Colorado permits title-secured consumer loans only within its Uniform Consumer Credit Code (UCCC) rules and supervised-lender licensing system. There is no separate high-cost title-loan statute. For a non-revolving supervised loan, the maximum finance-charge formula is 36% annually on the first $1,000 of unpaid principal, 21% on the next $2,000, and 15% on the remainder, or 21% annually on the full unpaid balance, whichever calculation is greater. Consumer loans generally fall within the UCCC up to $75,000.
Last reviewed: August 13, 2026. This page provides general consumer information, not legal advice.
Is a title loan legal in Colorado?
Yes, when the transaction complies with Colorado’s UCCC and the lender is properly licensed where required. Colorado treats a consumer loan as a personal, family, or household-purpose loan with a principal of up to $75,000, subject to the Code’s definitions and exclusions. A loan with a finance charge above 12% annually is a supervised loan; a company that makes, services, or takes assignments of those loans needs a Colorado Supervised Lender license.
Colorado’s Consumer Credit Unit regulates the UCCC, licenses nonbank consumer lenders, investigates complaints, and can take disciplinary or legal action. The state’s 36% rule for deferred-deposit loans was adopted through Proposition 111, while other supervised consumer loans use the UCCC’s statutory tiered finance-charge formula. Verify the lender in the state’s license-holder report and read the vehicle-lien, APR, finance-charge, payment, default, and repossession terms before signing.
Sources: Colorado Attorney General UCCC consumer guidance, Colorado Uniform Consumer Credit Code, Title 5, and Colorado Consumer Credit Unit.
Colorado title loan limits
| Rule | Colorado limit or requirement |
|---|---|
| Maximum APR / interest rate | For a non-revolving supervised loan, the finance charge may be the greater of 36% annually on the first $1,000 of unpaid principal, 21% on the next $2,000, and 15% on the remainder; or 21% annually on the full unpaid balance. C.R.S. § 5-2-201. |
| Maximum loan amount | Colorado’s UCCC definition generally covers consumer loans with principal up to $75,000. This is the Code’s coverage threshold, not a promise that a lender will approve a title-secured loan for that amount. C.R.S. § 5-1-301. |
| Minimum / maximum term | For non-revolving supervised loans of $3,000 or less, substantially equal installments are required, with a maximum of 25 months at $1,000 or less and 37 months above $1,000. The cited rule does not set one universal maximum term for every larger title-secured loan. C.R.S. § 5-2-308. |
| Rollovers or renewals | Colorado permits refinancing or consolidation by agreement, but the new finance charge remains subject to the UCCC limits. For a prior prepaid charge, refinancing or consolidation within one year requires the applicable rebate treatment. C.R.S. §§ 5-2-205 to 5-2-207. |
| Repossession notice period | For a missed payment, a creditor may give a written right-to-cure notice after 10 days of default. It generally may not take collateral until 20 days after giving that notice. Exceptions apply, including certain repeat defaults within 12 months and transactions payable in four or fewer installments. C.R.S. §§ 5-5-110 and 5-5-111. |
| Right to cure / prepay | You may cure a covered missed-payment default by paying the unpaid sums due, plus permitted delinquency or deferral charges, within the applicable cure period. You may also prepay all or part of a consumer credit transaction at any time without penalty, subject to rebate rules. C.R.S. §§ 5-5-111 and 5-2-210. |
| Surplus return after sale | The cited UCCC provisions do not state a title-loan-specific surplus formula. The agreement and Colorado secured-transactions law govern disposition of collateral. Request a written accounting of sale proceeds, permitted costs, remaining balance, and any surplus promptly. |
What you need to apply in Colorado
Start with the lender’s legal identity and licensing status, then obtain the written agreement before giving a lender any lien interest in your vehicle. Colorado requires consumer-credit terms to be in a written agreement and a copy must be provided to the consumer at or before credit is extended. The agreement should identify the amount financed, APR, finance charge, payment schedule, collateral, optional-product charges, default events, insurance terms, lender contact information, and the process for releasing the lien after payoff.
Lenders may request identification, proof of income, address, vehicle information, registration, insurance information, and title or lien information. Those are underwriting practices rather than a universal state application checklist. Search the licensed supervised-lender report, compare written offers, and do not rely on a quoted payment alone.
How repossession works in Colorado
For a covered missed-payment default, Colorado generally provides a written cure opportunity before a lender can enforce its security interest in a vehicle. After a consumer has been 10 days late, the creditor may give a written notice stating the amount due, final payment date, transaction identification, and cure right. It generally must then wait 20 days before accelerating the debt or taking collateral for that default.
The protection is not unlimited. After a prior compliant cure notice, a subsequent default on the same obligation within 12 months may not receive a new statutory cure period; the cure rules also do not apply to transactions payable in four or fewer installments. Preserve your contract, notices, and payment records, and contact the Colorado Attorney General’s Consumer Credit Unit or qualified legal counsel quickly if repossession is threatened.
Licensed alternatives in Colorado
Colorado assistance programs may address food, heating, or emergency costs without placing a vehicle at risk. These are Colorado resources, not loan offers.
- Heating costs: the Colorado Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) helps eligible households pay part of winter home-heating costs and may help with repair or replacement of a primary heating system.
- Energy cash assistance: Colorado Energy EBT provides a one-time cash energy benefit to certain SNAP households with an older or disabled member who have not received LEAP in the previous 12 months.
- Food support: the Emergency Food Assistance Program distributes food through partner food banks in every Colorado county for households meeting the program’s income or categorical-eligibility rules.
- Credit-union small loans: the NCUA’s Payday Alternative Loan rule materials describe a product some federal credit unions may offer. Confirm availability and eligibility directly with a local credit union.
- Loan concern: use the Colorado Consumer Credit Unit complaint route and retain the agreement, disclosures, payment history, and notices.
Cities we serve in Colorado
Colorado location pages remain subject to the execution plan’s lender-relationship and quality review. This statewide hub is the source for Colorado rate, licensing, cure, prepayment, and repossession information until each local page is individually validated.
Frequently asked questions
Are car title loans legal in Colorado?
Yes, when a title-secured consumer loan complies with the Colorado UCCC and the lender meets the state’s licensing rules. A lender charging more than 12% annually makes a supervised loan and requires a Supervised Lender license. Confirm the lender’s identity and read the complete written agreement before providing vehicle collateral.
What is the maximum interest rate for a Colorado title-secured loan?
Colorado uses a tiered statutory formula for a non-revolving supervised loan: 36% annually on the first $1,000 of unpaid principal, 21% on the next $2,000, and 15% on the remainder, or 21% annually on the full balance, whichever is greater. Request the written APR and complete finance charge.
How long can I cure a missed payment before repossession in Colorado?
For a covered missed-payment default, a creditor may send a written cure notice after 10 days of default and generally must wait 20 days after that notice before taking collateral. Important exceptions apply to some later defaults within 12 months and transactions payable in four or fewer installments.
Can I pay a Colorado title-secured loan off early?
Yes. Colorado allows a consumer to prepay a consumer credit transaction in full, or in part when the payment is at least $5, at any time without penalty. Precomputed loans are subject to the UCCC’s rebate rules. Ask for a written payoff statement and confirmation of the vehicle-lien release.
Where can I report a Colorado title lender?
Contact the Colorado Attorney General’s Consumer Credit Unit. The Unit regulates consumer lenders under the UCCC, accepts complaints, and can investigate lenders and creditors. Include the signed agreement, APR disclosure, payment history, notices, and the legal name of the company in your complaint.
