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State guide

Indiana bad credit loans, loan laws and local help

Loan options, state rules and local help for Indiana residents with bad credit: which loan types Indiana law allows, what a typical loan can cost, and who to call when money is tight. Checked against state sources on September 23, 2026.

Last updated .

BadCreditMD is not a lender or broker. We explain your options; a lending network partner shares requests with lenders, who set their own rates and decide whether to lend. See disclosures.

Indiana at a glance

Loan options in Indiana

Every loan type we cover is listed, including the ones Indiana law does not allow, so you can see why and what else can work.

Other ways to borrow

What a loan can cost in Indiana

Worked examples at an illustrative rate, never above Indiana's rate cap for that loan amount where the law sets one. They are examples, 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 Indiana

Free and low-cost places to turn in Indiana, each linked to its official source and dated when we last checked it.

  • Lending regulator and complaints

    Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) licenses lenders in Indiana. Check a lender's license here, and file a complaint if something goes wrong.

    Check a lender's license File a complaint

    in.gov Checked September 23, 2026

  • Attorney general consumer protection

    The attorney general's consumer protection office takes complaints about scams, unfair debt collection and other business practices.

    Contact consumer protection

    in.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.

    Find your local 211

    in.gov 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.

    Find legal aid

    indianalegalservices.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.

    Find a nonprofit counselor

    nfcc.org Checked September 23, 2026

  • Benefits portal

    The official site for checking whether you qualify for food, cash or other benefits in Indiana, and for signing up.

    Check benefits

    fssabenefits.in.gov Checked September 23, 2026

  • 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

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 Indiana.

The rules lenders follow in Indiana

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 Indiana: installment and personal loans, title loans and payday loans.

Lending law in Indiana
ProductStatusAPR capAmountTermLicenseLaw
Installment and personal loans[1][2][3] Allowed 36% APR (top tier) Not set by statute Not set by statute Loan License IC 24-4.5-3, esp. IC 24-4.5-3-508
Title loans[3][1] Allowed 36% APR (top tier) Not set by statute Not set by statute Licensed as a consumer/supervised lender under the Indiana UCCC IC 24-4.5-3, esp. IC 24-4.5-3-508
Payday loans[4][1] Allowed Fee cap Up to $605 14 days to 4 months Small Loan license Statute
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 Indiana

Installment and personal loans

Rate cap
IC 24-4.5-3-508(2): a supervised lender may charge the greater of (a) tiered rates of 36% per year on unpaid principal up to $2,000, 21% on the part from $2,000 to $4,000, and 15% on the part above $4,000, or (b) 25% per year on the unpaid principal. Dollar breakpoints are subject to Indiana's index adjustments. A separate general criminal usury ceiling of 72% APR applies statewide.
Fees
For loans made after June 30, 2020, a nonrefundable prepaid finance charge of up to $75 (principal of $2,000 or less), $150 ($2,001 to $4,000), or $200 (over $4,000) may be charged (IC 24-4.5-3-508).
License
Loan License (supervised lender) under the Indiana UCCC, issued by the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Consumer Credit Division.

Title loans

Rate cap
Indiana has no standalone title-loan statute; a vehicle-title-secured loan is a consumer loan under the Indiana UCCC, IC 24-4.5-3-508: the greater of tiered rates (36% up to $2,000, 21% from $2,000 to $4,000, 15% above $4,000) or a flat 25% per year.
License
Licensed as a consumer/supervised lender under the Indiana UCCC (no separate 'title loan' license category); Indiana DFI licenses and examines title lenders under this general framework and requires up-front disclosure of every charge.

Payday loans

Rate cap
IC 24-4.5-7-201 limits small-loan finance charges to 15% of the first $250 of principal, 13% of the portion from $250 to $400, and 10% of the portion from $400 to $550 (statutory base amounts; indexed amounts may be higher). No numeric APR cap; implied APRs on a 14-day loan are in the triple digits.
Fees
Tiered finance charges of 15% / 13% / 10% as above (IC 24-4.5-7-201); dishonored check/debit fee not exceeding $25.
License
Small Loan license (payday lender) under the Indiana UCCC, IC 24-4.5-7, issued by Indiana DFI.

Money snapshot for Indiana

Indiana household and credit data
MeasureValueYear
Fair market rent, 2 bedroom (monthly)[5]$1,255FY2026
Population[6]6,924,2752024
Unemployment rate[7]3.3%2026-08

Guides for Indiana borrowers

Check your options in Indiana

Check your optionsYour request goes to a lending network partner, who shares it with lenders. Lenders set their own rates and decide whether to lend. There is no fee to use our service.

Indiana questions

Does Indiana law allow payday loans?

Indiana law allows payday loans. State law caps the fee rather than the APR.

What is the most a lender can charge in Indiana?

By loan type in Indiana: Installment and personal loans: 36% APR (top tier). Title loans: 36% APR (top tier). Payday loans: Fee cap.

Where can I file a complaint about a lender in Indiana?

You can file a complaint with Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), and you can also submit one to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Both links are under Resources in Indiana on this page.

How do I check a lender's license in Indiana?

Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) licenses lenders in Indiana. Use the license link under Resources in Indiana on this page to check a lender before you share your information.

Is there free help paying bills in Indiana?

Yes. Resources in Indiana on this page lists free help, including 211, legal aid, nonprofit credit counseling and benefits portal.

Can I get a loan in Indiana 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

Sources

  1. in.gov. Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Consumer Credit Division. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  2. codes.findlaw.com/in/title-24-trade-regulation/in-code-sect-24-4-5-7-102. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  3. codes.findlaw.com. IC 24-4.5-3, esp. IC 24-4.5-3-508. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  4. Justia. IC 24-4.5-7. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  5. National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Indiana. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  6. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Vintage 2024 National and State Population Estimates. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  7. 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 Indiana: APRs from 5.99% to 35.99%, where the state APR cap is 36% at most and lower on larger loans. 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.
  • 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 Indiana? Contact the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Consumer Credit Division or file a state complaint.
  • You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.