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What California law allows
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title loans[1][2] | Allowed | 36% APR | Up to $9,999.99 | 1 year to 1840 days | California Finance Lenders Law | Cal. Fin. Code Section 22000 et seq., as amended by AB 539 |
| 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.
The rules in full
Title loans
- Rate cap
- Auto title loans are made under the CFL. Title loans of $2,500 to $9,999.99 fall under the same AB 539 cap as other CFL installment loans (36% plus the federal funds rate). Title loans of $10,000 or more made under a CFL license are not subject to a statutory rate cap and can carry unlimited interest.
- License
- California Finance Lenders Law (CFL) license issued by DFPI (no separate title-loan-specific license).
Full detail for every loan type: California lending laws.
Help in California
Money snapshot for California
Other options in California
Worth checking whatever your credit: these can cost less than a high-rate loan.
- Emergency loans in California: allowed under California law; see its limits and license rules.
- Installment loans in California: allowed under California law; see its limits and license rules.
- Payday loans in California: allowed under California law; see its limits and license rules.
- Personal loans in California: allowed under California law; see its limits and license rules.
- 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 California.
Title loans in nearby states
Sources
- dfpi.ca.gov. Cal. Fin. Code Section 22000 et seq., as amended by AB 539. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- dfpi.ca.gov. California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: California. 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
APRs vary by lender and state in California. Each lender sets its own rates and terms and must show you the APR before you sign.
Representative example
- Amount borrowed
- $1,000
- Annual percentage rate (APR)
- 36%
- Repayment
- 13 monthly payments
- Payment
- $94.03
- Finance charge
- $222.39
- Total of payments
- $1,222.39
Example: a $1,000 title loan at 36% APR repaid in 13 monthly payments of $94.03 costs $1,222.39 in total, including a finance charge of $222.39. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.
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- Questions about a lender licensed in California? Contact the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) or file a state complaint.
- You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.