Utah at a glance
- Personal loansAllowed No numeric cap
- Installment loansAllowed No numeric cap
- Emergency loansAllowed No numeric cap
- Payday loansAllowed No numeric cap
- Title loansAllowed No numeric cap
Loan options in Utah
Every loan type we cover is listed, including the ones Utah 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.
What a loan can cost in Utah
Worked examples at an illustrative rate, never above Utah'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 Utah
Free and low-cost places to turn in Utah, each linked to its official source and dated when we last checked it.
Lending regulator and complaints
Utah Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) licenses lenders in Utah. Check a lender's license here, and file a complaint if something goes wrong.
Check a lender's license File a complaint
dfi.utah.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.
commerce.utah.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.
211utah.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.
utahlegalservices.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 Utah, and for signing up.
jobs.utah.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 Utah.
The rules lenders follow in Utah
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 Utah: installment and personal loans, title loans and payday loans.
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installment and personal loans[1][2] | Allowed | No numeric cap | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Consumer lenders generally register/operate under the Utah Consumer Credit Code | Utah Code Title 70C, Section 70C-7-106 |
| Title loans[3][1][2] | Allowed | No numeric cap | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | Title Lender Registration | Utah Code Title 7, Chapter 24 |
| Payday loans[4][1][2] | Allowed | No numeric cap | Not set by statute | Up to 70 days | Deferred Deposit Lender registration under Utah Code Title 7, Chapter 23, Dept. of... | Utah Code Title 7, Chapter 23 |
| 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 Utah
Installment and personal loans
- Rate cap
- Utah has no statutory interest rate ceiling for consumer loans generally; the Utah Department of Financial Institutions states directly: 'Utah law does not specify an interest rate ceiling, but does have an unconscionability provision (Section 70C-7-106 of the Utah Code).' Rates are market-determined; only a court-applied unconscionability standard limits them after the fact.
- Fees
- No statutory fee cap identified; consumer lenders are subject to disclosure requirements under the Utah Consumer Credit Code (Title 70C) and, if unsecured/small, may fall under the same registration regime as deferred deposit lenders depending on structure.
- License
- Consumer lenders generally register/operate under the Utah Consumer Credit Code (Title 70C); specific installment lenders not doing deferred-deposit or title lending typically need a Utah DFI Consumer Lender license depending on structure and loan type.
Title loans
- Rate cap
- No statutory interest rate ceiling; same market-rate/unconscionability standard applies. Title Lending Registration Act (Utah Code Title 7, Chapter 24) regulates operationally: lenders must register (Title Lender Registration, TLR), post interest/fees consistent with federal Truth in Lending (Reg Z), and provide a written contract detailing loan terms.
- License
- Title Lender Registration (TLR) under Utah Code Title 7, Chapter 24, Dept. of Financial Institutions.
Payday loans
- Rate cap
- No statutory interest rate ceiling; same market-rate/unconscionability standard as installment loans applies. Utah Code Title 7, Chapter 23 (Check Cashing and Deferred Deposit Lending Registration Act) governs the product operationally rather than through a price cap.
- License
- Deferred Deposit Lender registration under Utah Code Title 7, Chapter 23, Dept. of Financial Institutions.
Money snapshot for Utah
Guides for Utah borrowers
Check your options in Utah
Utah questions
Does Utah law allow payday loans?
Utah law allows payday loans. State law sets no numeric cap on the cost. Source: Utah Code Title 7, Chapter 23.
What is the most a lender can charge in Utah?
By loan type in Utah: Installment and personal loans: No numeric cap. Title loans: No numeric cap. Payday loans: No numeric cap.
Where can I file a complaint about a lender in Utah?
You can file a complaint with Utah Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), and you can also submit one to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Both links are under Resources in Utah on this page.
How do I check a lender's license in Utah?
Utah Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) licenses lenders in Utah. Use the license link under Resources in Utah on this page to check a lender before you share your information.
Is there free help paying bills in Utah?
Yes. Resources in Utah on this page lists free help, including 211, legal aid, nonprofit credit counseling and benefits portal.
Can I get a loan in Utah 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
- dfi.utah.gov. Utah Code Title 70C, Section 70C-7-106. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- dfi.utah.gov. Utah Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- dfi.utah.gov. Utah Code Title 7, Chapter 24. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- le.utah.gov. Utah Code Title 7, Chapter 23. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Utah. 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 Utah: 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.
- 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 Utah? Contact the Utah Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) or file a state complaint.
- You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.