Title loans are a type of secured loan where the borrower uses their vehicle as collateral. In Texas, title loans are regulated under the Credit Services Organization (CSO) Act and the Texas Finance Code.
Here's how title loans work in Texas
- Eligibility: To get a title loan in Texas, the borrower must be at least 18 years old and own a vehicle with a clear title, which means the vehicle is completely paid off and there are no liens or loans against it.
- Application: The borrower applies for a title loan with a lender, providing information about themselves and their vehicle, including the make, model, year, and mileage
- Vehicle inspection: The lender inspects the vehicle to determine its value and condition, which will be used to determine the loan amount.
- Loan agreement: If the borrower is approved for the loan, they will be given a loan agreement that outlines the terms of the loan, including the loan amount, interest rate, repayment period, and any fees.
- Title transfer: The borrower must transfer the title of the vehicle to the lender as collateral for the loan. However, the borrower retains possession of the vehicle and can continue to use it during the repayment period.
- Repayment: The borrower must repay the loan according to the terms of the loan agreement, which typically requires regular payments over a period of months. If the borrower fails to repay the loan on time, the lender may repossess the vehicle and sell it to recover the loan amount.
It's important to note that Texas law limits the amount of a title loan to the lesser of 70% of the vehicle's value or 3% of the borrower's gross annual income. In addition, the interest rate on title loans in Texas is capped at 10% per month, which can add up quickly over the repayment period. Therefore, borrowers should carefully consider the risks and costs associated with title loans before applying for one.
So, if you're in a situation where you're in Texas and considering a title loan, we think a better option is applying for the Yendo secured credit card. It's is a real credit, powered by Mastercard, that uses the value of your car to determine your credit line, does not require either a deposit or a credit score, and can provide you with up to $10k in revolving credit. It works just as a credit card can in that with responsible usage, on-time payments for example, you can build your credit score.
Yendo Credit Card - Get Credit with Your Car Title
Yendo is the first credit card that's backed by the value of your car, so you can use your car title to access a credit line of up to $10k.
The card can provide access to credit for those who might not be able to qualify for other credit cards. It's a real credit card, powered by Mastercard, that provides credit limits from $450 - $10,000, depending on the value of your car. So, rather than re-applying for loans, for example, you can access funds an ongoing basis and, with responsible usage like on-time payments, build your credit too.
Compare Yendo vs Title Loan
Features & benefits
- Credit limit - access up to $10k in credit
- Only pay for what you spend - unlike a title loan, your credit limit is not what you pay unless you spend that much, plus interest and fees
- App - the Yendo app lets you manage your account, wherever you are
- Virtual card - access a portion of your credit limit prior to getting your physical card in the mail with the Yendo virtual card. Use your virtual card in addition to your physical card
- Cash advances - ability to do cash advances on your card if you need to access money quickly
- Access to revolving credit – you’ll have a revolving line of credit that opens up as you make payments
- Credit reporting – all your account activity will be reported to the credit bureaus, giving you the perfect opportunity to build your credit
