Best Title Loan Companies in
South Carolina
Updated on : October 15th, 2021
Full Disclosure: If you use a link on this site to apply for a product or service, then Credit Help Info will get a referral fee.
Click here for more details
Physically, South Carolina is one of the smallest states in the US. However, many of the state’s defining features are anything but small. In particular, South Carolina is known for their large, world-famous golf courses, and beautiful wide beaches that feature the unique Palmetto tree, which the state is nicknamed after.
On average, South Carolina has always been a state with a below average cost of living. The South Carolina Department of Commerce released a report in 2011, revealing that South Carolina had a cost of living index of 0.88, where the national average was 1. Only a handful of states had lower indices, notably close neighboring states Arkansas (0.83), and Mississippi (0.81).
This is great news for South Carolinians. However, if we fast forward to 2021, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center reports the following cost of living indices for these states:
- South Carolina: 96.4, up from around 88.0 in 2011.
- Arkansas: 89.1, up from around 83.0 in 2011.
- Mississippi: 83.3, up from around 81.0 in 2011.
From these numbers, we can see that the cost of living in South Carolina is growing at a slightly faster rate than other southeastern states. This can be felt in daily life when a sudden financial emergency comes up.
Maybe it’s a sudden car repair bill, or an upcoming rent payment. To address these bills, many residents in South Carolina turn to title loans, which remain a great option for those who need cash fast.
In this article, we’ll discuss the title loan industry in South Carolina, and share our top 10 loan providers for you to choose from. Each of these companies are legitimate title loan businesses that can help you with a short-term credit solution.
Are Title Loans Legal in South Carolina?
Yes, title loans are entirely legal in South Carolina. However, it’s been known that South Carolina doesn’t have very effective legislation in limiting the interest rate on title loans.
Title 37, Chapter 3 of the South Carolina Code of Laws provides guidance on title loans. Specifically, for loans with a cash advance (which includes title loans) that are $600 or lower, interest rates cannot exceed the rates listed by section 34-29-140.
The exact rate in section 34-29-140 isn’t actually relevant, because title loan companies simply evade this restriction by only offering title loans worth $601 or more. The Consumer Federation of America notes that title loans in South Carolina are called “601” loans for this reason.
While the law does not prohibit high APRs on title loans, it is still possible to find competitive rates. You’re more likely to find an affordable loan at one of our top 10 companies, which we’ll list later in this article.
How Do Title Loans Work in South Carolina?
Securing a title loan in South Carolina usually involves a five-step process:
- Prepare your documents. Before applying for your title loan, the main prep work involves getting your documents in order. Usually, this includes your photo ID, car title, a recent pay stub, utility bill, and car insurance information.
- Fill out an application, in person or online. Title loan companies will then ask you to fill out an application, either in-person or online. It’s pretty simple: you need to provide some personal information and details about your car.
- Receive and review your loan terms. In most circumstances, the company will accept your application and prepare a loan contract. Take your time to review the terms.
- Accept or decline the offer. If you think the terms are reasonable, accept and sign the contract. You can also decline the offer, but you’ll have to start this process over with another company.
- Get your funds. After accepting, you should get your cash fairly soon. This is usually within one business day of signing the contract.
Best Instant Title Loans in South Carolina
For the best title loan companies in South Carolina, look no further than Max Cash Title Loans and LoanMart. These two companies have a history of offering competitive rates to their clients in the shortest amount of time possible.
Max Cash Title Loans
Max Cash is one of the most experienced companies in the title loan business, having served over 1 million customers to date. They also offer some of the best value for title loans, since they use official sources like Kelley Blue Book and Black Book to determine your car’s value.
It’s important to note that Max Cash isn’t a direct lender. Instead, they act as a medium between you and one of their partner lenders. Because of this setup, you can potentially get multiple loan offers from different lenders, increasing your chances of getting a great deal.
In addition, Max Cash customer service representatives will be with you every step along the way. Their work doesn’t end until you have signed a contract. The best part about all of this is that Max Cash is a completely free service to use.
These are all the reasons we like Max Cash:
- It’s Free
- Quick and Easy Online Application
- Biggest Network of Title Loan Lenders
- Transparent About Rates and Services
- Fair Evaluation of Car Value
- Ability To Compare Interest Rates and Loan Amounts
- Protects Your Personal Information
- Top-Tier Customer Service
- Bank Account Not Required
To learn more, check out our Max Cash Title Loans review.
LoanMart
LoanMart is our second top title loan company recommendation for South Carolina residents. They have funded over 250,000 title loans since they were founded in 2002.
Unlike Max Cash, LoanMart is a direct lender. This means that they are the company that’s directly responsible for offering and funding your title loan. Typically, customers are able to get a title loan much faster working with a direct lender, since there’s no middleman involved.
Once LoanMart offers you a loan contract, you also get their “Three Day Peace of Mind” guarantee. This entitles you to a full cancellation of the loan within three days of signing it. Not many other companies offer this benefit.
These are all the reasons we like LoanMart:
- Three Day Peace of Mind Guarantee
- Excellent Customer Service Support
- Dedicated to Financial Education
- Protects Your Personal Information
- Competitive Rates
- Secure Funds Quickly
- Multiple Loan Options
Top 8 Local South Carolina Title Loan Companies
In general, Max Cash and LoanMart are two great companies to start your title loan research with. However, you may prefer going to a local company in South Carolina instead. Here are 8 other top options in the state.
American Auto Title Loan
American Auto Title Loan offers quick and affordable title loans to clients in 7 states. South Carolina is one of their largest hubs, with 4 main locations in Gaffney, Spartanburg, York, and Fort Mill.
American Auto Title Loan makes their loan process easy by offering two main application methods. You can get an instant quote and visit a store in person, or do everything online. We like that they are very transparent about their maximum rate schedule, and they also list their South Carolina license for all to see.
Contact Information:
- Address: 1502 W Floyd Baker Blvd, Gaffney, SC 29341
- Phone: (864) 649-1700
- Email: info@americanautotitleloan.com
Carolina Title Loans
Carolina Title Loans is a highly-rated local title loan company with multiple locations in South Carolina. Among 490 Google reviews for their Dillon location, they have a near-perfect 4.9 out of 5 rating.
Carolina Title Loans offers title loans between $601 and $15,000 depending on the value of your car. They promise to make the process as streamlined as possible: you can often get your loan within 30 minutes of your office visit. Carolina Title Loans doesn’t require that you have a checking account to qualify.
Contact Information:
- Address: 401 US-301, Dillon, SC 29536
- Phone: (843) 774-0371
Cash N Go Title Loan Centers
Cash N Go Title Loan Centers is another local chain with 9 locations throughout South Carolina. Their Spartanburg location has a perfect 5 out of 5 rating among 123 Google reviews.
As part of Cash N Go’s dedication to customer satisfaction, they will work with you to determine an affordable interest rate. Many happy clients have attested to their willingness to accommodate, especially around late payments.
Contact Information:
- Address: 249 E Blackstock Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29301
- Phone: (864) 587-5553
- Email: contact@cashngotitleloans.com
Loan Center
Loan Center is a national title loan company that primarily serves 8 states including South Carolina. Since opening their doors, they have funded over $5 million worth of title loans.
Clients are often able to get over $2,000 in a title loan with Loan Center at a competitive interest rate. One major advantage with Loan Center is that they report your on-time payments to credit bureaus, so you could potentially improve your credit score. Loan Center also offers title loan refinance services if you already have an existing loan.
Contact Information:
- Address: 301 S Irby St, Florence, SC 29501
- Phone: (843) 665-5546
Loanmax Title Loans
Since 1990, Loanmax has offered title loans to those in need. Founded in Jonesboro, GA, they have since expanded to 16 states, with over 20 physical locations in South Carolina.
Loanmax understands the state of title loans in South Carolina, and publishes a maximum rate schedule. They also make it very clear what your rights and responsibilities are as a title loan consumer. Publicly releasing these documents always speaks positively about a company’s willingness to be transparent.
Contact Information:
- Address: 3006 W Main St, Danville, VA 24541
- Phone: (434) 688-4919
TitleBucks
For the past ten years, TitleBucks has offered title loans to customers in six states. They offer loans between $601 and $10,000 in South Carolina.
We like that TitleBucks offers a few different ways to receive your funds. If you complete your application process in store, you have the option of getting a Universe Silver Card, a debit card that contains all your funds. This can be a more convenient option compared to receiving cash.
Contact Information:
- Address: 201 Cherokee Avenue, Ste. A, Gaffney, SC 29341
- Phone: (864) 487-1316
Titlelo
Titlelo is a popular title loan agency that currently operates in 21 states. They are based in Fort Lauderdale, but residents of South Carolina can complete their quick loan application process online.
With Titlelo, you could get a title loan for up to 75% of your car’s value. Titlelo will also work to provide a reasonable interest rate so it doesn’t become too much of a financial burden. Once you complete their application process, they’ll set up a meeting in your local area with one of their partner lenders to inspect your vehicle and provide your cash.
Contact Information:
- Address: 3000 NE 30th Pl Ste 104, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 (headquarters)
- Phone: (855) 341-4500
- Email: support@titlelo.com
TitleMax
Last but not least, TitleMax is one of the biggest title loan companies in the nation. They have a plethora of positive reviews across many of their locations. Their Fort Mill location has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 among 1,231 Google reviews.
For full disclosure, TitleMax does perform a credit check in order to evaluate your ability to repay the loan. However, that is not a huge determining factor, since most credit types are accepted. They want to ensure that you are able to make your repayments by making sure they aren’t too unreasonable for your current financial situation.
Contact Information:
- Address: 3672 Foothills Way, Fort Mill, SC 29708
- Phone: (803) 548-3970
What Do You Need For a Title Loan in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, you’ll need the following documents to get a title loan:
- Government-issued ID
- Car title
Other common documents that companies will ask for are a recent pay stub (for proof of income), utility bill (for proof of residency), as well as car insurance information.
On the day you go to the title loan company to sign your loan contract, you’ll likely also have to bring in your vehicle for inspection, unless you’re doing the process completely online. Most title loan companies require that you do not have outstanding loan payments on your vehicle.
Do I Need Good Credit to Get a Title Loan?
No, you don’t need good credit to get a title loan. This is one of the major advantages of title loans, payday loans, and pawn shop loans. Instead of running your credit, a valuable item (in this case, your car) is sufficient to use as collateral.
Of course, this is great news, particularly if you have a poor credit score. However, you should always think of a title loan as a short-term financial solution. To really improve your financial life, you should think long-term and consider fixing your credit score as soon as possible.
One of the best options for fixing your credit score is through a credit repair company. In our Ultimate Review Guide for Credit Saint, we discuss how they can help dispute negative errors on your credit report, and teach you how to build positive credit.
Improving your credit score will open up the doors to better loans and better rates in the future. This can save you thousands of dollars on bigger loans, like an auto loan or mortgage.
How Much Can I Expect To Get From a Title Loan in South Carolina?
As we’ve mentioned earlier, title loans in South Carolina are sometimes nicknamed “601 loans” because that’s the minimum amount most lenders are willing to give. This allows them to avoid the legal interest rate cap on loans up to $600.
As such, you can expect to get anywhere from $601 to $20,000 from a title loan, depending on the value of your car. Taking out the maximum amount you’re eligible for may not always be the best decision. This is because title loan interest rates in South Carolina are relatively high, so it might be best to just take out what you need.
What Is The Downside to a Title Loan?
One clear downside to title loans is that they are expensive. Most personal installment loans don’t creep into the triple-digit APRs, but this is commonplace for title loans.
However, personal installment loans require decent credit, and it may also take a long time for you to actually get your funds. Contrast that with title loans, which many companies claim you can get in as little as 30 minutes. The speed and convenience of title loans gives them their worth. As long as you’re confident you can pay off your title loan, it’s well worth it as a short-term credit solution.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Hopefully, this article gave you a better picture on title loans in South Carolina, and whether or not they’re for you. We’ve also listed our top 10 companies in the state for you to start reaching out to.
As a next step, we recommend calling Max Cash and asking about their services. A Max Cash representative will be happy to give advice on whether a title loan is right for you, as well as how to use their platform to secure one at a competitive rate.
If you need cash fast, get in touch with
Max Cash.
When doing research, Credit Help Info relies on credible and authoritative sites. These research sources are provided so that you can see exactly where we get our information.
- https://dc.statelibrary.sc.gov/bitstream/handle/10827/27507/DOC_Cost_of_Living_Index_2011-05.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
- https://meric.mo.gov/data/cost-living-data-series
- https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t37c003.php
- https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t34c029.php
- https://consumerfed.org/pdfs/Car_Title_Loan_Report_111705.pdf
- https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/63825462/files/uploaded/FB%20SC%20V2_19.pdf
About the Author
Chris Morgan
Chris Morgan is a credit expert and founder of Credit Help Info. He has been featured in Addition Financial, GOBankingRates, MSN Money, Yahoo Finance, and many other publications. He has read hundreds of books and resources on finance and the credit industry. Because he did this, you don’t have to. As a school teacher for over 20 years, Chris enjoys taking complicated material and breaking it down into manageable information that’s easy to understand.
If you know someone who would like this info, please share it.
