Title Loan Laws by State
| Who sets the rules | Each state |
|---|---|
| Product types | Single-payment, installment, or title pawn |
| Typical amount | A portion of the vehicle's value |
| Military borrowers | 36% MAPR cap (MLA) |
| Where not allowed | Personal / installment loans may be available |
Title loan laws at a glance
Find your state's title loan status, limits and repossession rules below. Each state links to a detailed page with the statute and last-verified date.
| State | Title loans | Max loan | Rate cap | Repossession rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Legal | — | Pawnshop charge of up to 25% of the principal per month. | You do not have to redeem or make payments. |
| Alaska | Limited | — | — | — |
| Arizona | Legal | — | Maximum monthly finance rate by original principal: 17% for $500 or less; 15% for over $500 to $2,500; 13% for over $2,500 to $5,000; 10%… | — |
| Arkansas | Not available | — | 17% per year. | — |
| California | Legal | — | Under $2,500: tiered statutory caps of roughly 12% to 30% a year, depending on balance. | If you miss payments or default, the lender can repossess the car. |
| Colorado | Limited | — | — | — |
| Connecticut | Not available | — | A security interest in a motor vehicle is allowed only for a closed-end loan made solely to buy or refinance that vehicle. | — |
| Delaware | Legal | Subchapter V sets no maximum loan amount. | No statutory rate cap. | Before repossessing or suing, the lender must offer a workout agreement that reduces the debt by at least 10% a month, and give you at… |
| District of Columbia | Not available | — | 24% per year. | — |
| Florida | Legal | — | 30% a year on the first $2,000 of principal, 24% a year on the part between $2,000 and $3,000, and 18% a year on the part above $3,000. | At least 10 days before selling a repossessed vehicle, the lender must tell you the date, time and place of the sale and give you a written… |
| Georgia | Legal | — | Interest plus pawnshop charges may not exceed 25% of the principal per 30-day period for the first 90 days (minimum charge up to $10), then… | On default the pawnbroker may take the vehicle without going to court if it can do so without a breach of the peace, or by court action. |
| Hawaii | — | — | — | |
| Idaho | Legal | The loan, together with other title loans from the same lender on that vehicle, may not exceed the vehicle's retail value under… | No cap. | Before acting on a default, the lender must mail a 'Notice to Cure Default' giving you 10 days to cure. |
| Illinois | Limited | — | 36% APR, all-in (Military Lending Act method). | — |
| Indiana | — | — | — | |
| Iowa | Limited | — | 21% a year on the unpaid amount financed, except as authorized under chapter 536 or 536A. | — |
| Kansas | Legal | — | No rate cap: for open-end consumer credit a lender may charge any rate agreed to, but prepaid finance charges are limited to the lesser of… | If you default, the lender may repossess the vehicle and sell it to repay the debt. |
| Kentucky | Limited | Up to $15,000, excluding charges (consumer loan act limit). | Same tiered limits as other consumer loans: 3% per month on loans up to $5,000; 2.42% per month for $5,000-$10,000; 2.25% per month above… | — |
| Louisiana | Legal | — | The general consumer-loan finance charge limits apply: 36% a year on the first $1,400 of principal, 27% on $1,400-$4,000, 24% on… | — |
| Maine | Not available | — | — | — |
| Maryland | Not available | — | Same caps as other consumer loans: Interest on loans of $2,000 or less is capped at 2.75% a month (33% a year) on the first $1,000 and 2% a… | For loans made under the higher § 12-306(a)(6) rates and secured by personal property, the lender must follow Commercial Law § 12-115 on… |
| Massachusetts | Not available | — | Licensed small loan companies may charge no more than 23% a year on the unpaid balance (actuarial method), plus a $20 administrative fee… | — |
| Michigan | Not available | — | Licensed (regulated) lenders may charge up to 25% a year. | — |
| Minnesota | Legal | The title-loan statute covers loans of $1,000 or less. | Total interest and fees may not exceed what a pawnbroker may charge: 3% per month of the amount advanced plus a reasonable storage/service… | A vehicle covered by a title pawn may not be sold until 90 days after the vehicle is recovered. |
| Mississippi | Legal | A title pledge on any single vehicle title may not exceed $2,500. | The service charge may not exceed 25% of the principal per month (about 300% a year), in place of all interest and other charges. | If you don't redeem by the maturity date, the lender may repossess without going to court if it can do so without a breach of the peace. |
| Missouri | Legal | A title lender may not make a loan over $5,000. | No fixed rate cap: title lenders charge simple interest at rates agreed by the parties, plus only the fees allowed by RSMo 408.140. | After a payment default, the lender may not repossess or accelerate the loan until 20 days after it sends you a notice of your right to… |
| Montana | Not available | — | Vehicle-secured personal loans fall under the Montana Consumer Loan Act, where interest may not exceed 36% a year. | — |
| Nebraska | Not available | — | Installment loans, secured or unsecured, are capped at 24% a year on the first $1,000 of unpaid principal and 21% on the rest. | — |
| Nevada | Legal | A title loan may not exceed the fair market value of the vehicle. | No APR cap on the original loan. | No repossession before default. |
| New Hampshire | Legal | — | Interest may not exceed 25% per month. | — |
| New Jersey | Not available | — | Criminal usury limit of 30% a year for individual borrowers. | — |
| New Mexico | Not available | — | 36% APR all-in. | — |
| New York | Not available | — | 16% civil usury; 25% criminal usury. | — |
| North Carolina | Not available | — | Same as Consumer Finance Act installment loans: 33% / 24% / 18% tiers. | — |
| North Dakota | Limited | — | A licensed lender may not charge finance charges above 36% a year, including fees charged at origination. | — |
| Ohio | Limited | — | No title-loan-specific rate. | — |
| Oklahoma | Limited | — | Supervised loans: the greater of (a) 32% plus the federal funds rate on the first $7,000 of principal, 23% plus the federal funds rate on… | — |
| Oregon | Legal | — | 36% a year, plus a one-time origination fee of $10 per $100 or $30, whichever is less. | The contract may not let interest keep running after the vehicle is repossessed. |
| Pennsylvania | Not available | — | 6% a year for unlicensed lenders on loans of $50,000 or less. | — |
| Rhode Island | Limited | — | For loans of $5,000 or less: 3% a month up to $300, 2.5% a month on $300-$800, 2% a month on $800-$5,000. | — |
| South Carolina | Legal | A short-term vehicle secured loan may not exceed the car's fair market retail value under common industry appraisal guides. | No fixed cap for supervised loans with a cash advance over $600: the lender may charge any rate it files and posts with the Department of… | On a short-term vehicle secured loan, unless you committed fraud, the lender's only remedy on default is to repossess and sell the car. |
| South Dakota | Not available | — | 36% a year, including all fees. | — |
| Tennessee | Legal | No more than $2,500, counting other outstanding title pledge loans with the same lender on the same title. | Interest of up to 2% per month, plus fees of no more than one-fifth (20%) of the original principal per 30-day period. | On default, the lender may repossess the vehicle without court process if it can do so without a breach of the peace. |
| Texas | Legal via CSO/CAB | — | No state cap on the CAB's fee; fees are as agreed and must be disclosed. | The CAB must warn you in writing that on default you may have to surrender the vehicle. |
| Utah | Legal | A title loan may not exceed the fair market value of the vehicle, and a lender may not make more than one title loan on the same… | No cap. | Except in a case of borrower fraud, if you default the lender's only remedy is to repossess and sell the vehicle. |
| Vermont | Not available | — | 18% a year (current or previous model-year vehicle) or 20% a year (older vehicle). | — |
| Virginia | Legal | No more than $2,500, and a lender may not have you owe it more than $2,500 in principal at any time. | Simple interest of no more than 36% a year, plus a monthly maintenance fee of no more than 8% of the original loan amount or $15, whichever… | Except for fraud or voluntary surrender, the lender may not take the vehicle until you are in default. |
| Washington | Not available | — | Any vehicle-secured consumer loan from a Consumer Loan Act licensee is limited to 25% a year simple interest (plus the allowed origination… | — |
| West Virginia | Not available | — | 31% a year on loans of $3,500 or less (not secured by real estate); 27% on loans over $3,500 up to $15,000; 18% on loans over $15,000. | — |
| Wisconsin | Legal | $25,000, and no more than 50% of the vehicle's retail value. | No limit on interest before the maturity date. | Except for voluntary surrender, the lender must send you notice at least 20 days before taking the vehicle, stating its intent and the… |
| Wyoming | Limited | — | Same as other consumer loans: 36% a year on the part of the unpaid principal up to $1,000 and 21% a year on the part above $1,000… | — |
Verified against state statutes and regulators; click a state for citations. Last verified 2026-10-25.
What the columns mean
- Status. Whether licensed lenders can make title loans: single-payment, installment only, or not allowed. In some states the product is called a title pawn and is regulated under pawn laws.
- Maximum amount. A dollar cap or a share of the vehicle's value, where set by law.
- Fee cap. The legal maximum monthly fee or rate, if any.
- Renewals. Whether and how many times a loan can be renewed, and any required principal reduction.
- Repossession notice. Whether the lender must give notice before or after repossession, and any right to cure or reinstate.
- Surplus. Whether the lender must return sale proceeds above what you owe. This varies by state.
Why title loan rules vary so much
Title loans sit at the intersection of consumer lending law, pawn law and motor vehicle law. Some states license title lenders under a dedicated statute with its own fee limits. Some treat title loans as small consumer loans subject to general rate caps. Others regulate title pawns under pawn statutes, and a few allow only vehicle-secured installment loans under a general consumer lending license. States also differ on when a lender can repossess, whether notice is required, how sales must be conducted, and whether you're owed a surplus or can be charged a deficiency.
That's why a title loan in one state can look very different from one across the state line, and why a lender must follow the rules of the state where you live. Most title lenders also look at your income along with the car's value, and many consider applicants with any credit history, because the vehicle secures the loan. See title loan requirements for what you'll typically need.
Questions your state page answers
- Are single-payment title loans allowed, or only installment loans?
- Is there a maximum loan amount or a cap tied to the vehicle's value?
- What's the maximum monthly fee?
- How many renewals are allowed, and must each one reduce the principal?
- Does the lender have to give notice before repossession, and can you reinstate the loan?
- Must the lender return any surplus after selling the car?
Each answer comes with a source and a last-verified date. If you're comparing offers, these rules tell you what a lender can and can't include in your agreement where you live.
How title loan rules protect borrowers
Several common state rules shape how a title loan works in practice:
- Principal-reduction rules require part of the balance to be paid with each renewal, so the loan gets smaller over time.
- Installment requirements spread repayment across several scheduled payments.
- Notice and reinstatement rules give you time to catch up after a missed payment.
- Surplus rules protect your equity if a car worth more than the loan is sold.
Knowing your state's rules helps you choose a loan amount and repayment plan that fit. Your lender's agreement spells out all of these terms before you sign. Before you accept, check the amount, monthly fee, due dates, renewal terms and what happens if a payment is late, and choose a loan amount that leaves you room in your budget.
Federal protections in every state
- Military Lending Act: vehicle title loans to covered servicemembers and dependents are capped at a 36% Military APR, with no mandatory arbitration or required allotments.
- Truth in Lending disclosures: the finance charge, APR, payment schedule and total of payments must be disclosed in writing before you sign.
- Repossession limits: state law generally prohibits a breach of the peace during repossession.
- Bankruptcy: an automatic stay generally pauses repossession while a case is pending, though a lien survives a Chapter 7 discharge.
Are title loans legal in Ohio, Indiana or Michigan?
These are among the most searched states. We keep the verified current rules on each state's page, linked in the table: Ohio title loans, Indiana title loans and Michigan title loans. Each shows the statutory source and the date it was last verified. In some states, lenders may offer vehicle-secured installment loans under a different license even where single-payment title loans aren't allowed, so check the product type on your state page. If your state allows title lending, you can start a request online with your vehicle's year, make, model and mileage.
If title loans aren't allowed where you live
You can still request funds. In many states without title lending, licensed lenders offer personal loans and installment loans within the state's rate rules, and these don't use your car as collateral. See personal loan rates by state for your state's rules.
Our form works in every state and matches you with lenders offering products allowed where you live. See if you qualify — it takes about 3 minutes.
How we keep this table accurate
We compile title loan rules from state statutes and official publications and show the date each state was last verified. Where a state uses a different name for the product, such as title pawn or vehicle-secured installment loan, we note it. Laws change, sometimes mid-year, and this page is general information, not legal advice. When we learn that a state has changed its rules, we re-verify the statute and update the date shown in the table. Want to estimate a loan? Try the title loan calculator or start your request.
Frequently asked questions
Are title loans legal?
In some states, yes. Some states allow single-payment title loans, some allow only installment title loans, and others prohibit or restrict title lending. Laws change, so check your state's current status in the table on this page. Where title loans aren't offered, personal and installment loans may be available through our form.
Are title loans legal in Ohio?
Ohio's rules for vehicle-secured loans are specific, and the product offered may differ from a traditional single-payment title loan. We keep the verified current Ohio rules, with the statute and last-verified date, on our Ohio title loan page. Check that page before you apply.
Can a title loan company take my car?
In states where title loans are allowed, the lender holds a lien on your title and can generally repossess after a default, subject to state rules on notice, breach of the peace and how the car is sold. Some states give you a right to cure or reinstate the loan. Your agreement and state page explain the rules.
Which states require lenders to return surplus from a repo sale?
It varies. Some states require a lender to return any money from a sale above what you owe, and others don't have that rule for title loans. The table on this page shows each state's surplus rule where we've verified it, and your loan agreement should state the policy.
Can I get a title loan online?
In states that allow title lending, many lenders let you start online by entering your vehicle details and uploading photos, then finish verification electronically or with a quick inspection. Our form matches you with lenders that serve your state. You keep driving your car while you repay.
Sources
- eCFR — 32 CFR Part 232 (Military Lending Act)
- eCFR — 12 CFR Part 1026 (Regulation Z, Truth in Lending disclosures)
- U.S. Courts — Chapter 7 bankruptcy basics