form completed by a caseworker.
Income verification is required on the day of your scheduled appointment, not before.
Documents that can be used to verify your income eligibility include, but are not limited to pay stubs, Social Security or SSI income statements, proof of SNAP benefits, proof of Medical Assistance eligibility, or an Income Verification Form completed by a caseworker.
Income verification is required on the day of your scheduled appointment, not before.
Inspection & Repairs appointments will be opening up monthly on the 2nd Monday of each month.
The month's schedule will remain open until all slots for Inspections/Repairs are filled.
If you do not see any available appointments, check back on the next 2nd Monday of the month.
If your vehicle would need to be towed to an in-shop appointment you may be eligible for a Mobile Van Inspection.
If you have had an inspection with The Lift Garage within 30 days and you are ready to schedule repairs, please call the Shop.
The month's schedule will remain open until all slots for Inspections/Repairs are filled.
If you do not see any available appointments, check back on the next 2nd Monday of the month.
If your vehicle would need to be towed to an in-shop appointment you may be eligible for a Mobile Van Inspection.
If you have had an inspection with The Lift Garage within 30 days and you are ready to schedule repairs, please call the Shop.
If you're considering buying a used car, we offer free inspections to help explore any issues that may already exist with the car before you buy it.
We cannot write a repair estimate based off this inspection, but it will help inform your decision on purchasing.
If you do purchase, we'd recommend scheduling an Inspection & Repair appointment with us.
Our inspection schedule opens up on the second Monday of every month for the following month.
The Lift Garage is committed to ensuring effective communication and digital accessibility to all users.
We cannot write a repair estimate based off this inspection, but it will help inform your decision on purchasing.
If you do purchase, we'd recommend scheduling an Inspection & Repair appointment with us.
Our inspection schedule opens up on the second Monday of every month for the following month.
The Lift Garage is committed to ensuring effective communication and digital accessibility to all users.
If you are thinking of starting a service that would provide affordable car repair to low income people in your area, there are many things to consider.
You will want to do a needs assessment.
Are there any similar programs in your community already?
How readily available is public transit?
Are there car donation programs that may be willing to expand and include a repair program?
Who else can you bring on your team?
Mechanics/shops?
Local automotive schools?
Social Service agencies?
Government officials?
You will want to do a needs assessment.
Are there any similar programs in your community already?
How readily available is public transit?
Are there car donation programs that may be willing to expand and include a repair program?
Who else can you bring on your team?
Mechanics/shops?
Local automotive schools?
Social Service agencies?
Government officials?
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