Quick answer
Title loans are legal in Kansas City, Missouri when made by a lender licensed by the Missouri Division of Finance under RSMo 367.500 to 367.533. The agreed term must be at least 30 days, and from the third renewal on the borrower must reduce the principal by 10% each time. Your vehicle secures the loan, so know the repossession rules before you sign. Call (800) 236-7761 or use the form to see which lenders can work with you.
Missouri law at a glance
Missouri title loan law
- Status
- Legal for licensed lenders
- Loan term
- Agreed period of not less than 30 days
- Charges
- Title loan charges are governed by RSMo 367.500-367.533 (the exact rate cap was not quoted in this review)
- Renewals
- On the third renewal and each later renewal, the borrower must reduce the principal by 10% until the loan is paid in full (RSMo 367.512)
- If you default
- On default the title lender may take possession and sell the titled personal property only after complying with Chapter 400 and RSMo 408.551-408.557 and 408.560-408.562.
- Licensing
- A title lender must be licensed by the Missouri Division of Finance
Source: Missouri Division of Finance · Phone: 573-751-3242 · Last verified: 2026-10-08
Counting the cost of a title loan in Kansas City
We do not publish a Missouri title loan rate cap on this page because the exact statutory figure was not confirmed in our review. Instead, use the numbers the lender must give you: before you sign, federal law (the Truth in Lending Act) requires the lender to disclose the APR, finance charge, and total of payments in writing.
- Ask for the APR and the total you will repay over the full term, not just the monthly charge.
- Ask what each renewal costs and how the 10% principal reduction from the third renewal changes your payments.
- Compare against a credit union PAL (28% APR cap by federal rule) and against waiting for a payment arrangement from your biller.
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What happens to your vehicle
- Your title secures the loan. If you default, the lender may take possession of the vehicle and sell it.
- Rules apply first. A title lender may take possession and sell the titled property only after complying with Missouri's Chapter 400 and RSMo 408.551 to 408.557 and 408.560 to 408.562.
- Renewals require paydown. From the third renewal on, you must reduce principal by 10% each time, which raises the payment.
- Licensed lenders only. Check the lender's license with the Division of Finance before you hand over a title.
- Do not skip the paperwork. Keep a copy of the signed agreement, the disclosure with the APR, and any renewal documents.
Live on the Kansas side?
Cheaper options to try first in Kansas City
- Credit union Payday Alternative Loans (PALs). Federal credit unions can lend $200 to $2,000 for one to twelve months at no more than 28% APR. Find a credit union near you with the NCUA locator at mycreditunion.gov.
- Utility and bill payment arrangements. Ask Evergy, Spire Missouri or KC Water about payment plans and assistance programs before a shutoff notice, not after.
- United Way 211. Dial 2-1-1 for rent, utility, food and emergency assistance programs in Jackson County and the surrounding metro.
- Employer advances and earned-wage access. If your employer offers one, you can often draw on hours you already worked for a small flat fee.
- Nonprofit credit counseling. If the problem is several debts rather than one bill, an NFCC member agency can review your budget for free or at low cost: nfcc.org.
Title loans questions in Kansas City
Are title loans legal in Kansas City, Missouri?
Yes, when the lender is licensed by the Missouri Division of Finance and follows RSMo 367.500 to 367.533.
How long must the loan term be?
The agreed period must be at least 30 days.
What is the 10% rule?
On the third renewal and every renewal after it, the borrower must reduce the principal by 10% until the loan is paid in full.
Can the lender take my car?
If you default, a title lender may take possession of the vehicle and sell it, but only after complying with the notice and sale rules in Missouri law.
Where do I file a complaint about a title lender?
With the Missouri Division of Finance at 573-751-3242.