Payday & Title Loan Laws by State and Province
High-cost loan products are regulated state by state (and province by province in Canada). The caps, fees, and cooling-off rules that apply to payday loans, car title loans, and small installment loans vary enormously — a product that is legal in one state may be prohibited in the next. Use these reference pages to see the rules where you live, with a source for every figure.
How to read this data: figures are compiled from the cited regulator, statute, or national tracker. Where a value could not be confirmed against a primary source it is shown as Not verified rather than estimated. This is general information, not legal advice.
United States — payday loan rules by state
| State | Payday status | Max amount | Fee / APR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Permitted | $500 | 17.5% of amount advanced (~456% APR on 14-day loan) |
| Alaska | Permitted | $500 | $5 origination + $15 per $100 (lesser of 15%) |
| Arizona | Prohibited | N/A - payday product banned; 36% APR cap on consumer loans ≤$3,000 | 36% APR cap (24% above $3,000) |
| Arkansas | Prohibited | Not applicable | 17% constitutional usury cap (Amendment 89) |
| California | Permitted | $300 (face amount of check) | 15% of face amount (~460% APR typical 14-day) |
| Colorado | Limited | $500 | 36% APR cap (Prop 111, eff. 2/1/2019); min 6-month term |
| Connecticut | Prohibited | N/A - 36% APR cap on small loans <$5,000 | 36% APR cap (Small Loan Act) |
| Delaware | Permitted | $1,000 | No APR/rate cap - set by agreement (<60 days) |
| District of Columbia | Prohibited | N/A - 24% APR cap | 24% APR cap (D.C. Code 28-3301) |
| Florida | Permitted | $500 single-payment; $1,000 installment | 10% + $5 verification (single); 8% biweekly of balance (installment) |
| Georgia | Prohibited | N/A - loans ≤$3,000 under Installment Lender Act only | Payday banned (OCGA 16-17-1, felony); licensed installment ≤~60% APR |
| Hawaii | Prohibited | N/A - deferred deposit prohibited 1/1/2022; $1,500 installment instead | 36% APR + up to $35/mo maintenance (installment replacement) |
| Idaho | Permitted | $1,000 principal; ≤25% of gross monthly income | No rate cap |
| Illinois | Limited | Lesser of $1,000 or 25% gross monthly income | 36% all-in MAPR cap (Predatory Loan Prevention Act, 815 ILCS 123/15-5-5) |
| Indiana | Permitted | $50-$550 (now ~$605 inflation-adjusted); ≤20% monthly gross income | 15% first $250; 13% $251-$400; 10% $401-$550+ |
| Iowa | Permitted | $500 aggregate checks held | $15 first $100 + $10 per subsequent $100 |
| Kansas | Permitted | $500 or less | 15% of cash advance; 3%/mo after maturity |
| Kentucky | Permitted | $500 total (max 2 loans) | $15 per $100 prorated + $1 database fee |
| Louisiana | Permitted | $350 | 16.75% of face amount (max $45); 36% after maturity up to 1 yr |
| Maine | Limited | No payday product; supervised loans only | 30% ≤$2,000; 24% $2,000-$4,000; 18% >$4,000 |
| Maryland | Prohibited | Not applicable | 33% APR (2.75%/mo) first $1,000 ≤$2,000; 24% above |
| Massachusetts | Prohibited | N/A - Small Loan Act ≤$6,000 | 23% APR + $20 admin fee |
| Michigan | Permitted | $600 per transaction | Tiered 15%/14%/13%/12%/11%/11% per $100 + database fee (~369% APR $100/14-day) |
| Minnesota | Limited | $350 (consumer small loan) | 50% all-in APR cap eff. 1/1/2024; ability-to-repay above 36% |
| Mississippi | Permitted | $500 including fees | $20 per $100 ≤$250; $21.95 per $100 $250-$500 |
| Missouri | Permitted | $500 | No rate cap; interest+fees ≤75% of principal over life + renewals |
| Montana | Limited | $300 excl. fees (former deferred-deposit law) | 36% APR cap (all fees included) |
| Nebraska | Limited | $500 (former delayed-deposit limit) | 36% APR cap (Initiative 428, 2020); violating loan void |
| Nevada | Permitted | ≤25% expected gross monthly income (combined outstanding) | No statutory rate ceiling; ability-to-repay + 35-day max term |
| New Hampshire | Limited | $500 | 36% APR cap |
| New Jersey | Prohibited | Not applicable | ~30% criminal usury; 16% civil usury |
| New Mexico | Prohibited | N/A for payday; 36% cap applies ≤$10,000 small loans | 36% APR cap (HB 132, eff. 1/1/2023); payday statutes repealed 2017 |
| New York | Prohibited | Not applicable | 25% criminal usury; 16% civil usury |
| North Carolina | Prohibited | Not applicable | ~30% tiered (30% to $5k, 24%, 18%) under Consumer Finance Act |
| North Dakota | Permitted | $500 ($600 combined outstanding) | 20% of amount advanced |
| Ohio | Limited | $1,000 (aggregate short-term ≤$2,500) | 28% interest + ≤10%/$30 monthly maintenance + 2% origination ≥$500; total fees ≤60% of principal |
| Oklahoma | Limited | $1,500 aggregate (CPI-adjusted, Small Lenders Act eff. 8/1/2020) | Up to 17%/mo periodic interest (legacy deferred-deposit: $15/$100 to $300 + $10/$100 above) |
| Oregon | Limited | Statute defines up to $50,000; practical amounts far lower | 36% APR + $10/$100 or $30 origination (one per term); 31-60 day term |
| Pennsylvania | Prohibited | N/A (licensed consumer loans to $25,000 under CDCA) | ~24% licensed (CDCA); 6% unlicensed (LIPL) |
| Rhode Island | Permitted | $500 (max 3 concurrent, $500 aggregate) | 10% deferred-deposit fee (~260% APR 13-day); check-cashing 10%/5%/3% tiers |
| South Carolina | Permitted | $550 excl. fees (1 loan at a time) | 15% of check face (~390% APR short-term) |
| South Dakota | Limited | $500 (legacy); 36% cap makes payday uneconomical | 36% APR hard cap incl. all ancillary fees (SDCL 54-4-44; violation = Class 1 misdemeanor, loan void) |
| Tennessee | Permitted | $500 aggregate outstanding | 15% of face amount |
| Texas | Permitted | No statutory cap (CAB/CSO model); local city ordinances may limit | No state cap on CAB fees; lender interest per Fin. Code 342 (acquisition 12.5%/$125 + $4/$100/mo handling) |
| Utah | Permitted | No statutory cap | No interest cap (usury abolished 1981); no addl interest after 10 weeks; rollover only on request |
| Vermont | Prohibited | Not applicable | 18% APR small-loan cap (9 V.S.A. 41a); no payday carve-out |
| Virginia | Limited | $2,500 (2020 Fairness in Lending Act, up from $500) | 36% annual + capped monthly maintenance fee; total interest+fees ≤50% (≤$1,500) or 60% (>$1,500) |
| Washington | Permitted | $700 or 30% gross monthly income, whichever less | 15% first $500 + 10% above $500 |
| West Virginia | Prohibited | Not applicable | 31% ≤$3,500; 27% $3,500-$15,000; no deferred-presentment carve-out |
| Wisconsin | Permitted | Aggregate ≤$1,500 or 35% gross monthly income | No cap before maturity; 2.75%/mo after maturity |
| Wyoming | Permitted | No statutory maximum | Greater of $30 or 20%/mo on principal |
Canada — payday loan cost cap by province
| Province / Territory | Status | Max cost per $100 | Max loan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Permitted | $14 | $1,500 |
| British Columbia | Permitted | $14 | Not confirmed |
| Manitoba | Permitted | $14 | $1,500 (up to 30% of net pay per M.R. 99/2007 s.15.2) |
| New Brunswick | Permitted | $14 | Not confirmed |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Permitted | $14 | Not confirmed |
| Northwest Territories | No regime | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Nova Scotia | Permitted | $14 | $1,500 |
| Nunavut | No regime | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Ontario | Permitted | $14 | $1,500 (up to 50% of net income per loan) |
| Prince Edward Island | Permitted | $14 | $1,500 |
| Quebec | No regime | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Saskatchewan | Permitted | $14 | Not confirmed |
| Yukon | No regime | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Browse by state or province
United States
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Canada
AlbertaBritish ColumbiaManitobaNew BrunswickNewfoundland and LabradorNorthwest TerritoriesNova ScotiaNunavutOntarioPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewanYukon
Why these rules matter
Payday and title loans can carry effective annual rates in the hundreds of percent. Several states have responded by capping rates, limiting loan amounts, requiring cooling-off periods, or banning the products outright. Before borrowing, confirm that the lender is licensed in your state and that the terms comply with the local caps. If a product is prohibited where you live, a lender offering it online may be operating unlawfully.
Safer alternatives
- An installment loan spreads repayment over months at a far lower APR.
- A credit union "payday alternative loan" (PAL) is capped at a much lower rate.
- An employer paycheck advance or a payment plan with your existing creditor often costs nothing.
- Check our qualification checker before applying anywhere.
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Frequently asked questions
Are payday loans legal in every US state?
No. Several states prohibit payday lending or cap rates so low that the product cannot operate. Status varies by state; see the table above and the individual state pages.
What is the maximum payday loan cost in Canada?
The federal Criminal Interest Rate Regulations cap the cost of borrowing on a payday loan at $14 per $100 advanced, effective January 1, 2025, and the Criminal Code caps interest at 35% APR. Provinces add licensing and consumer protections.
Where do these figures come from?
Figures are compiled from state and provincial regulators, statutes, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Consumer Law Center, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, and the Canada Gazette. Each page cites its sources.