diff --git a/dvc/scm/git/__init__.py b/dvc/scm/git/__init__.py
index 41eef55a6..f852d0713 100644
--- a/dvc/scm/git/__init__.py
+++ b/dvc/scm/git/__init__.py
@@ -265,6 +265,9 @@ class Git(Base):
                 ],
             }
 
+            if "repos" not in config:
+                config["repos"] = []
+
             if entry not in config["repos"]:
                 config["repos"].append(entry)
 
diff --git a/tests/func/test_install.py b/tests/func/test_install.py
index 345183dec..5f0517523 100644
--- a/tests/func/test_install.py
+++ b/tests/func/test_install.py
@@ -30,6 +30,12 @@ class TestInstall:
             assert hook_path.is_file()
             assert command in hook_path.read_text()
 
+    def test_install_pre_commit_tool(self, scm):
+        scm.install(use_pre_commit_tool=True)
+
+        precommit_path = pathlib.Path(".") / ".pre-commit-config.yaml"
+        assert precommit_path.is_file()
+
     def test_fail_if_hook_exists(self, scm):
         self._hook("post-checkout").write_text("hook content")