California at a glance
- Personal loansAllowed 36% APR
- Installment loansAllowed 36% APR
- Emergency loansAllowed 36% APR
- Payday loansAllowed
- Title loansAllowed 36% APR
Loan options in California
Every loan type we cover is listed, including the ones California law does not allow, so you can see why and what else can work.
- Personal loansAllowedA lump sum you repay in fixed monthly payments. See what your state allows and what a loan can cost.
- Installment loansAllowedFixed payments over months, not weeks. See your state's rate limits and a worked cost example.
- Emergency loansAllowedMoney for an urgent bill, usually a smaller installment loan. Check your state's limits before you borrow.
- Payday loansAllowedA short loan usually due in one payment on your next payday. Allowed in fewer states, so read the fee limits first.
- Title loansAllowedA loan secured by your car title. Allowed in fewer states, and your car is at risk if you cannot repay.
Other ways to borrow
- Credit union payday alternative loans: small loans from federal credit unions with an APR capped at 28% under NCUA rules. (12 CFR 701.21)
- 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.
- Payment plans: many utilities, hospitals and lenders offer hardship plans if you ask before you miss a payment.
What a loan can cost in California
Worked examples at an illustrative rate, never above California's rate cap for that loan amount where the law sets one. They are examples, not quotes.
Representative example
- Amount borrowed
- $3,000
- Annual percentage rate (APR)
- 29.99%
- Repayment
- 13 monthly payments
- Payment
- $273.13
- Finance charge
- $550.69
- Total of payments
- $3,550.69
Example: a $3,000 installment loan at 29.99% APR repaid in 13 monthly payments of $273.13 costs $3,550.69 in total, including a finance charge of $550.69. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.
Resources in California
Free and low-cost places to turn in California, each linked to its official source and dated when we last checked it.
Lending regulator and complaints
California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) licenses lenders in California. Check a lender's license here, and file a complaint if something goes wrong.
Check a lender's license File a complaint
dfpi.ca.gov Checked September 23, 2026 Available in Spanish
Attorney general consumer protection
The attorney general's consumer protection office takes complaints about scams, unfair debt collection and other business practices.
oag.ca.gov Checked September 23, 2026
211
Call 211 or visit your local 211 site to reach help with rent, utilities, food and other urgent bills.
211ca.org Checked September 23, 2026
Legal aid
Free civil legal help for people with low incomes, including debt collection, repossession and eviction problems. Income limits vary.
lsc.gov Checked September 23, 2026
Nonprofit credit counseling
Nonprofit counselors can help you build a budget or set up a debt management plan. Look for an NFCC or FCAA member agency.
nfcc.org Checked September 23, 2026
Benefits portal
The official site for checking whether you qualify for food, cash or other benefits in California, and for signing up.
benefitscal.com Checked September 23, 2026 Available in Spanish
Federal complaints
Submit a complaint 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.
- Nonprofit credit counseling. A counselor accredited by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling can help you build a budget or a debt management plan.
- 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.
- Local assistance. Call 211, or visit 211.org, for emergency help with rent, utilities and food in California.
The rules lenders follow in California
These rules protect you as a borrower and explain the labels above. Each one links to the source we took it from. How we research state rules.
Allowed in California: installment and personal loans, title loans and payday loans.
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installment and personal loans[1][2][3] | Allowed | 36% APR | Up to $9,999.99 | 1 year to 1840 days | California Finance Lenders Law | Cal. Fin. Code Section 22000 et seq.; AB 539, Fair Access to Credit Act |
| Title loans[4][3] | Allowed | 36% APR | Up to $9,999.99 | 1 year to 1840 days | California Finance Lenders Law | Cal. Fin. Code Section 22000 et seq., as amended by AB 539 |
| Payday loans[5][6][3] | Allowed | Not verified | Up to $300 | Up to 31 days | Deferred Deposit Transaction license issued by DFPI | Cal. Fin. Code Section 23000 et seq. |
| 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 California
Installment and personal loans
- Rate cap
- Under the California Financing Law (CFL) as amended by AB 539 (Fair Access to Credit Act, effective Jan 1, 2020), consumer installment loans of $2,500 to $9,999.99 are capped at 36% simple annual interest plus the federal funds rate, exclusive of a permitted administrative fee (up to $75). Loans of $2,500 or more but under $10,000 must have a minimum 12-month term and a maximum term of 60 months and 15 days (Cal. Fin. Code 22334). Loans of $10,000 or more made under a CFL license are not subject to this rate cap. Loans under $2,500 are governed by separate CFL small-loan tiers.
- Fees
- Administrative fee (Cal. Fin. Code 22305): up to $75 for loans over $2,500; for loans of $2,500 or less, the lesser of 5% of principal or $50. The fee is outside the 36% plus federal funds rate cap.
- License
- California Finance Lenders Law (CFL) license issued by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI).
Title loans
- Rate cap
- Auto title loans are made under the CFL. Title loans of $2,500 to $9,999.99 fall under the same AB 539 cap as other CFL installment loans (36% plus the federal funds rate). Title loans of $10,000 or more made under a CFL license are not subject to a statutory rate cap and can carry unlimited interest.
- License
- California Finance Lenders Law (CFL) license issued by DFPI (no separate title-loan-specific license).
Payday loans
- Fees
- California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law (CDDTL), Cal. Fin. Code Section 23000 et seq., caps the personal check amount at $300 and the fee at 15% of the check face amount (a $300 check nets the borrower about $255).
- License
- Deferred Deposit Transaction license issued by DFPI.
Money snapshot for California
Guides for California borrowers
Check your options in California
California questions
Does California law allow payday loans?
California law allows payday loans. Source: Cal. Fin. Code Section 23000 et seq..
What is the most a lender can charge in California?
By loan type in California: Installment and personal loans: 36% APR. Title loans: 36% APR. Payday loans: Not verified.
Where can I file a complaint about a lender in California?
You can file a complaint with California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), and you can also submit one to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Both links are under Resources in California on this page.
How do I check a lender's license in California?
California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) licenses lenders in California. Use the license link under Resources in California on this page to check a lender before you share your information.
Is there free help paying bills in California?
Yes. Resources in California on this page lists free help, including 211, nonprofit credit counseling and benefits portal.
Can I get a loan in California with a 500 credit score?
Lenders look at more than your score, such as income and existing debts, and each sets its own rules. BadCreditMD cannot tell you whether a lender will approve you.
Nearby states
Sources
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Cal. Fin. Code Section 22000 et seq.. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- lexology.com/library/detail.aspx. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- dfpi.ca.gov. California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- dfpi.ca.gov. Cal. Fin. Code Section 22000 et seq., as amended by AB 539. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- dfpi.ca.gov. Cal. Fin. Code Section 23000 et seq.. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- abnk.assembly.ca.gov/sites/abnk.assembly.ca.gov/files/CALIFORNIA DEFERRED DEPOSIT Background ELECTRONIC VERSION.pdf. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: California. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Vintage 2024 National and State Population Estimates. 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
Illustrative range for installment loans in California: APRs from 5.99% to 35.99%, where the state APR cap is 36%. This range is not a quote; each lender sets its own rates. Your APR depends on your credit, income, state and the lender.
- 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 California? Contact the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) or file a state complaint.
- You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.