Title Loans in Florida

Florida is one of the few states where title loans are both widely available and capped at a rate that looks more like a credit card than a payday loan. If you are researching title loans in Florida, the Florida Title Loan Act gives you some of the clearest protections in the country, from simple-interest caps to a right to any surplus if your car is sold. In this guide from Auto Cash Title Loans, we explain the law, what it costs to borrow, your repossession rights, and how to confirm a lender is licensed.

Are title loans legal in Florida?

Yes. Title loans are legal in Florida when made by a lender holding an active title loan lender license from the Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR). Each office needs its own license, and licenses renew every two years. A loan made by an unlicensed lender is treated as void under the Act, and the lender must return the title and the borrower’s payments.

The governing law: the Florida Title Loan Act

Title lending is governed by Chapter 537 of the Florida Statutes, the Florida Title Loan Act. It sets interest caps, loan terms, prohibited practices, and detailed repossession and sale procedures. Interest above the Act’s limits is treated as a violation of Florida’s usury law, Chapter 687. We checked the current statute text and found no change to these core rules in the 2026 Florida Statutes.

What the law allows and limits

• Interest caps (s. 537.011): up to 30% per year on the first $2,000 of principal, 24% on the part between $2,000 and $3,000, and 18% on any amount above $3,000. Interest must be simple interest, not add-on interest.
• Term: a title loan matures 30 days after it is signed. It can be extended in 30-day periods by mutual agreement, each extension needs its own agreement, and the rate can’t exceed the original rate.
• No capitalized interest: unpaid interest can’t be rolled into the principal of an extension.
• Prohibited practices (s. 537.013): no loans to anyone under 18, no prepayment penalty, no refusing partial payments, no selling insurance with the loan, no unauthorized fees, and no advertising “interest-free” loans.
• Default and repossession (s. 537.012): a lender can repossess only after you fail to repay at maturity and also fail to make a payment within 30 days after that date. Repossession must be done by a state-licensed recovery agent, and you must be allowed to remove personal belongings at no charge.
• Sale and redemption: the car can be sold only through a licensed motor vehicle dealer, with at least 10 days’ written notice of the sale and an accounting of what you owe. You can redeem the car any time before the sale by paying principal, accrued interest and reasonable expenses.
• Surplus: within 30 days after the sale, you are entitled to any proceeds above the principal, interest and reasonable expenses, and you can recover attorney’s fees if you have to sue for it.

How a title loan works in Florida

You bring your clear title, ID and the vehicle to a licensed lender. The lender appraises the car, records its lien and gives you the cash, typically on a 30-day agreement. At the end of the 30 days you either repay, or agree with the lender to extend for another 30 days. Because interest is simple and capped, each extension costs far less than in states with monthly charges of 25%, but the debt doesn’t shrink unless you pay principal.

What a Florida title loan can cost

At the maximum rates, a $1,000 loan for 30 days carries about $25 in interest. A $3,000 loan would cost about $69 for 30 days, since the first $2,000 is charged at 30% and the next $1,000 at 24%. Those figures assume the lender charges the maximum and no other fees apply; always check the written disclosure. See our guide to how much title loans cost for how this compares with other states.

Title loans in Florida’s major cities

The Florida Title Loan Act applies statewide, so the rate caps and repossession rules are the same in Jacksonville and in Miami. We found no city ordinance that changes title loan terms.

• Jacksonville: Florida’s largest city by population, and Bing searches ask whether title loans are lawful there. They are, under the state Act. Sailors and families at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport are also covered by the federal Military Lending Act, which caps covered loans at a 36% military APR.
• Miami: Online lenders advertise heavily to South Florida borrowers. Any company making a title loan to a Florida resident needs an OFR title loan license, so verify it first.
• Tampa: Bing searches show Tampa borrowers asking about requirements and reviews. MacDill Air Force Base is in Tampa, and the Military Lending Act applies to active-duty borrowers and dependents there.
• Orlando: Lenders must still sell a repossessed car through a licensed dealer and send you any surplus within 30 days.
• Stuart: A smaller Treasure Coast city that shows up often in our search data. The same statewide caps apply, so be wary of any quote above 30% a year.

Near the state line? Title loans work very differently next door; see our Georgia title loan guide and Alabama title loan guide.

Safer alternatives

• Credit union PALs: federal credit unions can lend $200 to $2,000 at no more than 28% APR with an application fee of $20 or less.
• Consumer finance installment loans: OFR also licenses consumer finance companies, which are a separate product from title loans.
• Payment plans: utilities, hospitals and landlords may offer hardship arrangements.
• Local help: 211 can connect you with emergency financial assistance in your county.

See more in our title loan alternatives guide.

How to check a lender’s license and file a complaint

Use OFR’s license verification tool to confirm the lender holds a title loan lender license for that office. If a lender charges more than the caps, refuses partial payments, or keeps your surplus, review your borrower rights and file a complaint with OFR.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum interest on a Florida title loan?

30% per year on the first $2,000, 24% on the portion from $2,000 to $3,000, and 18% above $3,000, calculated as simple interest.

What do I need for a title loan in Florida?

Lenders typically ask for a clear title in your name, a government-issued photo ID, the vehicle for inspection and proof that you can repay. You must be at least 18.

When can a Florida lender repossess my car?

Only after you miss the maturity date and then fail to make a payment within 30 days after that date. Repossession must be done by a licensed recovery agent.

Do I get money back if my car is sold?

Yes. Within 30 days after the sale, the lender must pay you any amount above the principal, accrued interest and reasonable expenses.

Can I pay off a Florida title loan early?

Yes. The Act prohibits prepayment penalties, and lenders cannot refuse partial payments.

Sources

• Florida Statutes, Chapter 537: Title Loans (2026)
• Florida Office of Financial Regulation
• Florida Senate staff analysis on title loan regulation (OFR’s role)

Last reviewed: October 2026.