Colorado at a glance
- Personal loansAllowed Tiered cap
- Installment loansAllowed Tiered cap
- Emergency loansAllowed Tiered cap
- Payday loansAllowed 36% APR
- Title loansAllowed 36% APR
Loan options in Colorado
Every loan type we cover is listed, including the ones Colorado 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.
Resources in Colorado
Free and low-cost places to turn in Colorado, each linked to its official source and dated when we last checked it.
Lending regulator and complaints
Colorado Attorney General, Consumer Credit Unit (Uniform Consumer Credit Code Administrator) licenses lenders in Colorado. Check a lender's license here, and file a complaint if something goes wrong.
Check a lender's license File a complaint
coag.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.
211colorado.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.
coloradolegalservices.org 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 Colorado, and for signing up.
co.colorado.gov 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
More Colorado resources appear here as we check each source.
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 Colorado.
The rules lenders follow in Colorado
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 Colorado: installment and personal loans, title loans and payday loans.
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installment and personal loans[1][2][3][4] | Allowed | Tiered cap | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Supervised Lender License issued by the Colorado Attorney General's Consumer Credit Unit | Colo. Rev. Stat. Section 5-1-101 et seq., Section 5-2-201 et seq. |
| Title loans[4] | Allowed | 36% APR | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Supervised Lender License issued by the Colorado Division of Banking / Attorney... | Colo. Rev. Stat. Title 5; Colorado Consumer Credit Transactions rules per Division of Banking |
| Payday loans[5][3][4] | Allowed | 36% APR | Not set by statute | At least 6 months | Deferred Deposit Lender license | Colo. Rev. Stat. Section 5-3.1-101 et seq., as amended by Proposition 111 and HB23-1229 |
| 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 Colorado
Installment and personal loans
- Rate cap
- Summarized in the statute; read the full rule.
- License
- Supervised Lender License issued by the Colorado Attorney General's Consumer Credit Unit (UCCC Administrator).
Title loans
- Rate cap
- Title loans in Colorado are not a separately licensed product with their own statute; they are treated as consumer loans under the Uniform Consumer Credit Code and are subject to the general 36% APR usury/rate ceiling that also applies to other consumer credit transactions per recent reform.
- Fees
- Origination, documentation, or processing fees are allowed but must not push the combined effective APR above 36%.
- License
- Supervised Lender License issued by the Colorado Division of Banking / Attorney General's Consumer Credit Unit (no separate title-loan license).
Payday loans
- Rate cap
- Summarized in the statute; read the full rule.
- Fees
- Summarized in the statute; read the full rule.
- License
- Deferred Deposit Lender license (Supervised Lender License under UCCC) issued by the Colorado Attorney General's Consumer Credit Unit.
Money snapshot for Colorado
Guides for Colorado borrowers
Check your options in Colorado
Colorado questions
Does Colorado law allow payday loans?
Colorado law allows payday loans. The cost limit is 36% APR. Source: Colo. Rev. Stat. Section 5-3.1-101 et seq., as amended by Proposition 111 and HB23-1229.
What is the most a lender can charge in Colorado?
By loan type in Colorado: Installment and personal loans: Tiered cap. Title loans: 36% APR. Payday loans: 36% APR.
Where can I file a complaint about a lender in Colorado?
You can file a complaint with Colorado Attorney General, Consumer Credit Unit (Uniform Consumer Credit Code Administrator), and you can also submit one to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Both links are under Resources in Colorado on this page.
How do I check a lender's license in Colorado?
Colorado Attorney General, Consumer Credit Unit (Uniform Consumer Credit Code Administrator) licenses lenders in Colorado. Use the license link under Resources in Colorado on this page to check a lender before you share your information.
Is there free help paying bills in Colorado?
Yes. Resources in Colorado on this page lists free help, including 211, legal aid, nonprofit credit counseling and benefits portal.
Can I get a loan in Colorado 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
- WyomingAllowed 36% APR (top tier)
- New MexicoAllowed 36% APR
- UtahAllowed No numeric cap
- NebraskaAllowed 24% APR (top tier)
- KansasAllowed 36% APR (top tier)
Sources
- coag.gov. Colo. Rev. Stat. Section 5-1-101 et seq., Section 5-2-201 et seq.. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1148. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1229. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- coag.gov. Colorado Attorney General, Consumer Credit Unit (Uniform Consumer Credit Code Administrator). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- ballotpedia.org. Colo. Rev. Stat. Section 5-3.1-101 et seq., as amended by Proposition 111 and HB23-1229. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Colorado. 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 Colorado: APRs from 5.99% to 35.99%. 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.
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- Questions about a lender licensed in Colorado? Contact the Colorado Attorney General, Consumer Credit Unit (Uniform Consumer Credit Code Administrator) or file a state complaint.
- You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.