What a loan can cost in Delaware
Examples at an illustrative rate, never above Delaware'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 Delaware
Free and low-cost help in Delaware, each with its official link and the date we checked it.
Lending regulator and complaints
Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner licenses lenders in Delaware.
Check a lender's license File a complaint
banking.delaware.gov Checked September 23, 2026
Attorney general consumer protection
Takes complaints about scams and unfair debt collection.
attorneygeneral.delaware.gov Checked September 23, 2026
211
Help with rent, utilities, food and other urgent bills.
delaware211.org Checked September 23, 2026
Legal aid
Free civil legal help if your income is low; income limits vary.
lscd.com 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 Delaware.
assist.dhss.delaware.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 Delaware
Each rule links to its source. How we research state rules.
Allowed in Delaware: 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] | AllowedNo rate limit in state law | No rate limit | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Licensed Lender license | Del. Code Title 5, Chapter 22; Del. Admin. Code Title 5, Part 2210 |
| Title loans[5][6][4] | AllowedNo rate limit in state law | No rate limit | Not set by statute | Up to 6 months | Licensed Lender license | Del. Code Title 5, Chapter 22, Subchapter V |
| Payday loans[2][4] | AllowedNo rate limit in state law | No rate limit | Up to $1,000 | Up to 59 days | Licensed Lender license | Del. Code Title 5, Chapter 22; Del. Admin. Code Title 5, Section 2210 |
| 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 Delaware
Installment and personal loans
- Rate cap
- Delaware has no general rate cap for licensed lenders under Del. Code Title 5, Chapter 22: 5 Del.C. Section 2229 lets a licensee charge interest at the periodic rate or rates the loan agreement provides, subject to case-by-case unconscionability review. Short-term consumer loans ($1,000 or less, stated term under 60 days) carry volume and rollover limits (5 Del.C. 2235A).
- License
- Licensed Lender license issued by the Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner.
Title loans
- Rate cap
- Title loans are governed by Del. Code Title 5, Chapter 22, Subchapter V (Section 2250 et seq.). No interest-rate cap was found in that subchapter (rates are set by agreement under the general licensed-lender framework). A title loan has an originally stated repayment period of 180 days or less, and rollovers may not extend the repayment period beyond 180 days (Section 2254); borrowers may rescind by the end of the next business day (Section 2252).
- License
- Licensed Lender license (title loan endorsement) issued by the Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner.
Payday loans
- Rate cap
- No statutory rate cap: 5 Del.C. Section 2229 allows licensees to charge the rate the loan agreement provides. Short-term consumer loans, defined in 5 Del.C. 2235A as loans of $1,000 or less with a stated repayment period under 60 days, are limited to 5 loans per borrower from all licensees in any 12-month period and no more than 4 rollovers.
- Fees
- Licensees making short-term consumer loans pay a $1,500 annual high-cost loan license fee surcharge per office (Del. Admin. Code 5-2210, Section 5.1).
- License
- Licensed Lender license (short-term consumer loan endorsement) issued by the Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner.
Rent and jobs in Delaware
Typical rent and the jobless rate, to weigh before a loan payment.
Guides for Delaware borrowers
Check your options in Delaware
Delaware questions
Does Delaware law allow payday loans?
Delaware law allows payday loans. State law sets no numeric cap on the cost. Source: Del. Code Title 5, Chapter 22; Del. Admin. Code Title 5, Section 2210.
What is the most a lender can charge in Delaware?
By loan type in Delaware: Installment and personal loans: No rate limit. Title loans: No rate limit. Payday loans: No rate limit.
Where can I file a complaint about a lender in Delaware?
You can file a complaint with Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner, and you can also submit one to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Both links are under Resources in Delaware on this page.
How do I check a lender's license in Delaware?
Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner licenses lenders in Delaware. Use the license link under Resources in Delaware on this page to check a lender before you share your information.
Is there free help paying bills in Delaware?
Yes. Resources in Delaware on this page lists free help, including 211, legal aid, nonprofit credit counseling and benefits portal.
Nearby states
- MarylandAllowed 33% APR (top tier)
- District of ColumbiaAllowed 24% APR
- New JerseyAllowed 30% APR
- PennsylvaniaAllowed 24% APR
- VirginiaAllowed 36% APR
Sources
- delcode.delaware.gov. Del. Code Title 5, Chapter 22. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- regulations.delaware.gov. Del. Code Title 5, Chapter 22. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- legalclarity.org/delaware-usury-laws-interest-limits-and-penalties-overview. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- banking.delaware.gov. Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- delcode.delaware.gov. Del. Code Title 5, Chapter 22, Subchapter V. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- consumerfed.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-16-16-Car-Title-Loan-Regulation_Chart.pdf. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Delaware. 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 Delaware. 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 Delaware? Contact the Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner or file a state complaint.
- You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.