Indiana permits vehicle-secured consumer loans through its Uniform Consumer Credit Code. For supervised consumer loans, the statutory finance-charge ceiling is the greater of a tiered 36% / 21% / 15% annual calculation or 25% annually on unpaid principal. The cited law states no single maximum title-loan amount or term.
Last reviewed: August 12, 2026. This page provides general consumer information, not legal advice.
Is a title loan legal in Indiana?
Indiana regulates consumer lending rather than operating a separate title-loan statute. A vehicle-title loan can be a consumer loan under the Indiana Uniform Consumer Credit Code (IUCCC), and the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Consumer Credit Division regulates consumer lenders, including licensing, examinations, maximum rates, fees, disclosures, and complaints.
Before entering a vehicle-secured agreement, check whether the company is authorized for its specific activity and obtain the full written terms. DFI provides consumer-credit licensing information and a list of regulated consumer lenders. A lender’s rate, charges, security interest, payment schedule, and default terms should be disclosed in the agreement.
Sources: Indiana DFI Consumer Credit Division, DFI legal resources for the IUCCC, and Indiana Code, including Ind. Code § 24-4.5-3-508.
Indiana title loan limits
| Rule | Indiana limit or requirement |
|---|---|
| Maximum APR / finance charge | For a supervised loan, Ind. Code § 24-4.5-3-508 permits the greater of: 36% yearly on the first statutory principal tier, 21% on the next tier, and 15% above that; or 25% yearly on unpaid principal. The statute also permits specified charges in defined circumstances. |
| Maximum loan amount | Not specified in the cited IUCCC provision. The maximum lawful amount can depend on the credit transaction and the lender’s authorization. |
| Minimum / maximum term | Not specified in the cited finance-charge provision. The agreement should identify each due date, payment amount, and maturity date. |
| Rollovers or refinancing | No standalone title-loan rollover rule is specified in the cited materials. For a refinance, obtain a new disclosure of the balance, charges, APR, payment schedule, and collateral terms before signing. |
| Repossession notice period | Not specified in the cited finance-charge provision. A security interest and default are governed by the agreement and applicable consumer-credit and secured-transaction law. |
| Right to cure or redeem | Not specified in the cited materials as a single title-loan rule. If you receive a default notice, request the amount due and deadline in writing and seek prompt independent advice. |
| Surplus return after sale | Not specified in the cited finance-charge provision. Ask how any vehicle sale, proceeds, deficiency, or surplus will be applied under the agreement and applicable law. |
What you need to apply in Indiana
Review the creditor and the written credit terms before providing a vehicle title or authorizing a lien. The lender may request identification, evidence of income, proof of ownership, vehicle information, insurance information, and an existing-lien payoff amount. Requirements vary by lender, so the agreement, rather than a generic checklist, controls.
Ask for an itemized account of the amount financed, finance charge, annual percentage rate, payment schedule, all permitted fees, and the consequences of a missed payment. Retain the signed agreement and every receipt. DFI’s Consumer Credit Division accepts complaints concerning Indiana consumer-lending activity.
How repossession works in Indiana
Repossession is a risk whenever a vehicle secures a loan and the borrower defaults. Indiana’s finance-charge rule does not establish a one-size-fits-all title-loan repossession timeline. The security agreement and applicable consumer-credit and secured-transaction law determine notice, default, possession, sale, and any accounting of proceeds.
Read the contract’s default section before signing. If a payment problem develops, contact the creditor early, ask for the current amount due and available options in writing, and keep all communications. Do not discard a notice involving your vehicle title, lien, repossession, or sale.
Licensed alternatives in Indiana
Where the emergency is a household bill, explore programs and payment arrangements that do not put transportation up as collateral. Availability and eligibility vary, but the following resources are specific to Indiana.
- Energy bills: Indiana’s Energy Assistance Program can help eligible households with heating and electric bills. Its application schedule changes by program year.
- Utility payment arrangements: the Indiana Office of Energy Development advises customers to contact the utility first and lists assistance resources, including Indiana 2-1-1 and community-action agencies.
- Winter utility protection: the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor explains protections for eligible customers who have applied for the Energy Assistance Program during the winter period.
- Credit-union small loans: ask an eligible federal credit union about a small-dollar option such as a Payday Alternative Loan. The NCUA PALs II rule describes that product.
- Lender concerns: use DFI’s consumer complaint resources to report a concern about Indiana consumer-credit activity.
Cities we serve in Indiana
These maintained Indiana pages provide local service information. They are linked here only because their URLs clearly identify an Indiana location; other city pages remain subject to the plan’s lender-relationship and quality review.
- Title loans in Indianapolis
- Car title loans in Merrillville
- Title loans in Kokomo
- Title loans in Gary
- Title loans in Hammond
- Title loans in South Bend
Frequently asked questions
What finance charge can a supervised lender charge in Indiana?
Indiana Code section 24-4.5-3-508 uses a tiered annual calculation for supervised loans: 36% on the first statutory tier of unpaid principal, 21% on the next tier, and 15% above it, or 25% annually on unpaid principal, whichever calculation permits more. Specific statutory charges may also apply.
Does Indiana set a maximum title-loan amount?
The cited IUCCC finance-charge provision does not state one maximum amount for a vehicle-title loan. The written agreement should show the amount financed, every payment, finance charge, APR, and total of payments. Confirm the creditor’s authorization with Indiana DFI before proceeding.
Can a lender repossess my vehicle in Indiana?
A creditor may have repossession rights when a vehicle secures a loan and the borrower defaults, but Indiana does not provide a single title-loan timeline in the finance-charge rule cited here. Read the security agreement and respond promptly to any written default or possession notice.
Who regulates consumer lenders in Indiana?
The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions Consumer Credit Division regulates consumer-credit activity under the IUCCC, including licensing, examinations, rate and fee limits, disclosures, and complaints. It also publishes licensing guidance and a list of regulated consumer lenders for public review.
What should I do if I cannot make a payment?
Contact the creditor before the due date, request the exact amount due and available payment arrangements in writing, and keep every record. For an energy or household bill, investigate Indiana’s Energy Assistance Program, 2-1-1, and the underlying provider’s hardship policy before risking a vehicle.
