What people use personal loans for
A personal loan is a lump sum repaid in fixed monthly payments, often for a larger cost such as a car repair, a move or medical bills; the examples below stay within Delaware limits.
What personal loans can cost
These examples show how cost adds up. They are illustrative, not a quote. Your lender sets the actual rate and terms.
Representative example
- Amount borrowed
- $3,000
- Annual percentage rate (APR)
- 29.99%
- Repayment
- 12 monthly payments
- Payment
- $292.45
- Finance charge
- $509.40
- Total of payments
- $3,509.40
Example: a $3,000 installment loan at 29.99% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $292.45 costs $3,509.40 in total, including a finance charge of $509.40. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.
Representative example
- Amount borrowed
- $1,000
- Annual percentage rate (APR)
- 29.99%
- Repayment
- 12 monthly payments
- Payment
- $97.48
- Finance charge
- $169.76
- Total of payments
- $1,169.76
Example: a $1,000 installment loan at 29.99% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $97.48 costs $1,169.76 in total, including a finance charge of $169.76. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.
Representative example
- Amount borrowed
- $500
- Annual percentage rate (APR)
- 29.99%
- Repayment
- 12 monthly payments
- Payment
- $48.74
- Finance charge
- $84.88
- Total of payments
- $584.88
Example: a $500 installment loan at 29.99% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $48.74 costs $584.88 in total, including a finance charge of $84.88. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.
What Delaware law allows
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installment and personal loans[1][2][3][4] | AllowedNo rate limit in state law | No rate limit | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Licensed Lender license | Del. Code Title 5, Chapter 22; Del. Admin. Code Title 5, Part 2210 |
| Verified against the statute and regulator on September 23, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the regulator before you borrow. | ||||||
Bars place each APR cap on a 0 to 400% scale; the pin marks the cap. A striped bar means the statute sets no numeric cap.
The rules in full
Installment and personal loans
- Rate cap
- Delaware has no general rate cap for licensed lenders under Del. Code Title 5, Chapter 22: 5 Del.C. Section 2229 lets a licensee charge interest at the periodic rate or rates the loan agreement provides, subject to case-by-case unconscionability review. Short-term consumer loans ($1,000 or less, stated term under 60 days) carry volume and rollover limits (5 Del.C. 2235A).
- License
- Licensed Lender license issued by the Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner.
Full detail for every loan type: Delaware lending laws.
Help in Delaware
Rent and jobs in Delaware
Typical rent and the jobless rate, to weigh before a loan payment.
Other options in Delaware
Cheaper options to try first
Worth checking whatever your credit: these can cost less than a high-rate loan.
- Credit union payday alternative loans (PALs), capped at 28% APR under NCUA rules (12 CFR 701.21).
- Nonprofit credit counseling through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
- A payment plan from the company you owe, if you ask before you miss a payment.
- 211 for help with rent, utilities and food: call 211 or visit 211.org.
More cheaper options in Delaware.
Other loan types allowed in Delaware
- Installment loans in Delaware No rate limit in state law
- Emergency loans in Delaware No rate limit in state law
- Title loans in Delaware No rate limit in state law
- Payday loans in Delaware No rate limit in state law
Personal loans in nearby states
- MarylandAllowed 33% APR (top tier)
- District of ColumbiaAllowed 24% APR
- New JerseyAllowed 30% APR
- PennsylvaniaAllowed 24% APR
- VirginiaAllowed 36% APR
Sources
- delcode.delaware.gov. Del. Code Title 5, Chapter 22. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- regulations.delaware.gov. Del. Code Title 5, Chapter 22. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- legalclarity.org/delaware-usury-laws-interest-limits-and-penalties-overview. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- banking.delaware.gov. Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Delaware. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), All States, Seasonally Adjusted. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
Important disclosures
APRs vary by lender and state in Delaware. Each lender sets its own rates and terms and must show you the APR before you sign.
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- Questions about a lender licensed in Delaware? Contact the Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner or file a state complaint.
- You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.