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

Payday loans are legal in Wisconsin from lenders licensed by DFI under Wis. Stat. § 138.14, including online lenders. There is no limit on interest before the due date, but total payday debt is capped at $1,500 or 35% of gross monthly income and interest after maturity is limited to 2.75% a month.

A lender may not make a payday loan that leaves you owing all payday lenders combined more than $1,500 or 35% of your gross monthly income, whichever is less, counting principal, interest and all fees.

No limit on the interest a licensee may charge before the maturity date. After maturity, interest may not exceed 2.75% a month, and no penalty may be charged for prepayment, default or late payment.

Title loans are legal in Wisconsin from DFI-licensed lenders (s. 138.09) that hold a separate title loan certificate for each location. Loans are limited to $25,000, a 6-month original term and 50% of the vehicle's retail value; there is no interest cap before maturity.

$25,000, and no more than 50% of the vehicle's retail value. The vehicle may not already be subject to another security interest.

No rate cap for DFI-licensed lenders; license needed above 18%.

A DFI license is required to make a consumer loan with a finance charge above 18% a year, to take an assignment of such a loan, or to collect it directly, with a separate license for each place of business. Banks, credit unions and their affiliates and payday licensees are exempt.