Understanding Title Loans Vs. Registration Loans

title loans registration loans

If you’re looking for a quick cash option that will bring you the funds you need in the short term, you have a few good options available. Perhaps the most popular is the title loan, which allows you to put your ownership of a vehicle up as collateral for a temporary loan while you wait for additional funds.

At Utah Money Center, we’re here to help with all title loan needs you may have, whether for cars and trucks, ATVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles and more. One very similar and related alternative, but one that’s different in a few ways, is called the registration loan. Let’s go over all the basics you might need to know about this loan, even if it might not be important for you until down the line (it’s not yet common or legal in every state).

title loans registration loans

Comparing Registration and Title Loans

When it comes to title loans, ownership of the vehicle in question is a primary requirement. Those who borrow using these loans cannot be in the process of financing a vehicle or making payments, and the title cannot contain pre-existing liens or similar issues at the time of application. Once this is accomplished, borrowers can submit key vehicle details for a clear title.

With registration loans, however, the requirements for ownership are relaxed. First introduced in Arizona, registration loans allow borrowers to be leasing or financing a vehicle in their name to qualify, rather than requiring full ownership. The basic requirements for registration loans include:

  • At least leasing or financing a vehicle, which is in your name.
  • Current vehicle registration and driver’s license from that state. The vehicle in question must be the one shown on this registration.
  • Important vehicle details must be provided, including things like make, model, year, mileage and others.
  • You must acknowledge that your vehicle cannot be repossessed, nor can an additional lien be placed against it. However, traditional collection practices will be applied if the loan is not paid.

In addition, there are some differences to the maximum loan amounts. Borrowers submit information about employment and income, and this information is used to discern this maximum rather than solely the value of the car.

Benefits

Both of these loan types can be approved in very little time, and offer good estimates for repayment schedules and fees. They are paid quickly and can be repaid just as quickly in most cases. In addition, title and registration loans are both strictly regulated to ensure consumers get a good deal.

Legality of Registration Loans

Arizona is the most notable state for registration loans, which have replaced payday loans in some ways. Within other states, the line between these two areas might not be large – you can contact loan professionals to understand if a registration loan or something similar is possible.

To learn more about any of our title or signature loan options, speak to the staff at Utah Money Center today.

Available Alternatives to Payday Loans

available alternatives payday loans

When you’re in need of some quick cash for emergencies ore immediate expenses, you have a few options potentially at your disposal. These options include payday loans, title loans and various kinds of personal loans, all of which offer this kind of fast cash for various requirements in return.

At Utah Money Center, we’re proud to offer affordable car title loans and signature loans if you’re in need of these kinds of funds. We don’t offer payday loans – why is this, and why are our options generally preferable alternatives? Here are some basics on payday loans plus some of the other options at your disposal so you don’t have to give up quite so much financial equity.

available alternatives payday loans

How Payday Loans Work

Available in 36 of the 50 states in the US, payday loans are those based on borrowers writing a postdated personal check for the amount set to be borrowed, plus a finance fee to the lender. When the loan period, usually two weeks, is up, the borrower either pays the lender the loan amount plus the finance fee or allows them to deposit the post-dated check. If borrowers want to extend the loan, they can write another post-dated check plus another finance fee. Additional fees come for not paying the debt in full.

Payday loans, unfortunately, have very high interest rates that can make them tough to pay on time. They’re usually set at an APR of around 400 percent, which is much higher than title or signature loans in most comparable situations. The fees involved in them can also become exorbitant quickly, putting borrowers in a bad position.

Alternatives

You have a couple specific alternatives if you need similar quick cash options:

  • Car title loans: Offered in about half the states in the country, title loans involve getting a value for your vehicle, then giving the lender your title as collateral for a loan you’ll be receiving. Title loans are offered in larger amounts than payday loans, but just like payday loans do not generally affect your credit score. Their APR rates are lower than payday loans, and borrowers generally have more success repaying them due to less stringent requirements and fees.
  • Signature loans: Also called an unsecured loan, signature loans mean you have no piece of your own property tied to them as collateral. As the name suggests, all that’s needed is your signature. Depending on your credit history and income, you can get a signature loan for up to $50,000 in some cases – though most of them are for smaller amounts between $500 and $1,000. They’re often used for helping consolidate debts, with fixed interest rates that make it easy to plan for the future.

For more on your alternatives to payday loans, or to learn about any of our signature or title loan options, speak to the staff at Utah Money Center today.

Tips for Shopping Around For Your Title Loan

good deal title loan

At Utah Money Center, we’re supremely confident that we provide the highest quality when it comes to car and truck title loans. We’re so confident, in fact, that we put our affordable car title loans up against any other lender in the area – we’re confident we can match or beat their rates.

Down those same lines, we encourage our clients to shop around for rates, as we know we provide the best services – and your research will prove it. When you’re looking at your choices for a title loan, here are several factors that go into getting the best deal possible both in the short- and long-term.

good deal title loan

Know Payment Options

Before you make any transactions, find out how you’ll be expected to repay the loan. This is usually through direct payment or through a specific paycheck. You also need to find out how long your repayment period is – a longer period means lower monthly payments but higher finance charges, while a shorter period means higher payments but less overall money spent.

Understand Application and Approval Process

Some lenders have a fully online application process, while others may require other forms of verification. Applications may range from 20 minutes or less up to a couple hours. Also, find out whether the lender requires visual inspection on the car before giving a title loan.

Check on Repayment Penalties

There are times where paying your loan too early won’t be allowed. Check with your lender about a repayment penalty, and what period of time it refers to.

Manufacturer Guidelines

Some lenders will only accept cars that were manufactured in the year 2000 or later, while others may have different cutoffs. Your car’s mileage may play a role here – if it’s greater than 100,000 or close to this number, ask about a mile restriction.

You Get To Keep Driving

Almost all title loan lenders will allow you to keep driving your car after a loan has been issued, including our lenders. Every now and then, though, you might meet a lender that requires the car be impounded for the life of the loan. Others might put a tracking device on your car to monitor you. In general, you should avoid these kinds of lenders.

For more on getting the best deal possible for a title loan, or to find out about all our cheap title loans, speak to the pros at Utah Money Center today.