What a loan can cost in Arizona
Examples at an illustrative rate, never above Arizona's cap for the amount. They are not quotes.
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.
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
- $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.
Resources in Arizona
Free and low-cost help in Arizona, each with its official link and the date we checked it.
Lending regulator and complaints
Arizona Department of Financial Institutions (DIFI) licenses lenders in Arizona.
Check a lender's license File a complaint
difi.az.gov Checked September 23, 2026
Attorney general consumer protection
Takes complaints about scams and unfair debt collection.
azag.gov Checked September 23, 2026
211
Help with rent, utilities, food and other urgent bills.
211arizona.org Checked September 23, 2026
Legal aid
Free civil legal help if your income is low; income limits vary.
clsaz.org Checked September 23, 2026
Nonprofit credit counseling
Help with a budget or a debt management plan.
nfcc.org Checked September 23, 2026
Benefits portal
Check whether you qualify for food, cash or other benefits in Arizona.
healthearizonaplus.gov Checked September 23, 2026
Federal complaints
Complaints about any lender, to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Submit a complaint to the CFPB
consumerfinance.gov Checked September 23, 2026 Available in Spanish
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). Federal credit unions may offer small loans of up to $2,000 with terms of up to 12 months and an APR no higher than 28%, under NCUA rules (12 CFR 701.21). You usually need to be a member.
- Ask your creditor for a payment plan. Utilities, hospitals and many lenders offer hardship or extended payment plans if you ask before you miss a payment.
- Credit-builder loans: a small loan held in savings while you pay it off, which can help build a payment history.
- Secured credit cards: a card backed by a deposit you make, which can help build credit when you pay on time.
The rules lenders follow in Arizona
Each rule links to its source. How we research state rules.
Allowed in Arizona: installment and personal loans and title loans. Not allowed: payday loans.
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installment and personal loans[1][2][3] | Allowed | 36% APR (top tier) | Up to $10,000 | Not set by statute | Consumer Lender License | A.R.S. Section 6-601 et seq. |
| Title loans[4][2][5] | AllowedHigh-cost loan | 204% APR (top tier) | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Sales Finance Company license | A.R.S. Section 44-291; A.R.S. Section 44-281; A.R.S. Section 44-282 |
| Payday loans[6][7][8][2] | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Not applicable as a distinct product | Former A.R.S. Section 6-1251 et seq., sunset July 1, 2010 |
| 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.
Rate, fee and license rules in Arizona
Installment and personal loans
- Rate cap
- Arizona Consumer Lender Act (A.R.S. Title 6, Chapter 6, Section 6-601 et seq.) caps licensed consumer lender loans of $10,000 or less on a tiered basis: up to 36% per year on loans of $3,000 or less, and on larger loans 36% on the first $3,000 plus 24% on the amount over $3,000 (or a single blended rate producing the same total finance charge).
- License
- Consumer Lender License issued by the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions (DIFI).
Title loans
- Rate cap
- A.R.S. Section 44-291(G) caps monthly finance rates on secondary motor vehicle finance transactions (title loans): 17% per month on $500 or less, 15% per month on $501 to $2,500, 13% per month on $2,501 to $5,000, and 10% per month on amounts over $5,000.
- License
- Sales Finance Company license issued by the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI); title loans are 'secondary motor vehicle finance transactions'.
Payday loans
- Rate cap
- No standalone payday/deferred presentment statute remains in force; Proposition 200 (2008), which would have made the deferred presentment licensing program permanent, was rejected by voters, and the program's authorization sunset on June 30, 2010. Since then, short-term storefront loans that used to be made as payday loans fall under the Consumer Lender Act's 36%-tiered APR cap.
- License
- Not applicable as a distinct product; any short-term lender must hold a Consumer Lender License under A.R.S. Section 6-601 et seq. and comply with its rate caps.
Rent and jobs in Arizona
Typical rent and the jobless rate, to weigh before a loan payment.
Guides for Arizona borrowers
Check your options in Arizona
Arizona questions
Does Arizona law allow payday loans?
Arizona law does not allow payday loans. Source: Former A.R.S. Section 6-1251 et seq., sunset July 1, 2010.
What is the most a lender can charge in Arizona?
By loan type in Arizona: Installment and personal loans: 36% APR (top tier). Title loans: 204% APR (top tier). Payday loans: Not allowed.
Where can I file a complaint about a lender in Arizona?
You can file a complaint with Arizona Department of Financial Institutions (DIFI), and you can also submit one to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Both links are under Resources in Arizona on this page.
How do I check a lender's license in Arizona?
Arizona Department of Financial Institutions (DIFI) licenses lenders in Arizona. Use the license link under Resources in Arizona on this page to check a lender before you share your information.
Is there free help paying bills in Arizona?
Yes. Resources in Arizona on this page lists free help, including 211, legal aid, nonprofit credit counseling and benefits portal.
Nearby states
- New MexicoAllowed 36% APR
- UtahAllowedNo rate limit in state law No rate limit
- NevadaAllowedNo rate limit in state law No rate limit
- ColoradoAllowed Limit depends on loan size
- CaliforniaAllowed 36% APR
Sources
- Justia. law.justia.com/codes/arizona/title-6/section-6-601. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- difi.az.gov. Arizona Department of Financial Institutions (DIFI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- azleg.gov. A.R.S. Section 6-601 et seq.. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- difi.az.gov/faq/what-maximum-interest-rate-auto-title-loans. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- azleg.gov. A.R.S. Section 44-291. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- votesmart.org/elections/ballot-measure/1199/payday-loan-reform-act. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- arizonalawreview.org/woolston. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- apps.azsos.gov. Former A.R.S. Section 6-1251 et seq., sunset July 1, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Arizona. 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 Arizona. Each lender sets its own rates and terms and must show you the APR before you sign.
- BadCreditMD is not a lender or broker and does not make loans or credit decisions. When you submit a request, a lending network partner shares it with third-party lenders, and those lenders or the partner may pay us a fee for each referral. The lenders decide whether to offer you a loan.
- There is no fee to use BadCreditMD. Lenders or our lending network partner may pay us.
- Lenders set their own rates, fees and terms. Offers depend on your credit, income, state of residence and each lender's criteria.
- Our service is not available in all states, and not every loan type is available in every state.
- By submitting a request you consent to lenders checking your credit, which may affect your score, and to your information being shared with them.
- Submitting a request does not mean you will be approved or funded, or that you will receive any particular amount or rate.
- Short-term loans are costly and are not a long-term financial solution. Borrow only what you can repay on time.
- BadCreditMD publishes general information about loans and state rules. It is not legal or financial advice.
- BadCreditMD is operated by BadCreditMD, LLC, 30 N Gould St Ste N, Sheridan, WY 82801. Contact: pr@badcreditmd.com. Full details are on our disclosures page and disclaimer.
- Questions about a lender licensed in Arizona? Contact the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions (DIFI) or file a state complaint.
- You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.