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If you're seeing $255 as a payday loan limit, it's because that's what California's Deferred Deposit Transaction Law actually allows: a $300 check, minus a fee capped at $45, leaves $255 in your hands.
No obligation. No hard credit pull to check your options.
Most of our loan-amount pages cover a round number we chose. This one's different — $255 isn't a number anyone picked. It's the direct result of California's Deferred Deposit Transaction Law, which caps how large a payday loan check can be and how much a lender is allowed to charge for it.
The law sets the check's total face value at no more than $300, and limits the fee to 15% of that face value — which comes out to $45 at the maximum. Subtract the fee from the check, and $255 is what's actually left to hand over in cash. Every California payday lender following the law lands on the same number, not because they agree with each other, but because the math is set by statute.
This is the maximum under California law — actual amounts and fees depend on your income and the lender you're matched with.
California doesn't let lenders roll a payday loan into a new due date. Once it's due, it's due.
You can't stack multiple payday loans on top of each other under this law.
The loan is due on your next payday, and the term can't exceed 31 days.
You're allowed to request an extended repayment plan if you can't pay on time — the lender isn't required to grant it, but you can ask.
Not in California? Other states set their own limits, and many allow more than $255. See what applies where you live on our general payday loans page, or check loans by state for the specifics.
A payday loan has this ceiling by design — installment loans don't.
If $255 isn't enough to cover what you're dealing with, our installment loans go up to $5,000 with fixed monthly payments spread over 2 to 24 months — a better fit for a bigger expense, regardless of state.
Every fixed amount we offer, in one place.
Basic details — about five minutes.
Usually within minutes, using a soft credit check that won't affect your score.
Often the next business day, sometimes the same day if approved early.
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I needed a small amount to cover a utility payment and a few household expenses before my next paycheck arrived. The application was easy to complete, and I appreciated being able to review all the details before making a decision. Everything was explained clearly from the start.
An unexpected expense left me a little short on cash, but I didn't need a large loan. The process was straightforward, and I liked how easy it was to understand the available options. Having clear information upfront made the experience much less stressful.
I was looking for a short-term borrowing option to help cover groceries, fuel, and a phone bill until payday. The online application only took a few minutes, and the terms were presented in a way that was easy to follow. The entire process felt simple and transparent.
A straightforward loan marketplace built around clear terms and a fast decision — not fine print you need a lawyer to read.
This page is written and kept up to date by our in-house editorial team, so the language stays plain and the numbers stay current.
Final review is done by the site owner before publishing — questions or concerns can be sent through our Contact page.
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