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A title loan calculator is a free online tool that estimates your monthly payment, total interest, and total repayment cost based on your vehicle's value, the loan amount, the interest rate, and the repayment term. It tells you exactly how much borrowing against your car title will cost before you sign, so you can compare lenders and avoid overpaying.
Enter your loan details to estimate monthly payments, total interest, and view the full amortization schedule.
Estimated Monthly Payment
$733.82
for 12 months
Total Interest
$3,805.77
43.2% of total cost
Total Cost
$8,805.77
Principal + interest
Finance Charge
$3,805.77
Cost to borrow
Loan-to-Value
50%
$5,000.00 / $10,000.00
This is an estimate for informational purposes only. Actual terms vary by lender, state, and credit profile. Always review your loan agreement carefully before signing.
A discreet ad keeps these tools free. The tool above is fully usable without clicking anything.
Title loan interest is calculated using the standard amortizing loan formula. The lender applies a monthly interest rate to your remaining principal balance, meaning you pay more interest in the early months and more principal toward the end of the loan term.
Monthly Payment Formula
M = P × [r(1 + r)n] / [(1 + r)n− 1]
For example, a $5,000 title loan at 120% APR for 12 months would have a monthly rate of 10%. Applying the formula: M = $5,000 × [0.10 × (1.10)12] / [(1.10)12− 1] ≈ $733.82 per month. The total interest paid would be approximately $3,805.77, bringing the total cost to $8,805.77.
The calculator above generates a full amortization schedule showing how each monthly payment is split between principal and interest. This is essential for understanding the true cost of borrowing. In the early months of a title loan, the majority of your payment goes toward interest rather than reducing the principal balance.
By reviewing the amortization table, you can see exactly how much of each payment reduces your outstanding balance. This helps you plan for early repayment: even a small additional payment toward the principal each month can save significant money over the life of the loan.
The total cost of a title loan depends on three factors: the amount you borrow, the interest rate, and the repayment term. Because title loan APRs are typically very high (often 100% to 300%), meaning the finance charges can exceed the original loan amount.
For instance, borrowing $3,000 at 200% APR for 12 months would result in total interest charges of approximately $4,119.65, making the total repayment around $7,119.65. That means you pay more in interest than the amount you originally borrowed. Always use a title loan calculator to compare the total cost before committing.
Additionally, some lenders charge origination fees, lien fees, or documentation fees that add to the total cost. These fees vary by state and lender, so be sure to ask for a complete breakdown of all charges before signing.
While both title loans and payday loans offer fast access to cash without a credit check, they differ significantly in structure. Title loans are secured by your vehicle and typically offer larger amounts ($100 to $50,000) with longer repayment terms (up to 48 months). Payday loans are unsecured, usually limited to $500, and must be repaid on your next payday (two to four weeks).
The main risk with a title loan is vehicle repossession if you default. With a payday loan, the risk is a cycle of debt caused by rollovers and extremely high fees. Both are expensive forms of credit and should be considered only after exhausting all other options.
Florida regulates title loans under the Florida Title Loan Act, Fla. Stat. § 537.011, administered by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR). Florida caps interest on title loans using a marginal-tier system: three per-annum rates that apply to different portions of the principal simultaneously:
Statutory Maximum Interest Rates (per Fla. Stat. § 537.011)
These are marginal tiers, not brackets selected by loan size. A $5,000 loan triggers all three rates simultaneously, producing a blended annual rate lower than 30%.
Florida title loans mature 30 days from execution. Borrowers may extend the loan in additional 30-day periods by mutual consent, but the lender may not capitalize unpaid interest into an extension. Any interest charged in excess of the statutory cap violates Fla. Stat. ch. 687 (Florida's usury statute); if the lender acted to circumvent the cap, the agreement is void.
Florida caps title loan rates far below states like Texas. For context, the calculator's default of 120% APR would be illegal in Florida. The statutory maximum blended rate on any loan size is 30% per annum.
Important: Florida title loans are single-payment instruments. The borrower pays the full principal plus interest in one lump sum at the end of each 30-day period. The amortizing calculator above models monthly installment loans, which is a different product than what Florida law permits.
Worked example (computed from statute):A $2,000 Florida title loan for 30 days falls entirely in the first tier (30% per annum = 2.5% per month). Interest = $50.00, total to reclaim the title = $2,050.00.
Blended-tier example (computed from statute):A $5,000 Florida title loan for 30 days crosses all three tiers: $50.00 on the first $2,000 (30% p.a.), $20.00 on the next $1,000 (24% p.a.), and $30.00 on the remaining $2,000 (18% p.a.). Total interest = $100.00, blended effective rate = 24.0%, total to reclaim = $5,100.00.
Sources: Fla. Stat. § 537.011 (2024), flofr.gov. Last verified: July 2026.
Texas regulates title loans through the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC). Most Texas title lenders operate as Credit Access Businesses (CABs) or Credit Services Organizations (CSOs). In this model, a third-party lender provides the actual loan funds at 10% APR or less, while the CAB charges a separate fee that is not capped by state law.
According to the OCCC's 2025 Report on Availability, Quality and Pricing of Certain Financial Services and Consumer Loan Products (published December 1, 2025, covering 2024 data), effective APRs on Texas title loans routinely exceed 400%. Typical loan amounts range from $400 to $1,200, and there is no statutory maximum loan amount. CAB agreement terms are limited to 180 days or less.
Key Texas Title Loan Facts (OCCC 2025 Report)
The OCCC's own benchmark illustrates the cost: a $1,500 title loan carries an effective APR of 262% to 366%, with 11 monthly payments of $327 plus a final payment of $1,827. The finance charge totals $3,921, and the total repayment is $5,421, nearly 3.6 times the amount borrowed.
Worked example (computed by engine): A $1,500 title loan in Texas at 300% APR over the maximum 180-day (6-month) term produces a monthly payment of $508.23. Total interest reaches $1,549.37, making the total repayment $3,049.37, roughly double the original loan. Enter 300% APR and $1,500 in the calculator above with a 6-month term to see the full amortization.
Source: Texas OCCC, 2025 Report on Availability, Quality and Pricing of Certain Financial Services and Consumer Loan Products (Dec. 1, 2025, covering 2024 data), occc.texas.gov. Last verified: July 2026.
A car title loan uses your vehicle as collateral, and the monthly payment schedule depends entirely on the loan size, interest rate, and term. Because title loans amortize, each payment includes both interest and principal, but the ratio shifts over time. In month one, the vast majority of your payment covers interest. By the final months, nearly the entire payment goes toward principal.
Here is what monthly payments typically look like at common loan sizes (assuming a 120% APR):
At 120% APR, the total interest on these loans ranges from 76% to 167% of the original borrowed amount. Shortening the term lowers total interest but raises the monthly payment, while extending the term does the opposite. Use the calculator to experiment with different combinations and find a payment you can afford.
Paying off a title loan early is one of the most effective ways to reduce its total cost. Because title loan interest is calculated on the remaining balance each month, every extra dollar you pay toward principal immediately stops future interest from accruing on that dollar. Most states require lenders to prorate interest, meaning you only pay interest for the days the loan is outstanding.
How early payoff works: Suppose you have a $5,000.00title loan at 120.0% APR for 12 months with a $733.82 monthly payment. After month six, your remaining balance is approximately $3,195.94. If you then add an extra $200.00 per month to your regular payment starting in month 7, the additional principal payments would shorten your loan by 1 month and save $287.73 in interest, cutting your total cost from $8,805.77 to $8,518.04. The calculator above now includes an extra payment field so you can compute this yourself.
Several factors determine how much you can borrow with a title loan. The most important is your vehicle's appraised value: lenders typically offer 25% to 50% of that value. A car worth $15,000 might qualify you for a loan of $3,750 to $7,500, depending on the lender.
Other factors include your ability to repay the loan (verified through income documentation), your state's legal limits on title loan amounts and interest rates, and the vehicle's age, mileage, and condition. Some lenders may also consider whether you own the vehicle outright or still have an existing auto loan balance.
To get the best terms, shop around with multiple lenders and use this calculator to compare the total cost at different rates and terms before signing any agreement.
Compare title loan costs against unsecured payday loans with our Payday Loan APR Calculator, or browse all tools on the Loan Calculators hub.