Title Loan Debt: Facts and Figures

How Title Loans Work

Title loans are built around your vehicle’s value. The lender holds the title as security until the balance is paid off. Because the car acts as collateral, lenders usually don’t require a credit check or proof of income beyond basic identification.

Loan Formats

There are two common structures for title loans:

• Single-payment loans: The entire amount plus fees is due at once, typically within 30 days. This format is common in states that allow short-term, high-cost lending.
• Installment loans: Borrowers make several payments over a few months, often up to five or six. Some installment loans are interest-only at first, followed by a large final payment, while others reduce the balance gradually.

How Much Do People Borrow?

National research shows that single-payment title loans typically range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. The median loan size is just under $700, while the average is around $950 to $1,000.

Fact: Lenders typically offer auto title loans for about one-quarter of a vehicle’s retail value.

source: Pew Charitable Trusts

What Do Title Loans Cost?

Across national datasets, single-payment title loans average around 300% APR. Borrowers spend an estimated $3 billion a year on title loan fees—about $1,200 in costs per borrower on loans that typically average $1,000.

Repossession and Collateral Outcomes

Because title loans are secured by a vehicle, losing the car is a real risk. When borrowers can’t keep up with payments, lenders can take possession of the vehicle and sell it to recover what’s owed.

Data shows that repossession is common in the title loan market:

• Nationally, about one in five single-payment title loan sequences end in repossession.
• Pew research found that 6% to 11% of title loan borrowers lose their cars each year, and about one-third of borrowers said they have no other working vehicle in their household. Losing the car can disrupt daily life, especially for people who rely on it for work or medical appointments.

Fact: Only about one in eight title loan borrowers fully repay their loan without reborrowing or rolling it over into another title loan.

source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Who Uses Title Loans?

Title loan borrowers come from a wide range of backgrounds, but data show a few consistent patterns. Most users have steady income but limited access to affordable credit. While some turn to title loans for emergencies, many use them to cover regular bills or shortfalls between paychecks.

• Overall use: About 1.2% of U.S. households used an auto title loan within the past year.
• Age: Title loan use is highest among young adults ages 15–24 (2.1%), drops to around 1.4%–1.6% for adults ages 25–44, and falls to about 0.6% among adults age 65 and older.
• Income: Title loan use remains fairly even across income levels, ranging from 1.0% to 1.3%, showing that these loans are not limited to the lowest-income households.
• Employment: About 1.3% of employed households used a title loan, while 2.3% of unemployed households did, suggesting that job instability plays a role in borrowing.
• Homeownership: Roughly 1.5% of renters used title loans compared with 1.0% of homeowners, indicating that renters are slightly more likely to rely on them.
• Race and ethnicity: Title loan use is highest among Black households (1.8%), followed by American Indian or Alaska Native households (1.9%), Hispanic households (1.6%), and white households (1.0%).
• Income and work: The typical borrower earns just under $30,000 per year, and about 63% are employed when they take out the loan. About half report struggling to pay their monthly bills at least half the time.
• Banking access: About three-quarters of borrowers have checking accounts, though roughly half of those reported at least one overdraft in the past year, highlighting ongoing financial strain.
• Vehicle reliance: Roughly one-third of borrowers have no other working vehicle, and nearly all rely on their car for work, school, or daily errands. Losing the vehicle could therefore disrupt their ability to earn income.

Fact: Research from Pew found that in 2015, over 8,000 title loan stores operated in states where these loans were available.

source: Pew Charitable Trusts

Payment Stress and Defaults

Paying back a title loan can be difficult because payments often take up a large share of a borrower’s income. Even when borrowers plan to repay on time, high costs and short terms make it easy to fall behind.

Why Payments Are Hard to Manage

• A typical single-payment title loan equals about 50% of a borrower’s gross monthly income—far more than most people can budget in one payment.
• Two-thirds of borrowers in a national survey said they couldn’t afford more than $250 per month toward a title loan, yet the typical lump-sum payoff was around $1,250 on a $1,000 loan.
• Even for installment title loans, average monthly payments range from $200 to $340, often higher than what borrowers say they can manage.

Nearly half of borrowers—47%—said they used a cash windfall such as a tax refund, help from family or friends, or another loan to pay off a title loan. That reliance on outside funds shows how difficult it is for most people to repay on schedule.

Defaults and Vehicle Loss

Defaulting on a title loan can lead to losing the car. National lender data shows that about one-third of loan sequences end in default, and roughly one in five end in repossession.

Repeat borrowing is a major warning sign: over 80% of single-payment title loans are reborrowed the same day the prior loan is repaid, and nearly 90% are renewed within 60 days.

Fact: Just over half of title loan borrowers use the loan to cover regular bills like rent or utilities, while about one in four use it for an unexpected expense.

source: Pew Charitable Trusts

Alternatives to Title Loans

If you’re considering a title loan, it may help to look at safer and lower-cost options first. These alternatives can provide short-term relief without putting your vehicle at risk.

• Payment plans: Many utility companies, landlords, and medical providers offer payment plans that let you spread out bills over time. Asking for a plan before a bill is due can help you avoid late fees or service shutoffs.
• Credit union loans: Some credit unions offer Payday Alternative Loans (PALs) and small personal loans with lower interest rates and longer repayment terms than title loans.
• Borrowing from family or friends: While it can be uncomfortable to ask, a small personal loan from someone you trust is often less expensive—and doesn’t risk your car. Setting clear repayment terms in writing can help keep things on good terms.
• Credit counseling: Nonprofit credit counseling agencies can help you review your budget, understand your debts, and create a repayment plan. These services are typically free or low cost.
• Debt relief programs: If you’re struggling with large unsecured debts, a reputable debt relief company may be able to negotiate lower payoff amounts and help you resolve debt faster. These programs can affect your credit but may help you avoid ongoing cycles of high-cost borrowing.
• Selling or pawning unused items: For smaller cash needs, selling or pawning an item you no longer use may be safer than risking your vehicle on a high-cost loan.