According to the law in the state of Washington, payday loans are legal but regulated.
The allowed APR is up to 391%.
The allowed amount should not exceed $700, or 30% of the gross monthly income.
That’s actually a tricky part of the law that should prevent many people from getting into a debt cycle.
Why?
Let’s explain this part.
What is Debt Cycle?
The debt cycle occurs when people can’t pay their loans on time. In these cases, lenders charge them only an interest fee that doesn’t lower the loan’s principal amount. The process is known as a rollover or debt cycle. This process can continue for a long period of time if the law does not regulate it.
According to the Washington laws, rollovers are prohibited.
Now back on … $700 or 30% of the gross monthly income.
Why is this a prevention measurement against a debt cycle?
Before we answer this question, we have to answer another question.
When People Actually Get into Debt Cycle?
When do they get big loans?
When do they get loans with high APR?
When do they get loans with many hidden fees?
NO!
Typically people get into a debt cycle when they don’t have money to pay their loans.
Because, even if you get too big loans, even if your APR is too high, in case you have money, you’d pay it?
But in case you have no money … you can’t pay anything!
The fact that the Washington law has set this rule means that lenders must verify their customers’ income. That is something that payday lenders skip. Yes, payday lenders typically skip verifying the credit score and the income of their customers. Lenders know very well that their clients don’t have great credit scores and income.
But when people get more than they can pay, they get into the debt cycle one day.
The debt cycle is a serious problem that can hurt people’s credit scores and financial situation.
We at ElitePersonalFinance believe that the law in Washington is tricky in this part.
It’s like the law tell us:
Do you want to get an expensive loan?
Do you want to pay high interest?
You are with bad credit?
OK!
Go and get it!
But before that prove that you can pay it!
In this document, you can find many interesting stats that prove that the Washington law prevents payday loans.
Additional details about payday loans in Washington
Fees per amount of $100 for a period of two weeks cannot exceed $15.
An amount of up to $500 comes with up to 15% fees.
An amount between $500 to $700 comes with up to 10% fees.
The law prohibits rollovers, renewals, extensions.
Criminal actions are not allowed.
Do you know that payday loans are not your last option? Do you know that the lending market is significantly improved, and many people with bad credit can get cheap personal loans? We explain that in our advanced guide on bad credit loans.
Payday Loan Laws in Washington by Country of March 2025
ElitePersonalFinance analysis of payday loan laws by countries in the State of Washington.
We haven’t found a significant difference between the payday loan laws in Washington.
City:
Amount Allowed:
APR Allowed:
Status:
Seattle
$700
391%
Legal
Spokane
$700
391%
Legal
Tacoma
$700
391%
Legal
Vancouver
$700
391%
Legal
Bellevue
$700
391%
Legal
Kent
$700
391%
Legal
Everett
$700
391%
Legal
Renton
$700
391%
Legal
Federal Way
$700
391%
Legal
Spokane Valley
$700
391%
Legal
Yakima
$700
391%
Legal
Kirkland
$700
391%
Legal
Bellingham
$700
391%
Legal
Kennewick
$700
391%
Legal
Auburn
$700
391%
Legal
Pasco
$700
391%
Legal
Marysville
$700
391%
Legal
Sammamish
$700
391%
Legal
Redmond
$700
391%
Legal
Lakewood
$700
391%
Legal
South Hill
$700
391%
Legal
Shoreline
$700
391%
Legal
Richland
$700
391%
Legal
Burien
$700
391%
Legal
Olympia
$700
391%
Legal
Lacey
$700
391%
Legal
Bothell
$700
391%
Legal
Edmonds
$700
391%
Legal
Puyallup
$700
391%
Legal
Bremerton
$700
391%
Legal
Lynnwood
$700
391%
Legal
Parkland
$700
391%
Legal
Longview
$700
391%
Legal
Issaquah
$700
391%
Legal
Mount Vernon
$700
391%
Legal
Wenatchee
$700
391%
Legal
Pullman
$700
391%
Legal
University Place
$700
391%
Legal
Walla Walla
$700
391%
Legal
Spanaway
$700
391%
Legal
Lake Stevens
$700
391%
Legal
Des Moines
$700
391%
Legal
SeaTac
$700
391%
Legal
Graham
$700
391%
Legal
Maple Valley
$700
391%
Legal
Mercer Island
$700
391%
Legal
Bainbridge Island
$700
391%
Legal
Cottage Lake
$700
391%
Legal
Orchards
$700
391%
Legal
Frederickson
$700
391%
Legal
Oak Harbor
$700
391%
Legal
Moses Lake
$700
391%
Legal
Camas
$700
391%
Legal
Kenmore
$700
391%
Legal
Tumwater
$700
391%
Legal
Silver Firs
$700
391%
Legal
Union Hill-Novelty Hill
$700
391%
Legal
Eastmont
$700
391%
Legal
North Lynnwood
$700
391%
Legal
Mill Creek East
$700
391%
Legal
Salmon Creek
$700
391%
Legal
Mukilteo
$700
391%
Legal
Mountlake Terrace
$700
391%
Legal
Silverdale
$700
391%
Legal
Hazel Dell
$700
391%
Legal
Covington
$700
391%
Legal
Bonney Lake
$700
391%
Legal
Bothell West
$700
391%
Legal
Tukwila
$700
391%
Legal
Mill Creek
$700
391%
Legal
Martha Lake
$700
391%
Legal
Battle Ground
$700
391%
Legal
Ellensburg
$700
391%
Legal
Port Angeles
$700
391%
Legal
Fairwood CDP
$700
391%
Legal
Arlington
$700
391%
Legal
Five Corners
$700
391%
Legal
Monroe
$700
391%
Legal
Bryn Mawr-Skyway
$700
391%
Legal
Centralia
$700
391%
Legal
Anacortes
$700
391%
Legal
Sunnyside
$700
391%
Legal
Camano
$700
391%
Legal
Aberdeen
$700
391%
Legal
White Center
$700
391%
Legal
Washougal
$700
391%
Legal
West Richland
$700
391%
Legal
Elk Plain
$700
391%
Legal
Lynden
$700
391%
Legal
Lakeland South
$700
391%
Legal
East Wenatchee
$700
391%
Legal
Port Orchard
$700
391%
Legal
Ferndale
$700
391%
Legal
Lake Forest Park
$700
391%
Legal
Snoqualmie
$700
391%
Legal
Artondale
$700
391%
Legal
Fort Lewis
$700
391%
Legal
Lakeland North
$700
391%
Legal
Lake Tapps
$700
391%
Legal
Prairie Ridge
$700
391%
Legal
Maltby
$700
391%
Legal
Minnehaha
$700
391%
Legal
Woodinville
$700
391%
Legal
Kelso
$700
391%
Legal
Cheney
$700
391%
Legal
Enumclaw
$700
391%
Legal
East Renton Highlands
$700
391%
Legal
Sedro-Woolley
$700
391%
Legal
Newcastle
$700
391%
Legal
Lake Morton-Berrydale
$700
391%
Legal
Grandview
$700
391%
Legal
Bothell East
$700
391%
Legal
Edgewood
$700
391%
Legal
Lake Stickney
$700
391%
Legal
Poulsbo
$700
391%
Legal
Vashon
$700
391%
Legal
Shelton
$700
391%
Legal
Fife
$700
391%
Legal
Sumner
$700
391%
Legal
Snohomish
$700
391%
Legal
Port Townsend
$700
391%
Legal
Gig Harbor and Liberty Lake
$700
391%
Legal
DuPont
$700
391%
Legal
Alderwood Manor
$700
391%
Legal
Midland
$700
391%
Legal
College Place
$700
391%
Legal
Birch Bay
$700
391%
Legal
Picnic Point
$700
391%
Legal
Toppenish
$700
391%
Legal
Yelm
$700
391%
Legal
Burlington
$700
391%
Legal
Mount Vista
$700
391%
Legal
Fairwood
$700
391%
Legal
Hoquiam
$700
391%
Legal
Summit
$700
391%
Legal
Felida
$700
391%
Legal
Airway Heights
$700
391%
Legal
Terrace Heights
$700
391%
Legal
Ephrata
$700
391%
Legal
Sudden Valley
$700
391%
Legal
Othello
$700
391%
Legal
Lake Shore
$700
391%
Legal
Waller
$700
391%
Legal
Duvall
$700
391%
Legal
Selah
$700
391%
Legal
Orting
$700
391%
Legal
Summit View
$700
391%
Legal
Milton
$700
391%
Legal
Quincy
$700
391%
Legal
Chehalis
$700
391%
Legal
Clarkston
$700
391%
Legal
Hobart
$700
391%
Legal
Ridgefield
$700
391%
Legal
Pacific
$700
391%
Legal
Sequim
$700
391%
Legal
Stanwood
$700
391%
Legal
Barberton
$700
391%
Legal
Clover Creek
$700
391%
Legal
Mead
$700
391%
Legal
North Bend
$700
391%
Legal
Brier
$700
391%
Legal
Fircrest
$700
391%
Legal
Parkwood
$700
391%
Legal
Normandy Park
$700
391%
Legal
Tanglewilde
$700
391%
Legal
Otis Orchards-East Farms
$700
391%
Legal
Clarkston Heights-Vineland
$700
391%
Legal
Wollochet
$700
391%
Legal
Bangor Base
$700
391%
Legal
Steilacoom
$700
391%
Legal
Union Gap
$700
391%
Legal
West Clarkston-Highland
$700
391%
Legal
Prosser
$700
391%
Legal
Country Homes
$700
391%
Legal
Finley
$700
391%
Legal
Tracyton
$700
391%
Legal
Woodland
$700
391%
Legal
Woods Creek
$700
391%
Legal
West Side Highway
$700
391%
Legal
Ocean Shores
$700
391%
Legal
North Fort Lewis
$700
391%
Legal
Connell
$700
391%
Legal
Manchester
$700
391%
Legal
East Port Orchard
$700
391%
Legal
Cavalero
$700
391%
Legal
Blaine
$700
391%
Legal
Maplewood
$700
391%
Legal
Wapato
$700
391%
Legal
Sultan
$700
391%
Legal
Hockinson
$700
391%
Legal
Chain Lake
$700
391%
Legal
Medical Lake
$700
391%
Legal
Omak
$700
391%
Legal
Colville
$700
391%
Legal
Town and Country
$700
391%
Legal
Buckley
$700
391%
Legal
Mattawa
$700
391%
Legal
Rosedale
$700
391%
Legal
Belfair
$700
391%
Legal
Black Diamond
$700
391%
Legal
Venersborg
$700
391%
Legal
Wauna
$700
391%
Legal
Suquamish
$700
391%
Legal
Larch Way
$700
391%
Legal
Prairie Heights
$700
391%
Legal
Esperance
$700
391%
Legal
Moses Lake North
$700
391%
Legal
Chelan
$700
391%
Legal
Peaceful Valley
$700
391%
Legal
Deer Park
$700
391%
Legal
Moxee
$700
391%
Legal
Clearview
$700
391%
Legal
Montesano
$700
391%
Legal
Bunk Foss
$700
391%
Legal
Lake Goodwin
$700
391%
Legal
Key Center
$700
391%
Legal
Sunnyslope
$700
391%
Legal
Longbranch
$700
391%
Legal
Bethel
$700
391%
Legal
Forks
$700
391%
Legal
Boulevard Park
$700
391%
Legal
Mirrormont
$700
391%
Legal
Marietta-Alderwood
$700
391%
Legal
Fox Island
$700
391%
Legal
Granger
$700
391%
Legal
Maple Heights-Lake Desire
$700
391%
Legal
Longview Heights
$700
391%
Legal
Granite Falls
$700
391%
Legal
Port Hadlock-Irondale
$700
391%
Legal
Three Lakes
$700
391%
Legal
Indianola
$700
391%
Legal
Canyon Creek
$700
391%
Legal
Lake Cassidy
$700
391%
Legal
Goldendale
$700
391%
Legal
Ahtanum
$700
391%
Legal
Hansville
$700
391%
Legal
Erlands Point-Kitsap Lake
$700
391%
Legal
Burbank
$700
391%
Legal
Port Angeles East
$700
391%
Legal
Benton City
$700
391%
Legal
Clyde Hill
$700
391%
Legal
Alderton
$700
391%
Legal
McChord AFB
$700
391%
Legal
Medina
$700
391%
Legal
Lake Holm
$700
391%
Legal
Elma
$700
391%
Legal
Rochester
$700
391%
Legal
North Yelm
$700
391%
Legal
Algona
$700
391%
Legal
Grand Mound
$700
391%
Legal
La Center
$700
391%
Legal
Navy Yard City
$700
391%
Legal
Meadowdale
$700
391%
Legal
Cashmere
$700
391%
Legal
Zillah and Fairchild AFB
$700
391%
Legal
High Bridge
$700
391%
Legal
Central Park
$700
391%
Legal
Fobes Hill
$700
391%
Legal
Canterwood
$700
391%
Legal
Auto Title Loans in Washington of March 2025
Auto title loans in Washington are not allowed.
Best Auto Loans for Bad Credit in Washington of March 2025
Washington has 39 counties with FHA Limits ranging from a low of $331,760 for a 1-bedroom unit in Adams County to a high of $1,426,450 for a 4-bedroom unit in King County.