Loans in District of Columbia: payday, personal & title loan laws (2026)

In District of Columbia, payday loans are not allowed, car title loans are not allowed, and personal installment loans are available from licensed lenders. Below are the verified rules, local lenders and credit unions for all 1 counties and 1 cities with 10,000+ residents.

Request a personal loan in District of Columbia

✓ Free to use✓ About 3 minutes✓ No obligation✓ Bad credit OK to apply

1 Choose an amount and fill out the form
2 Get matched with a lender in our network
3 Review your offer and get funded, often next business day

Tip: apply on a weekday morning for the best chance of funding by the next business day.

No hard credit inquiry on our end; lenders may check your credit. Not a lender; approval, amount and terms come from the lender. Example: $1,000 over 12 months at 35.99% APR ≈ $100.46/month.

Payday Loans Not available

Payday loans are not legal in the District of Columbia.

Personal Loans

24% a year cap; licensed money lenders must include all fees.

Title Loans Not available

There is no title-loan law in DC.

District of Columbia at a glance

681,294

Residents

$109,870

Median household income

178

FDIC bank branches

Credit-union branches

Counties in District of Columbia

District of Columbia

Cities in District of Columbia

Washington

Frequently asked questions

Are payday loans legal in District of Columbia?

Payday loans are not legal in the District of Columbia. The Payday Loan Consumer Protection Amendment Act of 2007 repealed the check-casher payday provision. Licensed check cashers may not advance money on a post-dated check, and DC's 24% interest cap applies to loans.

How much do payday loans cost in District of Columbia?

24% per year maximum interest. For licensed money lenders the cap covers all fees and charges.

Are title loans legal in District of Columbia?

There is no title-loan law in DC. The 24% a year interest cap, with all fees included for licensed money lenders, applies to loans secured by a car title, which leaves no room for typical title loans.

What interest can title lenders charge in District of Columbia?

24% per year.

Is there a cap on personal loan interest rates in District of Columbia?

24% a year cap; licensed money lenders must include all fees.

Do personal loan lenders need a license in District of Columbia?

Yes. Lending money at more than 6% a year in DC requires a money lender license, unless exempt (for example, banks).