What a loan can cost in California
Examples at an illustrative rate, never above California's cap for the amount. They are 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 help in California, each with its official link and the date we checked it.
Lending regulator and complaints
California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) licenses lenders in California.
Check a lender's license File a complaint
dfpi.ca.gov Checked September 23, 2026 Available in Spanish
Attorney general consumer protection
Takes complaints about scams and unfair debt collection.
oag.ca.gov Checked September 23, 2026
211
Help with rent, utilities, food and other urgent bills.
211ca.org Checked September 23, 2026
Legal aid
Free civil legal help if your income is low; income limits vary.
lsc.gov 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 California.
benefitscal.com Checked September 23, 2026 Available in Spanish
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 California
Each rule links to its source. 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 license | Cal. Fin. Code Section 22000 et seq.; AB 539, Fair Access to Credit Act |
| Title loans[4][3] | AllowedHigh-cost loan | 36% APR | Up to $9,999.99 | 1 year to 1840 days | California Finance Lenders Law license | Cal. Fin. Code Section 22000 et seq., as amended by AB 539 |
| Payday loans[5][6][3] | AllowedHigh-cost loan | Not verified | Up to $300 | Up to 31 days | Deferred Deposit Transaction license | 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.
Rent and jobs in California
Typical rent and the jobless rate, to weigh before a loan payment.
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.
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. 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 California. 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 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.