# State Eligibility Checker — Is a Payday Loan Legal in My State? (2026) | PayKedge > Enter your ZIP code. See instantly whether payday loans are allowed, restricted, or banned in your state — plus three paths forward, customized to your state. Источник: https://paykedge.com/tools/state-eligibility-checker/ --- 50-state coverage · Updated quarterly # Is a payday loan legal in my state? Enter your ZIP code. We tell you in 5 seconds whether payday loans are allowed, restricted, or banned where you live — and we lay out three paths forward, customized to your state's law. **Quick answer.** Payday loans are legal in 23 U.S. states (with varying fee caps), restricted by 36% APR caps in others (which makes single-payment payday loans economically unviable, so installment products fill the gap), and banned outright in the rest — overall, 14 states + DC effectively ban payday lending (bans or 36% rate caps). The checker below maps your ZIP to one of those three buckets and gives you three customized paths. ### Enter your ZIP We use ZIP code, not your IP, so VPN users see accurate results. Check Or pick a state from the list below. Texas Allowed · Credit Access Business model Max loan $1,800 (CSO/CAB model) Max term 180 days Fee cap ~$22.10 per $100 / 14 days Effective APR ~576% (typical; Texas sets no rate cap) Rollovers Refinances allowed; CFPB Payday Rule applies EPP required? No state mandate (some lenders offer voluntarily) Source: Texas OCCC · PayKedge Compliance Matrix v0.1. Your three paths ## For any state, three ways forward. The checker recomputes these paths based on your status. Here are the three patterns you'll see. 1 #### Allowed state path Match with a state-licensed payday or installment lender. PayKedge routes you to the lender most likely to approve at the lowest available rate for your profile. PAL alternative shown on the same screen. **Example states:** Texas, Florida, California, Ohio, Tennessee, Missouri, Alabama, Michigan, Nevada, Mississippi, Idaho, Kentucky. 2 #### Restricted state path 36% APR cap states. Single-payment payday loans are economically unviable, so we route you to an installment loan (6–24 month term, 36% APR cap) or, if your situation allows, directly to a PAL credit-union loan. **Example states:** Colorado, Illinois, Nebraska, Virginia, New Mexico, South Dakota, Montana, plus DC. 3 #### Banned state path No payday-loan match. We route you only to alternatives: PAL credit-union loans, earned wage access (EarnIn, DailyPay, Brigit), employer hardship advances, and verified nonprofit emergency-grant programs in your area. **Example states:** New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, West Virginia, Vermont, Connecticut. **On this page** Why state matters The 50-state status map If you're in an allowed state If you're in a restricted state If you're in a banned state A note on tribal lending If you're military Privacy of the lookup FAQ RB **[Rachel Bauer, JD](/authors/rachel-bauer/)** · Reviewed by [Laura Castellano, CFP®](/authors/laura-castellano/) Published May 10, 2026 · Last reviewed May 24, 2026 · ~1,700 words · 7 min read Type your state into the box. In two seconds, you'll know whether payday loans are legal where you live, what they cost, and what to do next. No forms to fill, no email required. ### What the checker actually knows - Take a $300 loan for 14 days. In Alabama, the legal maximum is roughly $52.50 in fees. In Illinois, the same loan capped at 36% APR costs about $4.14 in interest. - State legislatures set everything else: fee per $100, maximum loan amount, maximum term, rollover rules, cooling-off periods, license requirements, and ultimately whether the product is legal at all. - For 2026, the rough split is: Allowed (23 states + Utah, Idaho, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming): single-payment payday loans are licensed, with fee caps ranging from $10 per $100. - Restricted (36%-cap states): a 36% APR cap effectively ends single-payment payday lending; installment-only models fill the gap. - In 23 states, the lender must offer one free EPP per 12-month period upon request. - Some ZIPs do span state lines (e.g., 73950 spans OK and TX). ## Does my state even allow payday loans? Yes, no, or sort of. The checker sorts every state into three buckets. **Allowed:** 23 states plus Utah, Idaho, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming license single-payment payday loans. Fees range widely. Minnesota caps fees at $10 per $100 for larger loans. Other states permit higher charges. The full table—every state's exact fee cap, term cap, loan-amount cap, rollover limit, and cooling-off period—lives in the 2026 Cost Index. **Restricted:** A 36% APR cap effectively ends single-payment payday lending. Borrowers in these states see installment loans instead. Funding times are usually a few business days rather than same-day, but the total dollar cost is typically 80–90% lower than the equivalent payday product in an allowed state. **Banned:** A handful of states prohibit the product entirely. The checker will route you to alternatives. State legislatures set everything. The 2017 CFPB Payday Rule adds federal procedural protections—payment provisions, ACH two-strike rules, notice requirements—but the dollar-cost question is decided by your state legislature. ## Why does the same loan cost $52 in one state and $4 in another? Because state law sets the fee cap. Here's the math. Take a $300 loan for 14 days. In Alabama, the legal maximum is roughly $52.50 in fees. That's what the lender keeps. In Illinois, the same loan capped at 36% APR costs about $4.14 in interest. Both loans are for $300. Both are due in 14 days. The difference is state law. The checker shows you which regime you live under. If you're curious about specific states, see our deep dives for [Texas](/by-region/texas/), [California](/by-region/california/), [Florida](/by-region/florida/), [Illinois](/by-region/illinois/), or [Ohio](/by-region/ohio/). ## Will the checker hurt my credit? No. The eligibility checker runs on state law, not your credit report. It does not pull your file. It does not leave a mark. The checker asks two things: where you live, and whether you're active-duty military. It cross-references state statutes and, if applicable, the DMDC database for Military Lending Act status. That's it. If you choose to [apply](/apply/) after seeing your results, that's when a lender may review your credit. The checker itself is invisible to credit bureaus. ## What if I live near a border? Use your residential address, not your workplace. Some ZIP codes do span state lines. ZIP 73950, for example, covers parts of Oklahoma and Texas. The checker defaults to the state where your address is registered for tax purposes. If you've moved recently, use your current address. Lenders verify residence before funding. Applying with an old address just delays denial. ## I'm military. Does anything change? Yes. The federal Military Lending Act caps the Military APR (MAPR) on most consumer credit at 36% for active-duty service members, their spouses, and dependents. PayKedge screens MLA status at application via the DMDC database and will not refer covered borrowers to lenders whose offer would exceed the 36% MAPR cap. If you're military and being offered a payday loan above 36% APR, that is likely an MLA violation. The checker flags this automatically. ## How to use the checker: a three-step walkthrough 1. **Enter your state.** Type the full state name or two-letter code. The dropdown narrows as you type. 2. **Confirm military status.** Click yes or no. This triggers the MLA screen if applicable. 3. **Read your result card.** The card shows: legal status (allowed/restricted/banned), estimated cost for a $300, 14-day loan, next-step button, and timestamp of last law update. If your state is allowed, the [application form](/apply/) takes about 30 seconds and shows you offers in 60–90 seconds. If your state is restricted or banned, the [15 alternatives ranked by cost](/beyond-payday/) page is the right next stop. If you've already taken a payday loan and need help repaying, the [crisis guide](/guides/already-have-a-payday-loan/) walks through your first 72 hours step by step. ## What if the law just changed? The checker updates quarterly. If your state passed a law in the last 90 days, the checker may be one quarter behind. We push emergency updates within 14 days when a state's legal status changes mid-quarter. Check the timestamp on your result card. If it predates a recent news story, verify directly with your state regulator. ## FAQ: what borrowers actually ask Why does the checker say "restricted" when I know people here who got payday loans? They probably got an installment loan, not a single-payment payday loan. A 36% APR cap effectively ends single-payment payday lending, but installment-only models fill the gap. These look similar—fast cash, short term—but they're structured differently and cost less. The checker distinguishes between the two. Can I use this if I'm undocumented? The checker itself has no citizenship check. It only asks for state and military status. However, individual lenders have their own requirements. If you proceed to apply, be prepared to show proof of income and a bank account. Some lenders require Social Security numbers; others accept ITINs. What's an EPP and why does the checker mention it? EPP stands for Extended Payment Plan. In 23 states, the lender must offer one free EPP per 12-month period upon request. This lets you stretch repayment over four equal installments without new fees. The checker notes whether your state requires this. Why is there no Spanish version? Spanish-language version is in the v0.2 roadmap. For now, browser translation tools work reasonably well on the checker's simple interface. We prioritize accuracy in English before expanding. The checker says I'm restricted, but I really need cash today. What are my actual options? Start with the [15 alternatives ranked by cost](/beyond-payday/). Quick wins: If you're a member of a federal credit union, you can apply for a Payday Alternative Loan capped at 28% APR. If you're not a member, joining is usually a $5–$25 deposit. Many large employers offer same-day, interest-free advances of $200–$1,000 against your next paycheck. Fees are typically $3–$5 per advance. United Way 211, Modest Needs, and several faith-based networks provide small grants for rent, utilities, and medical bills. None of these require a payday loan. #### Borrower tip If a lender's offer doesn't match what your state legally allows, that is a red flag. Verify the lender's license at your state's department of financial institutions before signing. --- 23 Allowed states 15 Banned states 12 36% APR cap 50 In our matrix --- [See my options](/apply/) ## Know your state before you click "apply." Free. No personal info collected. Updates quarterly. Check my state