Check your state's rules

Payday loan rules differ from state to state.^[1]

Some states do not have payday lending, either because state law does not permit the loans or because lenders choose not to operate at the rates and fees the state allows.^[1]
In many states that permit payday lending, the cost of the loan, the fees and the maximum loan amount are capped. A common loan limit is $500, though limits range above and below that.^[1]
Many state laws cap payday loan fees somewhere from $10 to $30 for every $100 borrowed.^[1]
Many states limit or ban rollovers.^[2]
Some states require lenders to offer an extended repayment plan if you have trouble repaying.^[3]

We do not list each state's numbers here, because they change. Check with your state directly.

Who to ask

In states that allow or regulate payday lending, the CFPB says you can get more information from your state regulator or state attorney general.^[1] The FTC suggests checking whether a lender is registered in your state by contacting your state attorney general or your state's banking or financial services regulator.^[4]

If your state's banking regulator does not handle payday lenders, ask your attorney general's office which agency does.

If something goes wrong

You can submit a complaint about a consumer financial product, including a payday loan, to the CFPB.^[7] If a payday lender tricked you into paying more than it led you to believe, the FTC asks you to report it.^[8] If someone asks for a fee up front to guarantee you a loan, that is a sign of an advance-fee loan scam; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.^[4]

Sources

Each source was checked on 2026-10-05. Rules and amounts change; the official page is the one to rely on.