Payday Loans in California: $300 Limit & How to Apply

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Yes, you can get a payday loan in California, but it's small. The check you write can't exceed $300, fee included, and the fee can be up to 15%, so the most cash you get is $255.

Check Your Options

Most cash	$255, for a $300 check that includes the fee
Fee cap	15% of the check, so $45 on $300; no late fees
Example	$255 for 14 days: repay $300, about 460% APR
Term	Up to 31 days; one loan at a time with each lender
You need	ID, proof of income and a bank account

What $300 Gets You Need More Than $255?

LendUp isn't a lender. We pass your request to lenders in our network; offers aren't guaranteed, and we may earn compensation if a loan is funded.

What Your $300 Check Buys

You write the lender a personal check. It gives you cash minus its fee and holds the check until the agreed date. Smaller checks follow the same 15% rule:

Your check	Cash you get	Most the fee can be
$100	$85	$15
$200	$170	$30
$300	$255	$45

You get

$255

in cash

Fee

$45

15% of the $300 check

APR, 14 days

~460%

a two-week loan

APR, 31 days

~208%

the longest term allowed

Worked out from California law, not offers from lenders in our network; a lender can charge less.

Real loans run a little smaller. DFPI says the average 2025 payday loan was $251 at an average APR of 362%, over 16 days. Beyond the fee, the only charge allowed is one fee of up to $15 if your check bounces.

Need More Than $255, or More Than 31 Days?

A payday loan can't grow past the $300 check, and you repay it all at once. If you need more, or want to spread the cost over months, a California installment loan costs far less at the legal limits:

Loan	How you repay	Most it costs
$255 payday	Repay $300 within 31 days	$45 (~460% APR*)
$500 installment	12 × $48.24	~$104 (~38% APR)
$1,000 installment	12 × $95.56	~$197 (~36% APR)

*On a 14-day loan. Installment costs include the administrative fee of up to $50, and the caps apply to lenders licensed under the California Financing Law, not banks.

See California Installment Loans

No Rollovers, and One Loan per Lender

California doesn't let a payday loan roll over. A lender can't reuse your check for a new loan, can't let you pay off one payday loan with another, and can't lend to you again while an earlier loan with it is open. With no statewide database, that last rule works lender by lender.

Need more time? Ask before the deposit date. The lender doesn't have to offer a payment plan, but it can't charge for one. DFPI counted 309,434 plans in 2025.

70.39% of 2025 payday loans were repeat loans to the same borrower; 48.60% of those came the same day the last loan ended.

Applying for a California Payday Loan

Have your ID, proof of income and bank account details ready, and pay off any open payday loan with the lender you choose.
Submit one request through LendUp. Lenders in our network review it, and any offer shows the APR, payments and total cost before you sign.
Read the agreement: it must show the fee in dollars and as an APR, and the date the lender will deposit your check.

Check Your Options

Is the Payday Lender Licensed by DFPI?

Official lookup tool DFPI licensee search

Search DFPI's list of licensees for the lender's legal name, from its website footer or your agreement.
Look for an active California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law license.
In a store, the license and the full fee schedule must be posted where you can see them.

Not listed? Call DFPI at 1-866-275-2677 before you apply.

No jail over a payday check. You can't be prosecuted or threatened with prosecution if your check bounces.
Willful overcharges void the loan. No one can collect the cash you received or the fee.
No collateral or add-ons. The lender can't take collateral or make the loan depend on buying insurance or another product.
You can sue. A borrower hurt by a violation can recover up to three times the damages, at least the amount paid, plus attorney's fees.

Common Questions

Are payday loans legal in California?

Yes. DFPI licenses payday lenders under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law. The check is capped at $300, fee included, and the lender can hold it for up to 31 days.

Can I get a payday loan online in California?

Yes, from a DFPI-licensed lender. Online loans made up 54.54% of California payday loans in 2025, and the same $300 check limit and 15% fee cap apply.

Where can I borrow $200 in California?

A licensed payday lender can give you $200 against a check of about $235.29, with a fee of no more than $35.29. If you need a few months to repay, a small installment loan costs less at the legal limits.

Why is the most I can get $255?

The check can't exceed $300, and that includes the fee. At the maximum 15%, the fee is $45, which leaves $255 in cash.

Can I go to jail for not paying a payday loan in California?

No. You can't be prosecuted or threatened with prosecution over a payday check. If it bounces, the lender can charge one fee of up to $15, and no late fee.

What if I can't repay on time?

Ask the lender for more time or a payment plan before the deposit date. It doesn't have to agree, but it can't charge for a plan.

Official Sources

General information, not legal advice. Facts on this page were checked against these sources on October 28, 2026.

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