Just need a $500 quick loan, no scams please. Anyone know a legit one?

I've been burned before. Two years ago I applied for a payday loan online and somehow ended up with three different companies calling me, two unauthorized charges on my debit card, and a subscription I never signed up for. It was a nightmare to clean up. So now I'm in a situation where I actually need $500 for a car repair and I'm terrified to apply anywhere online. But I need my car to get to work so I don't really have a choice.

Is there a way to tell if a payday loan company is actually legitimate before you give them your bank information? Like what should I look for? I just want a simple $500 loan, pay it back on my next paycheck, and not have my identity stolen in the process. Is that too much to ask? Has anyone found a company that's actually straightforward and safe?