Title Loans: Turn Your Car's Value Into Cash and Keep Driving
| What you use | Your vehicle's title (lender records a lien) |
|---|---|
| Typical amount | Often a quarter to half of your car's value, within state limits |
| Keep your car? | Yes, you keep driving it |
| Credit | Less important; the car secures the loan |
| Speed | Often same or next business day |
| Term | About 30 days, or monthly installments where allowed |
Your car can help you cover a bigger bill
If you own your car, truck or SUV, you may have more borrowing power than you think. A title loan uses the equity in your vehicle to get you cash quickly, often more than a payday loan, and you keep driving the car the whole time. When you repay, the lender releases its lien and your title is clear again.
Zebra Finance is a free loan-matching service. One short form reaches title lenders in our network that serve your state, so you can see what your car could qualify for without driving from store to store.
See if you qualify — it takes about 3 minutes. Free to use, no obligation to accept an offer.
How title loans work
- Tell us about you and your vehicle: year, make, model, mileage and your contact details.
- A lender estimates its value from those details plus photos or a quick inspection.
- You get an offer for part of the car's value, within your state's limits. It shows the amount, the finance charge in dollars, the APR, the payment schedule and the total. Your lender shows the exact APR and terms before you sign.
- Sign and hand over the title (or let the lender record its lien electronically). You keep the car.
- Get funded, often the same or next business day, by deposit, check or cash.
- Repay in one payment, usually in about 30 days, or in monthly installments where your state allows. Then the lien is released.
What you need
- A vehicle title in your name, usually with no other liens (some lenders accept cars that are nearly paid off)
- The vehicle for a quick inspection, or clear photos for lenders that allow it
- A government photo ID that matches the name on the title
- Proof of income or ability to repay, at many lenders and in some states
- Proof of insurance and address, depending on the lender
- A spare key, if the lender asks
Still paying off the car? See title loans on a financed car. Lost the title? See title loans without the title. Full checklist: title loan requirements.
Got your title? See if you qualify — it takes about 3 minutes. Free to use, no obligation to accept an offer.
How much can you get?
Lenders base your offer on the vehicle's year, make, model, mileage and condition, then apply your state's maximum and, at many lenders, your income. The loan is a portion of the value, often a quarter to half. For example, a car worth $6,000 might support roughly $1,500 to $3,000 before any state cap.
Ways to get the best offer: bring service records, clean the car before inspection, and make sure the name on your title and ID match exactly. Newer, well-kept vehicles with lower mileage get higher offers. See how much can you get for a title loan.
What a title loan costs
Title loan fees are set by state law and the lender, and your offer shows the finance charge in dollars and the total to repay. As an example, if an offer shows a $1,000 loan with a $250 finance charge for 30 days, you'd repay $1,250 on the due date. Installment title loans, where allowed, spread the cost over monthly payments.
Two simple ways to keep cost down: borrow only what you need, since fees are figured on the amount borrowed, and pay extra toward the balance whenever you can. Your lender shows the exact APR and terms before you sign. Try the numbers:
Title loan calculator
Many title lenders lend 25%–50% of a vehicle's value, and you keep driving your car. Estimate only; your lender shows exact terms.
Credit doesn't hold you back
Because your vehicle secures the loan, title lenders put much less weight on credit scores than banks do. Many don't pull a traditional hard credit report from the major bureaus; they focus on the car, your ID and your ability to repay, and may use alternative credit data. That makes title loans a practical option for people with bad credit, thin credit or past problems. See how title loans approve without a traditional credit check.
Approval isn't automatic, and each lender sets its own criteria, but every credit type is welcome to apply. If you have steady income and a car with a clear title, you already have the two things title lenders care about most.
Online or in person
Applying online is the fastest way to start: our form takes about 3 minutes and reaches multiple lenders in our network at once. Many lenders accept photos or a short video of the vehicle, and some ask for a quick in-person look before funding. See title loans online or, if you'd rather visit a location, title loans near me.
Title loans work on more than cars, too: some lenders accept motorcycles and RVs.
Title loans in your state
States decide whether title loans are offered and set limits on amounts, fees, terms and what happens if a loan isn't repaid; if you don't repay as agreed, the lender can repossess the vehicle under your state's rules. Some states call the product a title pawn. Lenders in our network follow the law of the state where you live.
Choose your state below or see the full title loan laws by state map. If title loans aren't offered where you live, our form can still connect you with lenders offering personal installment loans, with no vehicle needed. Active-duty servicemembers and their dependents generally can't use a vehicle title as security with non-bank lenders under the Military Lending Act; a personal loan is their route.
See what your car could qualify for. See if you qualify — it takes about 3 minutes. Free to use, no obligation to accept an offer.
Title Loans by state
Available Limited / CSO model Not available from state-licensed lenders
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Frequently asked questions
How do title loans work?
You use your car's title as security for a loan, usually a quarter to half of the car's value within state limits. The lender records a lien while you keep driving. You repay the loan plus fees, often in about 30 days or in monthly installments where allowed. When it's paid off, the lien is released and your title is clear.
How much can you get for a title loan?
It depends on your vehicle's year, make, model, mileage and condition, your income and your state's maximum. Lenders typically offer a portion of the value, often a quarter to half. A car worth $6,000 might support roughly $1,500 to $3,000 before any state cap. Your offer shows the exact amount.
Do I keep my car with a title loan?
Yes. You keep driving your car while the lender holds a lien on the title. Once you repay in full, the lien is released. If a loan isn't repaid as agreed, the lender can repossess the vehicle under your contract and state law, so choose an amount and term you're comfortable with.
Can I get a title loan with bad credit?
Usually yes. Because the vehicle secures the loan, title lenders rely mainly on the car's value, your ID and your ability to repay, not your credit score. Many don't pull a traditional hard credit report, though they may use alternative data. Approval isn't automatic, but all credit types are welcome to apply.
How fast can I get a title loan?
Often the same or next business day. Our online form takes about 3 minutes; the lender then reviews your vehicle details, photos or a quick inspection, and your documents. Having a clear title in your name, a matching ID and proof of income ready is the best way to avoid delays.
Are title loans legal in my state?
Title loans are offered in some states and not others, and permitted states set limits on amounts, fees and terms. Some states call them title pawns. Choose your state on this page to check. If title loans aren't available where you live, our form can connect you with lenders offering personal installment loans.
Sources
- eCFR — 12 CFR Part 1026 (Regulation Z, Truth in Lending disclosures)
- eCFR — 32 CFR Part 232, Military Lending Act rule