- California caps payday loans at a $300 check with a fee of up to 15% ($45), so you receive at most $255.
- The term can be no longer than 31 days, and rollovers are not allowed.
- Outside California, “$255” is just a marketing amount. Your state’s limits apply.
Why $255?
Under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law, regulated by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI):
- The check you write (or electronic authorization you give) can be for no more than $300.
- The lender’s fee can be no more than 15% of that amount, so $45 on a $300 check.
- That leaves $255 in your hand, the largest payday loan possible in California.
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Cash you receive | $255 |
| Fee | $45 |
| Total you repay | $300 |
| APR if repaid in 14 days | About 460% |
| APR if repaid in 31 days | About 208% |
Other California rules
- The loan term cannot exceed 31 days.
- Lenders cannot roll over a loan or make a new loan to pay off an existing one with the same lender.
- Lenders must be licensed by the DFPI. You can check a license on the DFPI website.
California also has a separate law for larger consumer loans, so lenders offering more than $255 in California are making a different kind of loan with different rules.
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Getting a $255 loan online or same day
Licensed California lenders offer $255 loans online and in stores. Online loans are usually deposited by the next business day; store loans can be paid the same day. You will need ID, proof of income and a bank account.
Outside California
Other states set their own limits. Many allow larger payday loans, and some ban them. A site advertising “$255 payday loans” in another state is simply using a familiar number. Check your own state’s rules on our state laws page.
Need cash before payday?Send one free request to our lender network. We are not a lender; offers and rates come from lenders.
Request a loanFrequently asked questions
Why are payday loans $255?
In California the maximum payday check is $300 and the maximum fee is 15% of that ($45), which leaves $255 as the most you can receive.
Can I get a $255 payday loan online the same day?
Licensed lenders offer them online, usually funding by the next business day. Store loans can be paid out the same day.
What is the APR on a $255 payday loan?
With the maximum $45 fee, the APR is about 460% for a 14-day loan and about 208% for a 31-day loan.
Can I roll over a $255 payday loan in California?
No. California does not allow rollovers, and a lender cannot make you a new loan to repay an existing one.