What a loan can cost in the District of Columbia
Examples at an illustrative rate, never above the District of Columbia's cap for the amount. They are not quotes.
Representative example
- Amount borrowed
- $500
- Annual percentage rate (APR)
- 24%
- Repayment
- 12 monthly payments
- Payment
- $47.28
- Finance charge
- $67.36
- Total of payments
- $567.36
Example: a $500 installment loan at 24% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $47.28 costs $567.36 in total, including a finance charge of $67.36. 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)
- 24%
- Repayment
- 12 monthly payments
- Payment
- $94.56
- Finance charge
- $134.72
- Total of payments
- $1,134.72
Example: a $1,000 installment loan at 24% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $94.56 costs $1,134.72 in total, including a finance charge of $134.72. 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)
- 24%
- Repayment
- 12 monthly payments
- Payment
- $283.68
- Finance charge
- $404.16
- Total of payments
- $3,404.16
Example: a $3,000 installment loan at 24% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $283.68 costs $3,404.16 in total, including a finance charge of $404.16. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.
Resources in the District of Columbia
Free and low-cost help in the District of Columbia, each with its official link and the date we checked it.
Lending regulator and complaints
DC Department of Insurance Securities and Banking (DISB) licenses lenders in the District of Columbia.
Check a lender's license File a complaint
disb.dc.gov Checked September 23, 2026 Available in Spanish
Attorney general consumer protection
Takes complaints about scams and unfair debt collection.
oag.dc.gov Checked September 23, 2026
211
Help with rent, utilities, food and other urgent bills.
211warmline.dc.gov Checked September 23, 2026
Legal aid
Free civil legal help if your income is low; income limits vary.
legalaiddc.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 the District of Columbia.
districtdirect.dc.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 the District of Columbia
Each rule links to its source. How we research state rules.
Allowed in the District of Columbia: installment and personal loans. Not allowed: title loans and payday loans.
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installment and personal loans[1][2][3] | Allowed | 24% APR | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Money Lender license | D.C. Code Section 28-3301; Section 26-901 and Section 26-905 |
| Title loans[4][1][5][3] | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Not applicable at market rates | D.C. Code Section 28-3301; Section 26-905 |
| Payday loans[6][3] | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Not applicable | D.C. Law 17-14, Consumer Protection Amendment Act of 2007; D.C. Code Section 28-3301 |
| 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 the District of Columbia
Installment and personal loans
- Rate cap
- D.C. Code Section 28-3301 caps interest in a written instrument at 24% per annum, and Section 26-905 bars licensed money lenders from exceeding that lawful rate, with the cap covering all fees and charges. This 24% ceiling applies to consumer installment loans.
- License
- Money Lender license issued by the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB).
Title loans
- Rate cap
- High-cost car title lending is not viable in DC because title loans, as consumer loans, remain subject to the general 24% APR usury cap; no separate title-loan carve-out exists.
- License
- Not applicable at market rates; a title-secured loan would need to comply with the 24% Money Lender cap, which precludes the typical title-loan business model.
Payday loans
- Rate cap
- DC banned payday lending in 2007 via the Consumer Protection Amendment Act, which removed payday-loan authorization from the Check Cashing Act of 1998 and left the general 24% APR usury cap in place; there is no deferred presentment carve-out.
- License
- Not applicable; payday lending is not a licensable product in the District.
Rent and jobs in the District of Columbia
Typical rent and the jobless rate, to weigh before a loan payment.
Guides for District of Columbia borrowers
Check your options in the District of Columbia
District of Columbia questions
Does District of Columbia law allow payday loans?
District of Columbia law does not allow payday loans. Source: D.C. Law 17-14, Consumer Protection Amendment Act of 2007; D.C. Code Section 28-3301.
What is the most a lender can charge in the District of Columbia?
By loan type in the District of Columbia: Installment and personal loans: 24% APR. Title loans: Not allowed. Payday loans: Not allowed.
Where can I file a complaint about a lender in the District of Columbia?
You can file a complaint with DC Department of Insurance Securities and Banking (DISB), and you can also submit one to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Both links are under Resources in the District of Columbia on this page.
How do I check a lender's license in the District of Columbia?
DC Department of Insurance Securities and Banking (DISB) licenses lenders in the District of Columbia. Use the license link under Resources in the District of Columbia on this page to check a lender before you share your information.
Is there free help paying bills in the District of Columbia?
Yes. Resources in the District of Columbia on this page lists free help, including 211, legal aid, nonprofit credit counseling and benefits portal.
Nearby states
- MarylandAllowed 33% APR (top tier)
- DelawareAllowedNo rate limit in state law No rate limit
- VirginiaAllowed 36% APR
- PennsylvaniaAllowed 24% APR
- New JerseyAllowed 30% APR
Sources
- code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/47-2884.09. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- code.dccouncil.gov. D.C. Code Section 28-3301. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- disb.dc.gov. DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- responsiblelending.org/research-publication/under-radar-evidence-prohibited-vehicle-title-loans-made-22-states-and-dc. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- code.dccouncil.gov. D.C. Code Section 28-3301. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- disb.dc.gov. D.C. Law 17-14, Consumer Protection Amendment Act of 2007. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: District of Columbia. 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 the District of Columbia. 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 the District of Columbia? Contact the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) or file a state complaint.
- You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.