Loans in Washington: payday, personal & title loan laws (2026)

In Washington, payday loans are legal, 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 39 counties and 133 cities with 10,000+ residents.

Request a payday loan in Washington

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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 Legal

Payday loans ('small loans') are legal in Washington from check cashers or sellers that hold a DFI small loan endorsement under RCW 31.45.

Personal Loans

25% simple annual interest cap plus up to 4% origination fee (Consumer Loan Act).

Title Loans Not available

Washington has no car-title-loan law.

Washington at a glance

7,816,116

Residents

$98,141

Median household income

1,355

FDIC bank branches

667

Credit-union branches

Counties in Washington

Cities in Washington

Seattle Spokane Tacoma Vancouver Bellevue Kent Everett Spokane Valley Renton Federal Way Yakima Bellingham Kirkland Auburn Kennewick Pasco Redmond Marysville South Hill Sammamish Lakewood Richland Shoreline Lacey Olympia Burien Bothell Bremerton Puyallup Edmonds Lake Stevens Lynnwood Issaquah Parkland Longview Wenatchee Mount Vernon Graham University Place Spanaway Walla Walla Des Moines SeaTac Pullman Orchards Maple Valley Camas Tumwater Moses Lake Mill Creek East Frederickson Mercer Island Bainbridge Island Oak Harbor Kenmore Eastmont North Lynnwood Hazel Dell Mountlake Terrace Union Hill-Novelty Hill Martha Lake Cottage Lake Silver Firs Bonney Lake Bothell West Battle Ground Tukwila Mukilteo Covington Five Corners Arlington Mill Creek Ellensburg Silverdale Port Angeles Salmon Creek Monroe Centralia Anacortes Fairwood Bryn Mawr-Skyway West Richland Washougal Camano Port Orchard Aberdeen Sunnyside Lynden Ferndale Lakeland North Lake Stickney Fort Lewis White Center Bothell East Elk Plain East Wenatchee Artondale Snoqualmie Woodinville Ridgefield Lake Forest Park Lakeland South Edgewood Newcastle Sedro-Woolley Cheney Enumclaw Lake Tapps Liberty Lake Kelso East Renton Highlands Gig Harbor Poulsbo Prairie Ridge Minnehaha Airway Heights Grandview Lake Morton-Berrydale Yelm Fife Maltby Felida Birch Bay Mount Vista Sumner Fairwood Shelton Port Townsend Alderwood Manor Picnic Point Snohomish Terrace Heights Burlington

Frequently asked questions

Are payday loans legal in Washington?

Payday loans ('small loans') are legal in Washington from check cashers or sellers that hold a DFI small loan endorsement under RCW 31.45. Loans are capped at $700 or 30% of gross monthly income, eight per year across all lenders, tracked in a state database.

How much can you borrow with a payday loan in Washington?

$700 or 30% of your gross monthly income, whichever is lower. This limit applies to the total outstanding principal of all small loans from all licensees at one time.

How much do payday loans cost in Washington?

Total interest and fees may not exceed 15% of the first $500 of principal and 10% of any principal above $500.

Are title loans legal in Washington?

Washington has no car-title-loan law. Payday lenders may not take a vehicle title or other property as collateral, and Consumer Loan Act lenders are limited to 25% simple interest, so high-cost title loans are not available from licensed lenders.

What interest can title lenders charge in Washington?

Any vehicle-secured consumer loan from a Consumer Loan Act licensee is limited to 25% a year simple interest (plus the allowed origination fee).

Is there a cap on personal loan interest rates in Washington?

25% simple annual interest cap plus up to 4% origination fee (Consumer Loan Act).

Do personal loan lenders need a license in Washington?

Yes. No one may engage in activity covered by the Consumer Loan Act without a DFI license; a non-mortgage loan made without the required license is null, void, uncollectable and unenforceable.