What your district actually requires
Almost every page on the internet gives one national answer to a question that is answered locally: “you need a motion, 30 to 45 days.” That is not how it works. Some districts let the trustee approve a car loan outright. Some set a dollar threshold below which nobody needs to be asked. Some require a court order every time. Each page here quotes the published document and its revision date, so you can check it against your own case. 12 districts documented so far.
These pages describe published procedure. They are not legal advice, and a trustee’s practice can differ from the form on their website. Confirm anything here with your bankruptcy attorney before you rely on it.
- What does the Central District of California require before a Chapter 13 debtor can finance a car?C.D. Cal.'s own mandatory Chapter 13 Plan bars debt over $1,000 without prior court approval — not just trustee sign-off — per its Section I.F.
- What does the District of New Mexico require before a Chapter 13 debtor can finance a car?New Mexico's LR 3015-6, new 12/1/2025: no approval at all for non-mortgage consumer debt under $1,000 a year; above that the trustee decides, not a judge.
- What does the District of Vermont require before a Chapter 13 filer can finance a car?In the District of Vermont, Local Rule 4001-5(b) lets a Chapter 13 trustee approve a car loan up to $18,000 or a lease up to $300/month with no court order.
- What does the Eastern District of Michigan's Southern Division require before a Chapter 13 debtor can finance a car?Detroit-area trustee David Wm. Ruskin requires a judge-signed order for every Chapter 13 car loan; his form, updated February 2026, sets no dollar cap.
- What does the Eastern District of Pennsylvania require before you can finance a car during Chapter 13?Philadelphia's Chapter 13 trustee approves car loans directly on confirmed, current cases; if he declines, a court motion carries a 14-day objection window.
- What does the Middle District of Florida require before you can finance a car during Chapter 13?The Middle District of Florida has no local rule on financing a car in Chapter 13; its trustees publish different caps, from $508 to $703 a month.
- What does the Northern District of Georgia require before a Chapter 13 debtor can finance a car?Northern District of Georgia's Chapter 13 trustees require written approval to incur debt; General Order 24-2018 sets a 21-day objection window, no dollar cap.
- What does the Northern District of Illinois require before a Chapter 13 filer can finance a car?In the Northern District of Illinois, Chapter 13 trustees say new debt needs the Bankruptcy Court, not trustee approval, and Local Rule 3015-1 is reserved.
- What does the Northern District of Ohio require before you can finance a car during Chapter 13?N.D. Ohio's Administrative Order 21-1 lets the Chapter 13 trustee approve a car loan with no judge's order. Canton's posted caps: $550/month, 16%, 66 months.
- What does the Northern District of Texas require before a Chapter 13 filer can finance a car?N.D. Texas caps trustee-approved Chapter 13 car loans at $30,000, $650/month, and a 21% interest rate under General Order 2026-01, effective Feb. 11, 2026.
- What does the Southern District of Georgia require before a Chapter 13 debtor can finance a car?General Order 2010-2 lets Southern District of Georgia trustees approve Chapter 13 car loans without a court order; Savannah caps the rate at 22%.
- What does the Southern District of Indiana require before a Chapter 13 filer can finance a car?In the Southern District of Indiana, Local Rule B-4001-3 caps unapproved consumer debt at $2,500; above that, the court gives the trustee 14 days to object.