What a loan can cost in Idaho
Examples at an illustrative rate, never above Idaho'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 Idaho
Free and low-cost help in Idaho, each with its official link and the date we checked it.
Lending regulator and complaints
Idaho Department of Finance, Consumer Finance Bureau licenses lenders in Idaho.
Check a lender's license File a complaint
finance.idaho.gov Checked September 23, 2026
Attorney general consumer protection
Takes complaints about scams and unfair debt collection.
ag.idaho.gov Checked September 23, 2026
211
Help with rent, utilities, food and other urgent bills.
healthandwelfare.idaho.gov 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 Idaho.
idalink.idaho.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 Idaho
Each rule links to its source. How we research state rules.
Allowed in Idaho: installment and personal loans, title loans and payday loans.
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installment and personal loans[1][2][3] | AllowedNo rate limit in state law | No rate limit | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Regulated Lenders License | Idaho Code Title 28, ch. 41 and ch. 42, esp. s. 28-42-201 |
| Title loans[4][5][3] | AllowedNo rate limit in state law | No rate limit | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Title Loan license | Idaho Code Title 28, ch. 46, part 5, ss. 28-46-501 et seq., esp. s. 28-46-503 |
| Payday loans[6][7][3] | AllowedNo rate limit in state law | No rate limit | Up to $1,000 | Not set by statute | Regulated Payday Lender License | Idaho Code Title 28, ch. 46, part 4, esp. s. 28-46-413 |
| 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 Idaho
Installment and personal loans
- Rate cap
- No statutory maximum interest rate. Idaho Code 28-42-201 provides the finance charge rate is whatever is agreed upon between the parties; the Idaho Credit Code requires only that terms not be 'unconscionable,' with no fixed numerical rate ceiling.
- Fees
- No specific fee cap identified beyond the general unconscionability standard and Idaho Credit Code disclosure requirements.
- License
- Regulated Lenders License under the Idaho Credit Code (Idaho Code Title 28, ch. 41-42), issued by the Idaho Department of Finance, Consumer Finance Bureau.
Title loans
- Rate cap
- No statutory cap. Idaho Code 28-46-503 permits a title-loan licensee to charge interest at any rate permitted under s. 28-42-201, i.e., the same rate-deregulated standard as regulated consumer loans generally.
- License
- Title Loan license under the Idaho Title Loan Act (Idaho Code Title 28, ch. 46, part 5), Idaho Department of Finance; a title loan made without the required license is void and the lender forfeits the right to collect principal, interest, or fees.
Payday loans
- Rate cap
- No statutory APR cap; the fee charged for a payday loan is deemed fully earned at the time of the transaction and is not treated as interest for legal purposes, so 'finance rates and charges' are effectively uncapped.
- Fees
- Fee must be posted conspicuously at each licensed location, expressed as a dollar amount per $100 borrowed; only fees specifically set forth in the Payday Loan Act (Idaho Code Title 28, ch. 46, part 4) may be charged.
- License
- Regulated Payday Lender License under the Idaho Credit Code / Payday Loan Act (Idaho Code Title 28, ch. 46, part 4), Idaho Department of Finance.
Rent and jobs in Idaho
Typical rent and the jobless rate, to weigh before a loan payment.
Guides for Idaho borrowers
Check your options in Idaho
Idaho questions
Does Idaho law allow payday loans?
Idaho law allows payday loans. State law sets no numeric cap on the cost. Source: Idaho Code Title 28, ch. 46, part 4, esp. s. 28-46-413.
What is the most a lender can charge in Idaho?
By loan type in Idaho: 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 Idaho?
You can file a complaint with Idaho Department of Finance, Consumer Finance Bureau, and you can also submit one to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Both links are under Resources in Idaho on this page.
How do I check a lender's license in Idaho?
Idaho Department of Finance, Consumer Finance Bureau licenses lenders in Idaho. Use the license link under Resources in Idaho on this page to check a lender before you share your information.
Is there free help paying bills in Idaho?
Yes. Resources in Idaho on this page lists free help, including 211, nonprofit credit counseling and benefits portal.
Nearby states
- MontanaAllowed 36% APR
- OregonAllowed 36% APR
- WashingtonAllowed 25% APR
- NevadaAllowedNo rate limit in state law No rate limit
- WyomingAllowed 36% APR (top tier)
Sources
- library.nclc.org/book/consumer-credit-regulation/idaho-0. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- legislature.idaho.gov. Idaho Code Title 28, ch. 41 and ch. 42, esp. s. 28-42-201. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- finance.idaho.gov. Idaho Department of Finance, Consumer Finance Bureau. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- Justia. Idaho Code Title 28, ch. 46, part 5, ss. 28-46-501 et seq., esp. s. 28-46-503. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title28/t28ch46/sect28-46-503. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- Justia. law.justia.com/codes/idaho/title-28/chapter-46/part-4/section-28-46-412. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- Justia. Idaho Code Title 28, ch. 46, part 4, esp. s. 28-46-413. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Idaho. 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 Idaho. Each lender sets its own rates and terms and must show you the APR before you sign.
- 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 Idaho? Contact the Idaho Department of Finance, Consumer Finance Bureau or file a state complaint.
- You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.