Title Loan Laws And Disclosures For Each State

 

Premier Title Loans is dedicated to providing transparent and responsible title loan lending services. Please check your specific state disclosures before committing to a loan with a licensed lender. We do not offer access title loans in every state, and regulations regarding interest rates, repayment terms, and loan amounts constantly change. We may act as a broker or referral service in states we don’t service. In that case, your loan will be underwritten and serviced by a licensed lender in that state. Last Updated: January 23, 2025.

 

Alabama

Alabama allows short-term loans, including car title loans, under the Pawn Shop Act. Under the Pawn Shop Act, a title lender is considered a pawnbroker in Alabama and must be licensed within the state to offer secured loans.

A title loan lender may charge a maximum of 25% of the loan amount per month in interest. If a lender doesn’t receive payment within 30 days of the contract being signed, they can legally repossess your vehicle.

Alabama has very few restrictions regarding title loans and short-term lending overall. However, lenders do have to pay the state an annual fee to maintain their licensing and fully disclose title loan terms to consumers.

 

Alaska

Title loans are illegal under state law in Alaska. There are regulations related to short-term payday loans, and most online lenders have pulled out of the state as of 2025. In Alaska, payday loans have a maximum loan amount of $500, a minimum loan term of 14 days, and a maximum APR of 36%.

 

Arizona

Arizona allows title loans, but the current state regulations make getting approved for a loan challenging. The maximum finance rates depend on your original loan amount. For example, if the loan is $500 or less, there is a maximum monthly finance rate of 17%. For a loan of more than $500 but no more than $2,000, the cap is 15%. For a loan of more than $2,000 but not more than $5,000, the monthly finance rate can be up to 13%; for anything more than $5,000, it’s 10%.

A lender can charge a late fee of up to 5% of the unpaid installment loan balance if it’s not paid in full on the 10th day after the due date.

 

Arkansas

Title loans aren’t legal in Arkansas, and neither are payday loans.

 

California

It is legal to get an auto title loan in California. As of 2020, title loans offered between $2,501 and $10,000 have a maximum interest rate of 36% plus the federal funds rate. The annualized interest rate for loans over $10,000 offered within California ranges from 40% to 100% and sometimes even higher.

The repayment terms can be as short as 30 days or extended for several months or years. If someone doesn’t repay the loan as agreed, the lender has the legal right to repossess the vehicle in California, sell it at auction, and recover the debt.

 

Colorado

Car title loans aren’t legal in Colorado.

 

Delaware

Car title loans are legal in Delaware. No caps or lending limits exist, and interest costs are not capped. However, the terms for most short term loans(including some title pawns) are limited to up to 180 days, including rollovers.

Under Delaware state law, the lender must provide a specific written disclosure in a “conspicuous” format. The borrower and lender must also work out an agreement before the car is repossessed for nonpayment. The borrower has at least ten business days to accept a workout agreement before the lender takes possession of the vehicle.

 

District of Columbia

Title loans are prohibited in the District of Columbia.

 

Florida

In Florida, a title lender operates under the state consumer financing laws. Under the Florida Title Loan Act, lenders must be licensed by the Office of Financial Regulation. To receive a loan, the borrower and lender must sign a written agreement detailing the loan amount and your interest rate.

The loan agreement must explain that if you don’t pay the loan back as agreed, the lender can take your car, sell it, and keep the amount up to what you owe, plus reasonable expenses to cover the costs of repossession and sale.

Your lender must notify you at least ten days before the vehicle is sold at auction, and the lender must give you an accounting of what you owe.

 

Georgia

Title loans, known as title pawn loans within the state, are legal in Georgia. Repayment terms start at 30 days and can be extended if both the borrower and the pawnbroker agree.

If you fail to pay your loan, a pawnbroker in Georgia can immediately repossess your vehicle. If it’s repossessed, you have 30 days to get it back. You’d have to pay the loan amount, plus fees and interest, to get your vehicle back. You must pay the cost of repossession up to $250, storage fees and any other fees for handling the car.

If you can’t repay it within 30 days of repossession, a pawnbroker can legally sell the vehicle at auction.

 

Hawaii

Title loans and payday loans aren’t allowed in Hawaii.

 

Idaho

Idaho allows title loan lenders, but there are some restrictions. One such limitation is that the title loan can only be up to 30 days long. Still, a loan renewal can occur unless the debtor has paid everything, given possession of the titled property to the lender, or the title lender has let the debtor know in writing that the agreement won’t be renewed. For the third renewal, 10% of the principal must be paid with each renewal going forward.

If the loan isn’t repaid within the agreed terms, the lender can sell the vehicle, with the borrower getting any remaining funds after the initial loan balance is settled.

 

Illinois

While title loans are legal in Illinois, there are some legal requirements and restrictions. In 2009, the state passed the Illinois Consumer Installment Loan Act, which requires that data about every loan secured by a vehicle title be entered into a state database. Then, if the loan meets consumer protection standards, it can be authorized.

Title loans in Illinois are capped at $4,000. The loan payments can’t be more than 50% of the borrower’s gross monthly income, and balloon payments aren’t allowed. You must repay the loan in equal installments.

The only type of loan a title loan lender can offer is refinancing an existing title loan. The refinance’s principal balance must be over 20% less than the prior loan’s principal.

 

Indiana

Indiana prohibits title loan lending. Short-term payday loans are allowed, with specific regulations including a maximum loan amount of $550 or 20% of the borrower’s gross income.

 

Iowa

Iowa prohibits car title loans. Short-term payday loans, up to $500, may be available, with terms limited to 31 days.

 

Kansas

In Kansas, installment loans are allowed, but lump-sum loans aren’t. Title loans are structured as open-ended credit because a licensed lender has no rate cap for this type of credit. While title loan lenders operate under the open-end credit code, no statute authorizing vehicle title lending exists.

 

Kentucky

Online title loans are allowed In Kentucky, and as of 2025, there are no limits on the repayment term or maximum loan amount. Short-term payday loans are offered, with a limit of 60 days and a maximum APR of 460%.

 

Louisiana

Louisiana has state restrictions on short-term loans. Lenders can not offer loans for under 350, and the terms must be longer than two months. The legal maximum amount of interest that can be charged in Louisiana is 12% monthly, with a few exceptions for mortgages and borrowing for business or commercial purposes.

 

Maine

Maine doesn’t allow title loan lenders to operate. Maine’s legal maximum interest rate is 6% unless otherwise agreed.

 

Maryland

Under Maryland law, a title loan is a consumer loan. That means lenders must follow consumer loan licensing requirements and interest rate legal caps. The maximum legal interest for consumer loans in Maryland is 33%.

 

Massachusetts

Title loans are considered illegal in Massachusetts. Under state law, no one can make loans of $6,000 or less if the amount payable for interest and expenses is more than 12% annually on the loaned amount without first getting a license from the commission of banks.

 

Michigan

Auto title loans aren’t permitted in Michigan if they involve the lender taking physical possession of the borrower’s title.

 

Minnesota

Minnesota doesn’t allow title loans. According to the state, unlicensed title lenders aren’t complying with consumer protection laws, particularly limits on finance and interest charges. Minnesota statute defines general interest rates as 6% and 8% for written contracts.

 

Mississippi

The Title Pledge Act dictates what can and can’t happen in title loan lending. As of 2025, the maximum loan amount is $2,500, and the monthly cost limits are 25%. Repayment terms are limited to 30 days, but this can be renewed for a 10% fee.

If a borrower doesn’t repay a car title loan in Mississippi and the car is sold, the borrower gets 85% of the surplus. The amount owed can’t be paid off with another title loan.

 

Missouri

Missouri permits car title loans under the state’s Title Loans Law. The maximum loan amount is $5,000, and while renewals can happen, at the third renewal, 10% of the loan has to be paid down.

There are no caps on the costs of the loan. If you’re a consumer who gets a title loan in Missouri, the lender can sell the vehicle if you don’t pay the full amount owed as agreed. They can pursue the deficiency balance but must pay the surplus balance back.

 

Montana

The state must license a lender to provide title loans. There is a licensing fee, and each license must post a bond of $10,000 for each location. A title loan can have terms of 30 days, and then there can be renewals, but the borrower has to reduce their principal by at least 10% each time.

Interest rates are limited to 25% for each 30-day loan portion of not more than $2,000. For loans over $2,000 but not over $4,000, the interest rate is capped at 18% for each 30 days. There’s a 10% rate cap for loans over $4,000.

The title has to be clear of any lienholders in Montana, and the borrower can’t be threatened with a criminal process to collect on the loan.

 

Nebraska

Recently, a new law was signed, amending the Nebraska Installment Law. Now, lenders providing loans of less than $25,000 must be licensed by the State. The legal limit for interest rates in Nebraska is 6% or 16% for contracts. If the state doesn’t permit a lender, they cannot legally provide short-term loans.

 

Nevada

Title loans are permitted in Nevada, with the maximum amount up to the vehicle’s fair market value. There’s no cap on costs and interest rates. The term limits are 30 days, with up to six renewals for a maximum of 210 days if conditions are met.

Lenders can’t make criminal threats to collect a debt and must consider a borrower’s repayment ability before lending money.

 

New Hampshire

Car title loans aren’t legal in New Hampshire.

 

New Jersey

Car title loans aren’t legal in New Jersey, and the interest rate cap for most consumer loans is 30%.

 

New Mexico

Under the New Mexico Small Loan Act, car title loans are permitted within the state, but interest rates are capped at 36% for loans funded between $2,500 and $10,000. A late fee of 5% is allowed to be charged to the borrower after ten days, and a lender can repossess your vehicle once you’ve been delinquent for 30 days.

 

New York

Payday lending and car title loans aren’t legal in New York. The state also caps interest rates and repayment terms for most unsecured loans. The maximum interest rate with any short term loan in New York is 16% per year.

 

North Carolina

Title loans aren’t legal in North Carolina. The annual interest rate cap for unsecured loans is 36%.

 

North Dakota

The consumer loan interest rate limit is 6% in North Carolina, which prevents title loan companies from operating here, and they are considered illegal.

 

Ohio

Title loans are technically illegal in Ohio. The Short-Term Loan Act prevents lenders from accepting a title as collateral for a short-term loan. Interest rates for short-term loans are also capped at 28%. Some lenders get around these restrictions in Ohio by operating as CABs and offering lines of credit.

 

Oklahoma

A title loan lender has to be licensed by the state of Oklahoma to offer small loans. A licensee can only charge and collect an interest rate of not more than 17% monthly. There are limits on how much money a licensee can have outstanding per customer.

 

Oregon

A lender must be licensed in Oregon and can’t charge more than 36% annual interest. The origination fee can be up to 10% of the loan amount, with a maximum of $30 upfront. A loan can only be offered for 31 days and can be renewed more than twice. The loan must be for at least 31 days and can’t exceed 60 days. If the terms are more than 60 days, it becomes an installment loan and can not be secured by a vehicle.

 

Pennsylvania

Title loans are illegal in Pennsylvania because they violate the Loan Interest and Protection Law.

 

Rhode Island

It’s illegal to charge interest on a loan at more than 21% within the state. These interest rate caps make it very difficult for title loan companies to operate within the state.

 

South Carolina

There are limits on short-term vehicle-secured loans in South Carolina. They can only be for an original period of one month, after which point the lender may allow the loan to be renewed for up to six periods. It can be up to 240 days.

Accrued interest can’t be added to the principal of a loan at the time of renewal. The lender has to verify the borrower’s ability to pay the funds back, and the loan can be, at most, the fair market value of the vehicle securing it.

 

Tennessee

The Tennessee Title Pledge Act permits car title loans up to $2,500. The loan term limit is 30 days when a borrower can automatically renew. On the third renewal, the borrower has to pay 5% of the original amount plus fees and interest.

Tennessee title loans can only have a 2% monthly interest rate, and lenders can charge up to 1/5 of the loan’s original fees.

State law requires full ownership of your vehicle, proof of ownership, showing your driver’s license, and being 18 or older.

 

Texas

Texas allows car title loans with no cap on the maximum loan amount. As of 2025, there are no limits on fees or interest rates for most personal loans within the state. Single-payment and installment loans are allowed, although the loan can be at most 180 days.

 

Utah

In 2003, the state legislature in Utah passed House Bill 189, which amended the Financial Institutes Act. Under this, title lenders are regulated. The title lender has to register with the state and post the interest or fees charged in connection with a loan following the Truth in Lending requirements.

Only one loan can be provided up to the fair market value of a vehicle at a time. The loan may be renewed, and the interest rate or costs aren’t capped.

If the lender repossesses a car, the borrower gets the surplus, if there is any, from the sale proceeds. Utah law requires that a lender verify a borrower’s ability to repay the loan, and only one loan is allowed per vehicle. Rollovers without a request from the borrower are also prohibited.

 

Vermont

Title loans aren’t legal in Vermont because the interest rate may exceed the state’s allowed limit.

 

Virginia

Virginia state law allows title loans of up to 50% of the fair market value of a vehicle. The interest rate is capped at 22% per month for an outstanding balance of up to $700. For a balance of $701 to $1,400, the cap is 18%, and there’s a 15% interest rate cap for loans of $1,401 and higher. A 5% late fee payment is allowed once the loan is seven days past due.

The loan terms must be broken into equal monthly installments, with terms of at least 120 days and up to 12 months. Rollovers and renewals aren’t permitted.

The lender has to provide a 10-day notice of repossession, and if a vehicle is sold, surplus funds must be given to the borrower.

A borrower can’t have more than one lien or loan at a time, there can’t be prepayment penalties, and Virginia law prohibits providing these short-term loans to active-duty military members.

 

Washington

If they have the proper endorsement from the state, some lenders may make small loans of up to $700 at interest rates that otherwise exceed the caps in Washington State. Otherwise, there is a cap on interest rates of 12% per year, and these interest rate caps effectively limit the ability of companies to offer title loans within the state.

 

West Virginia

Car title loans aren’t allowed in West Virginia. The state prohibits most types of short term loans.

 

Wisconsin

Wisconsin law allows borrowers to provide title loans for up to 50% of the vehicle’s value, with a $25,000 total maximum. There’s no cap on interest rates, and the repayment term can be up to six months. Lenders are prohibited from requiring a vehicle key as security and must provide at least 20 days’ notice before repossessing a vehicle.

 

Wyoming

Lending laws in Wyoming dictate that loans secured by a vehicle title with a term of no more than 12 months must follow specific guidelines. One is that to offer title loans, the lender has to be licensed and bonded within the state. There is a limit of $30 or 20% per month on finance charges for the loan’s principal balance. Another regulation is that title loans can’t be repaid, refinanced, or consolidated using the proceeds from another short-term vehicle title loan or similar arrangement.

 

How Car Title Loans Are Regulated

Title loans are primarily regulated at the state level, and there are three broad categories that the above states might fall into. In some states, title loans aren’t allowed under any circumstances. In other states, title loans are legally permitted but might have restrictions. In the third category, there may be loopholes where you can get a title loan, but your lender may not be fully licensed or limited in how much you can borrow. This means the state bans title loans or has strict requirements, but a lender can structure these loans outside of the typical definition of a title loan.

 

If you’re in a state that outright bans title loans, you may have to find an alternative funding option. Call Premier Title Loans at 800-250-6279 to learn more about your state’s title loan lending options.

 

State title loan lending disclosures and regulations.