Title Loans by Vehicle: Motorcycles, RVs, Trucks & Problem Titles

Cars are the most common collateral for title loans, but they’re not the only option, and not every car qualifies. This guide covers which vehicles lenders accept, how vehicle type and condition affect the amount you can borrow, and what happens when the title itself is complicated: financed, leased, salvage or rebuilt.

Rule of thumb: lenders lend against what they could sell the vehicle for, usually 25% to 50% of its wholesale value. Anything that makes a vehicle harder to resell (age, damage, a branded title, a niche market) lowers the offer or rules it out. We are an information site, not a lender.

Motorcycles, RVs, boats and trailers

Many lenders accept motorcycles, and some take RVs, campers, boats, trailers and off-road vehicles, as long as the vehicle has a title in your name. Boats and personal watercraft are titled differently from state to state, so check whether your state issues a title for them. Values swing with seasons and niche resale markets, so offers vary widely between lenders (motorcycle title loans, RV title loans, boat title loans, trailer title loans).

Trucks and commercial vehicles

Pickups are treated like cars. Semi trucks and other commercial vehicles can support larger loans, but specialist lenders may ask for business documents. If the vehicle is titled to an LLC or company, the business usually has to be the borrower (semi truck title loans, business-owned vehicles). Before you borrow against a work vehicle, think about what happens to your income if it’s repossessed. That risk is highest for rideshare and delivery drivers (rideshare vehicles).

Older, high-mileage, classic and electric vehicles

Many lenders have age or mileage cutoffs, and older vehicles may qualify only for small loans because their wholesale value is low (title loans on older cars). Classic and collector cars are the exception: specialist appraisals can support higher amounts (classic car title loans). Electric vehicles are accepted by many lenders, though fast depreciation and battery condition can lower offers (EV title loans). Any vehicle keeps losing value while you carry the loan, which matters if it’s ever repossessed and sold (depreciation and title loans).

Financed, leased, salvage and other title problems

Still paying off the car? Some lenders will pay off your existing loan and take first lien position, or lend in second position if there’s enough equity, but second-lien loans carry extra risk (financed cars, second-lien title loans).
Leased vehicles generally can’t be used. The leasing company owns the title (why leases don’t qualify).
Salvage and rebuilt titles are accepted by some lenders at a reduced valuation; a rebuilt title that has passed state inspection is easier to borrow against than a salvage title (salvage title loans, rebuilt titles).
Title in someone else’s name, or a joint title: every owner on the title usually has to agree and sign. See types of car titles explained.