When is it actually due?
Most short-term loans are due in full on your very next payday. Miss that date and you're looking at extra fees, an overdraft, or a cycle that's tough to exit.
Read the basics →Field Intel · Short-Term Loans
Read the fine print before it reads you.
Loan Intel Hub breaks payday, title, and personal loans down to the numbers that matter — real fees, real APR, real repayment risk — so you walk in already knowing what most borrowers only find out the hard way.
We never issue loans
Independent, plain-language intel
No credit decisions made
Signal Console · Cost Estimate
FILE #LIH-01 · estimate only, for education
Finance charge
$45.00
Total due at term end
$345.00
Effective APR
391%
Actual fees, terms, and APR vary by lender and by state law — this console is for illustration only.
12M+
Americans take out a payday loan in a typical year
391%
Average APR on a standard two-week payday loan
80%
Of payday loans get rolled over or re-borrowed
$375
Typical amount borrowed on a single payday loan
Briefed, Not Sold
Built to help you understand a loan, not to sell you one.
Short-term loans are engineered for a single emergency, not a repeat expense — but the fee structure makes it easy to slide from one into the next. Before you sign anything, we lay out exactly how the fees stack, what repayment looks like on paper, and what else might be sitting on the table.
We're not a lender, broker, or credit bureau. Nothing here feeds an application or an underwriting file. It's intel, plain and simple — yours to use however you decide.
More on our approach
01 · Fundamentals
Loan Fundamentals
How payday products are actually structured, what fees mean in practice, and what a lender is legally required to disclose.
02 · Math
True Cost Math
Fees, rollovers, and APR translated into plain dollars, so a "small fee" never turns into a surprise total.
03 · Alternatives
Other Paths First
Payment plans, credit unions, and community aid that can cost meaningfully less than a short-term loan.
04 · Protection
Borrower Protections
Warning signs of predatory lending and the consumer protections that may apply where you live.
The Repayment Cycle
Three moves most payday loans follow
1
A small amount moves
Usually $100 to $1,000, due back in full on your next payday — typically 14 to 30 days out.
2
A flat fee attaches
Lenders commonly charge $10–$30 per $100 borrowed. Stated as a yearly rate, that number climbs fast.
3
Repay, or roll it forward
Can't cover it on the due date? Rolling the loan over adds another fee — and restarts the clock.
Before you borrow: read every fee disclosure, check your state's short-term lending rules, and rule out lower-cost paths first. These costs compound quickly.
Where To Start
Three questions worth answering first
What's the real cost?
A $45 fee on a $300 loan sounds small — until you see it's a 391% APR. Run your own numbers in the Signal Console calculator above.
See the tips →What else is out there?
Community assistance, employer advances, and credit union loans can all cost meaningfully less than a payday loan. Worth ten minutes of research.
Browse resources →Loan Types on File
They don't all work the same way
The differences between loan types can cost — or save — real money. Select a type below to open its file.
Payday Loans
A quick advance with a steep price tag
Payday loans are small — usually $100 to $1,000 — and due back in full on your next payday, typically within 14 to 30 days. They're among the most expensive ways to borrow, built for a one-time gap rather than a repeating expense.
Most lenders skip a traditional credit check. Instead they confirm income, a checking account, and a valid ID, then collect repayment through a post-dated check or an ACH debit.
Due in full on your next payday — no installments
Typical fee runs $10–$30 per $100 borrowed
Effective APR commonly lands between 300%–400%+
No collateral — the loan is unsecured
Rolling it over restarts the fee, every time
Rollover risk: federal data shows more than 80% of payday loans get rolled over or renewed. A $300 loan renewed four times can rack up $180+ in fees before a dollar of principal is touched.
Payday Loan Snapshot
Typical amount$100–$1,000
Term7–30 days
Typical fee$15 per $100
Typical APR300%–400%+
CollateralNone
Credit checkUsually none
Cost risk
Rules differ sharply by state — some cap fees, some ban payday loans outright. Confirm your state's law before borrowing.
Title Loans
Borrowing against the car in your driveway
A title loan lets you borrow against a vehicle you own free and clear — usually 25% to 50% of its appraised value. The lender holds your title as collateral, and if repayment falls through, they can repossess and sell the car, even if it's your only way to get to work.
Like payday loans, most title loans are due in a single payment within 15 to 30 days, though some lenders offer installment structures. A credit check usually isn't required since the vehicle secures the loan.
Your vehicle title sits as collateral
Borrow roughly 25%–50% of appraised value
APR commonly 100%–300% or more
Repossession is a genuine risk if you fall behind
You can typically keep driving while you repay
Repossession risk: regulators have found roughly 1 in 5 title loan borrowers loses their vehicle to repossession — a setback that can cascade into problems far larger than the original loan.
Title Loan Snapshot
Typical amount$100–$5,500
Term15–30 days
Typical monthly fee25% of principal
Typical APR100%–300%+
CollateralVehicle title
Credit checkUsually none
Cost risk
Title loans are banned or tightly restricted in a number of states. Check what's legal — and what protections apply — where you live.
Personal Loans
A structured installment alternative
Personal loans work differently — you borrow a fixed amount and repay it on a set monthly schedule, typically over 12 to 60 months. Banks, credit unions, and online lenders all offer them, generally at far lower rates than payday or title products.
Most personal loan lenders run a credit check, and your rate depends on credit score, income, and existing debt. Stronger credit unlocks lower APRs and longer, more manageable terms.
Fixed monthly payments spread over 12–60 months
APR typically 6%–36%, based on creditworthiness
Most unsecured personal loans need no collateral
A credit check is required and shapes your rate
Generally the lowest-cost option of the three
Usually the better fit: if you qualify, a personal loan is dramatically cheaper than payday or title borrowing — even a high-end 36% APR personal loan costs a fraction of a 391% APR payday loan.
Personal Loan Snapshot
Typical amount$1,000–$50,000
Term12–60 months
Typical APR6%–36%
CollateralUsually none
Credit checkYes, required
RepaymentMonthly installments
Cost risk
Credit unions frequently beat bank rates, and many offer Payday Alternative Loans (PALs) — a low-cost option even for thinner credit files.
Still have questions about a short-term loan?
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