What do you need to get a title loan?

By Lenditup Editorial Team · Last reviewed October 11, 2026 · How we verify

Most title lenders ask for a vehicle title in your name, a government-issued photo ID, proof of income and a look at the vehicle. Requirements vary by lender and state, and meeting them does not mean you will be approved.

Do you need to own the car outright?

Usually, but not always. The simplest case is a "clear" title: the vehicle is paid off and no other lender has a lien on it. Some title lenders will also lend against a vehicle you are still paying for, as long as it is worth more than you owe, and pay off the existing loan as part of the deal. Either way, the title normally has to be in your name, and if two people own the vehicle, lenders commonly ask both to sign. A salvage or rebuilt title can lower the offer or lead a lender to decline.

What documents do lenders ask for?

Expect to show who you are, that you own the vehicle and that you can repay. The list below is what title lenders commonly request; any one lender may ask for less or more. Having everything ready speeds up the process, because the lender can't make a final offer until it has checked the title and the vehicle.

• The vehicle title in your name (or details of the existing loan, if it is not paid off).
• A government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, state ID or passport.
• Proof of income: recent pay stubs, benefit or pension statements, or bank statements.
• Proof of address, such as a utility bill or lease, if your ID shows an old address.
• The vehicle for an inspection, or clear photos and the odometer reading.
• Proof of insurance, if the lender requires coverage.
• A spare key or references, which some lenders ask for.

Do you need good credit for a title loan?

Often not. Because the vehicle secures the loan, title lenders usually put more weight on the vehicle's value and your income than on your credit score. Some lenders still run a credit check, and a few report payments to the credit bureaus. The trade-off is cost and risk: title loans are generally far more expensive than credit that depends on your score, and you can lose the vehicle if you can't repay. If your credit allows it, compare a personal installment loan first.

How old do you have to be?

You must be old enough to sign a binding loan contract in your state. That is 18 in most states and older in a few, and a lender may set a higher minimum of its own. Your ID is how the lender confirms your age.

How much can you borrow against your car?

Lenders usually offer a share of the vehicle's resale value rather than its full value, so the offer depends on the make, model, year, mileage and condition. Your income can also limit the amount, because the payments have to fit your budget. Some states set their own limits on top of the lender's; your state page shows the limits we have verified so far.

Loan-to-value limits we have confirmed: Idaho (100%), Nevada (100%), South Carolina (100%), Utah (100%) and Wisconsin (50%) limit the loan to that share of the vehicle's value.

Dollar limits we have confirmed: Mississippi ($2,500), Missouri ($5,000), Tennessee ($2,500) and Virginia ($2,500) cap the loan amount.

Can you get a title loan in every state?

Not in the same form. In 15 of the 44 states and DC we cover there is no law written for title loans, so a car-secured loan is treated like any other licensed consumer loan, with that state's ordinary rate cap, and fewer lenders offer one. In states with a title loan law, the rules on cost, term and repossession differ widely. Check yours on the state title loan law table before you apply.

What can stop you from getting a title loan?

The most common problems are with the title or the vehicle, not your credit. A lender may decline or lower its offer when:

• the title isn't in your name, or a co-owner won't sign;
• another lender has a lien and there isn't enough equity to pay it off;
• the vehicle is worth too little, or has a salvage or rebuilt title;
• you can't show income that covers the payments;
• the vehicle is registered in a state the lender doesn't serve.

Checklist before you apply

1. Find your title and confirm it is in your name.
2. Gather your ID, recent proof of income and proof of address.
3. Note the vehicle's year, make, model and mileage, and take clear photos.
4. Check your state's title loan rules, including the rate cap.
5. Read how title loans work, including what happens if you can't repay.
6. Compare offers by APR and total cost before you sign.

Start a title loan request

Lenditup is not a lender. Sending a request does not mean you will be approved; each lender sets its own requirements, rates and terms.

Title loan requirement questions

Sources

1. State loan-to-value and amount limits: the Lenditup state title loan law table and its methodology.