Best Title Loan Companies in
Virginia
Updated on : October 13th, 2021
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People often refer to Virginia as the “birthplace of a nation.” Over 500 years ago, Jamestown in east Virginia became the first permanent English settlement. Today, Virginia is a state that houses over 8.5 million people and is known for the beautiful Appalachian trail, historical landmarks, and delicious seafood.
According to LivingCost.org, the average base cost of living in Virginia is $1,853, which is just 4% above the national average. This places Virginia as the 20th most expensive state to live in the US.
This is also in line with data provided by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, which gives Virginia a composite cost of living index of 101.3 (the national average is 100). Notably, different cities in Virginia have different living costs:
- On average, the most expensive cities in Virginia are Reston ($2,698), Fairfax ($2,454), and Alexandria ($2,412).
- On average, the least expensive cities in Virginia are Danville ($1,309), Lynchburg ($1,354), and Staunton ($1,438).
- The most populous city, Virginia Beach, has an average cost of living of $1,798.
Regardless of where you live in Virginia, emergency expenses can and will come up. Most often, they come in the form of a medical bill, sudden car repair, or upcoming rent payment.
While on the more expensive side, a title loan is still one of the quickest and most convenient ways to get your hands on cash in Virginia. This is particularly true if you have poor credit, since title loans typically don’t require a credit check.
If you decide that a title loan is the right financial move, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 title loan companies for Virginians. Whether you prefer an online or in-person experience, our aim is to provide multiple great options for you to choose from.
Are Title Loans Legal in Virginia?
Yes, title loans are legal in Virginia. The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) has detailed guidance on motor vehicle title lending in the state. Here is a summary of the most important points:
- Maximum Loan Amount: A title lender cannot loan you more than 50% of the fair market value of your vehicle. Generally, this isn’t an issue, since most title loans only go for 25% to 50% of your car’s value anyways.
- Maximum Loan Term: The length of a title loan in Virginia must be between 120 days (4 months) and 12 months.
- Right To Cancel: After agreeing to your title loan, you have the right to cancel your title loan prior to the close of the next business day that the title lender is open. In order to cancel, you must return the entire amount of the principal.
In addition to this, the law also puts a cap on the maximum interest rate lenders are allowed to charge you:
- For amounts up to $700: 22% per month (264% APR)
- For the amount between $700.01 and $1,400: 18% per month (216% APR)
- For the amount $1,400.01 and higher: 15% per month (180% APR)
Notably, these laws have started to drive many title loan companies out of Virginia. Steer clear of companies that try to charge you a higher rate than is allowed.
How Do Title Loans Work in Virginia?
In Virginia, getting a title loan usually involves the following five steps:
- Prepare your documents. Before heading to your local title loan company, have your key documents on hand. This includes your photo ID, car title. It’s also a good idea to have a pay stub, recent utility bill, and car insurance information.
- Fill out an application, in person or online. The next step is to fill out a title loan application online or in person. There are usually two parts to the application, one for your personal information and one for your vehicle information.
- Receive and review your loan terms. A company representative should reach out soon regarding your application. Most of the time, they’ll offer you a loan contract.
- Accept or decline the offer. Spend some time reviewing the offer. Accept the offer if everything looks good, or decline and start the process over with another company.
- Get your funds. The last step is simply to get your cash. The company should get you your funds on the same or next business day after signing the contract.
Best Instant Title Loans in Virginia
Title loans in Virginia have become a little harder to come by over the years, but there are still great options out there. Overall, Max Cash Title Loans and LoanMart are the two best companies for instant title loans.
Max Cash Title Loans
Max Cash Title Loans has helped over 1 million clients across the country find competitive title loans. They are available in most states, and the good news is that they have no restrictions for clients in Virginia.
Max Cash’s approach is unique compared to other title loan companies. Instead of being a direct title loan lender, they partner with other lenders. When you fill out a Max Cash loan application, they will automatically match you with multiple partner lenders so you can find a more competitive rate.
This approach essentially maximizes your chances of finding a title loan, so there’s no reason not to give Max Cash a shot. As added bonuses, Max Cash’s services are completely free to use, and their customer service is top-tier.
Here are all of Max Cash’s pros:
- 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
For more information, read our Max Cash Title Loans review.
LoanMart
Like Max Cash, LoanMart also has an excellent track record as a title loan company. Since 2002, they have helped fund over 250,000 title loans to their clients.
LoanMart is our top choice if you prefer working with a direct lender. The main advantage to working with a direct lender is that you’ll likely get your loan much faster than you would with a platform like Max Cash. The tradeoff is that you won’t have as much negotiating power to secure a better rate.
LoanMart does offer an additional great feature: their “Three Day Peace of Mind” guarantee. While Virginia state law does essentially allow 24-hours for clients to cancel a title loan contract, LoanMart extends this to 72-hours.
Here are all of LoanMart’s pros:
- 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 Virginia Title Loan Companies
Max Cash and LoanMart are our top recommendations in Virginia. However, outside of these two companies, Virginians have some other great local options when it comes to title loans. Here are 8 more choices to consider.
America Cash Payday Loans
America Cash Payday Loans offers online title loans to residents of Virginia. While they don’t have a physical office in the state, they can arrange for you to pick up your funds at a partnering location in Virginia.
America Cash Payday Loans is very transparent about the nature of title loans and their high-interest rates. They want you to be completely aware of what you’re signing up for, and we appreciate this transparency. In addition to title loans, America Cash also specializes in payday loans, which also usually involve no credit checks.
Contact Information:
- Address: 1010 E 4th St, Altamont, KS 67330 (headquarters)
- Phone: (646) 980-4533
- Email: info@americacashpaydayloans.com
Check Into Cash
Check Into Cash provides short-term loans and credit solutions nationwide. Founded in Tennessee in 1993, they now have over 30 locations in Virginia, all of which offer title loans.
Check Into Cash is the best option for those who prefer an in-person title loan experience. While you can use their online free estimate tool to see how much you’d get, you need to visit one of their Virginia locations to complete the loan process. Be sure that your vehicle is paid off in full and that you have an active bank account.
Contact Information:
- Address: 1200 Armory Dr. Suite A, Franklin, VA 23851
- Phone: (757) 516-6075
Choice Cash
Choice Cash is a title loan company, though the loans themselves are serviced by LoanMart. As LoanMart is one of the most reliable title loan lenders in the country, you know you’re in good hands with Choice Cash.
Though Choice Cash is based primarily in California and Utah, Virginia residents still have the option of applying for an online loan. Once your application is accepted, you can pick up your funds at any MoneyGram location in Virginia.
Contact Information:
- Address: P.O. Box 8075, Van Nuys, CA 91409 (for contact)
- Phone: (855) 277-4847
Fast Auto Loans
Fast Auto Loans is Virginia’s premier local title loan company. Choose from one of over 50 Fast Auto Loans locations to get your title loan in as little as 30 minutes.
Fast Auto Loans offers title loans of up to $15,000. They offer full disclosure on their website, where they mention a typical loan of $1,000 would have an APR of 246.36%, which is just within the limits of the law. Though this is high, it’s a good sign that they make this information publicly available. Of course, it may be possible to negotiate a lower rate as well.
Contact Information:
- Address: 605A Piney Forest Rd, Danville, VA 24540
- Phone: (434) 797-3782
- Email: webquestions@clacorp.com
Loanmax Title Loans
Loanmax is a national title loan chain with dozens of locations in Virginia. Their 3006 Main Street Danville location has a high average rating of 4.7 out of 5 among 133 Google reviews.
To get your money as quickly as possible, start with their online application. It will instantly tell you how much you can expect to get from your title loan. After you bring your vehicle in for a quick inspection, you could walk out with your cash within 20 minutes of your arrival.
Contact Information:
- Address: 3006 W Main St, Danville, VA 24541
- Phone: (434) 688-4919
Payless Title Loans
Payless Title Loans has been in the business of offering title loans since 2002. They serve most states and offer online title loans to Virginia residents.
Payless Title Loans doesn’t have a physical office in Virginia, but they do have over 600 designated spots in the state where you can pick up your loan. Another plus is that they offer expanded customer service hours Monday through Friday, and have extra hours on weekends as well.
Contact Information:
- Phone: (844) 994-1275
Titlelo
Titlelo is another popular online title loan agency used by customers all over the country. While they are based in Fort Lauderdale, they are still a great option for Virginia residents due to their quick online process.
Titlelo offers competitive title loans with no credit checks. They are constantly aware of changing laws in all states that they operate, and they frequently update their Law Book and Learning Center website sections accordingly. These are great resources to read to learn more about title loans before applying for one.
Contact Information:
- Address: 3000 NE 30th Pl Ste 104, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 (headquarters)
- Phone: (855) 341-4500
- Email: support@titlelo.com
TitleMax
TitleMax is one of the nation’s largest and most successful title loan companies. It’s clear that customers are happy with their services, as their 604 Newtown Road Virginia Beach location has a perfect 5 out of 5 rating among 665 Google reviews.
Unfortunately, effective January 1st, 2021, TitleMax is no longer offering title loans to Virginia residents. However, they do have a location in Delmar, Delaware, which is a 2.5 hour drive from Virginia Beach. If you prefer the experience and top-tier customer service of TitleMax, it’s definitely worth the trip.
Contact Information:
- Address: 38660 Sussex Hwy, Suite 11, Delmar, DE 19940
- Phone: (302) 353-1700
What Do You Need For a Title Loan in Virginia?
To get a title loan in Virginia, you’ll need to have at least the following documents:
- Government-issued ID
- Car title
- Recent paystub (for proof of income)
- Recent utility bill (for proof of residency)
- Car insurance information
In addition, you’ll also likely have to bring your car to the title loan agency so they can inspect and evaluate your car’s worth. This is necessary because Virginia law caps the total amount you can receive from a title loan at 50% of your car’s value.
Do I Need Good Credit to Get a Title Loan?
While it may take some work gathering all the documents required for a title loan, there is one requirement that’s notably absent from the list: a good credit score. Title loans (as well as payday loans and pawn loans) are short-term credit options that typically don’t involve a credit score check.
Thus, title loans are the perfect option if you have a poor credit score. However, while you can use a title loan to get out of a financial bind, try not to ignore a bad credit score for too long.
Improving your credit score is a key step to improving your overall financial situation. It’s possible that you have certain negative errors on your credit report that drag your score down. We highly recommend reading our Ultimate Review Guide for Credit Saint to see how they can improve your score by around 30 points or more.
How Much Can I Expect To Get From a Title Loan in Virginia?
Title loans in Virginia go up to 50% of your car’s market value, according to the Federal Trade Commission. How much you lend may also depend on your need. In most cases, this can result in anywhere from $500 to $5,000.
Keep in mind that interest rates on title loans are high, particularly in Virginia. Even if you may qualify for additional cash, it’s usually best to not borrow more than what you need.
What Is The Downside to a Title Loan?
The obvious downside to title loans is the high-interest rate. Compared to other forms of personal installment loans, title loans are very costly, especially if you end up defaulting on the loan. This can severely hurt your credit score and may lead to vehicle repossession, which happens to 1 in 8 Virginians according to PEW Trusts.
This is why you should always ensure that you’re able to pay off a title loan before taking one out. Provided you can do this, a title loan remains one of the fastest ways to get your hands on as much cash as possible.
Conclusion and Next Steps
In this article, we provided our top 10 best title loan options for residents in Virginia. While recent state legislation has made it more difficult for Virginians to access title loans, there are still many local, online, and nearby out-of-state options for you to consider.
If you’re still hesitating on which company to pick, we recommend reaching out to Max Cash Title Loans first. As we’ve seen, their wide network of partner lenders means that you’re more likely to find an affordable title loan with them compared to other companies.
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://livingcost.org/cost/united-states/va
- https://meric.mo.gov/data/cost-living-data-series
- https://scc.virginia.gov/getattachment/441574c2-2fc9-4802-a434-fd62c587045e/mvl_va.pdf
- https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-payday-and-car-title-loans#car
- https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/fact-sheets/2019/10/virginias-payday-and-title-lending-markets-among-the-nations-riskiest
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.
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