Overview

Mission Statement:
Wheels of Success provides personal transportation solutions by partnering with the community in a circle of support that keeps people working and sustains their independence.

Start Your Engines

Wheels of Success was incorporated in June 2003 to help individuals and families obtain or keep employment by providing reliable transportation support. Our services include vehicle repairs, vehicle replacement, licensing assistance, car payments, down payments, and car-care education for clients in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties.

Transportation remains one of the greatest barriers to economic stability in the Tampa Bay region. According to recent regional data, Tampa Bay residents spend an average of 13.70% of their income on transportation, and the number of drivers with one-hour-plus commutes has increased to more than 219,000 individuals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Tampa-area households spent 16.8% of their household budget on transportation in 2023–24, with most transportation dollars going toward purchasing and maintaining private vehicles. For families already struggling to cover housing, childcare, food, and other necessities, the cost of dependable transportation can determine whether they can get to work, keep a job, access education, and care for their families.

Public transit is an important resource, but it does not meet every worker’s needs. Many jobs require early morning, evening, weekend, or holiday shifts, and many families must coordinate work schedules with school, childcare, medical appointments, and caregiving responsibilities. When routes are limited, travel times are long, or service does not align with a family’s schedule, access to a reliable vehicle can be the difference between instability and self-sufficiency.

Wheels of Success provides clients with:

• Dependable transportation in the form of a car, truck, or van
• Assistance with automotive repairs, preventive maintenance, and car-care education for families who have transportation but cannot afford the repairs needed to keep it safe and reliable

We obtain vehicles through purchase or donation and restore them to good working condition with the support of partners in the automotive industry.

“Pay It Forward” Philosophy

Clients who receive a vehicle “buy” it from the program by making monthly payments based on their ability to pay and by donating five service hours each month to the organization. This “Pay It Forward” model gives clients the dignity of ownership while helping Wheels of Success continue serving others.

The Finish Line

Wheels of Success helps clients access the car-care support, repairs, and reliable vehicles they need to:

• Arrive at work dependably
• Take their children to school
• Shop for groceries
• Participate in community activities

Wheels of Success gives working families the transportation resources they need to keep moving forward, remain employed, care for their children, and build long-term stability.

Sources used for updated statistics: Tampa Bay Partnership 2026 Regional Competitiveness Report and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditures in the Tampa Metropolitan Area, 2023–24.