State rules
Florida auto loan rules
Florida has 411 Census places covered on AutoLoanable, with a combined estimated population of 11,285,844. Vehicle financing in Florida is governed by state law — the interest-rate caps, title-lending rules, sales-finance licensing and the regulator that oversees them. The sourced figures below apply to every car loan made to a borrower in the state.
The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants.
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Key rules for car buyers in Florida
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 18% per annum simple interest (loans/advances of $500,000 or less; loans above $500,000 are exempt from this cap) Source says: "it shall be usury and unlawful ... to ... charge ... a rate of interest greater than the equivalent of 18 percent per annum simple interest". |
Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-17 |
| Vehicle title loan status | Title loans secured by a motor vehicle certificate of title are permitted; a licensed title loan lender may charge up to 30% per annum on the first $2,000 of principal, 24% on the portion from $2,000 to $3,000, and 18% above $3,000. Source says: "A title loan lender may charge a maximum interest rate of 30 percent per annum computed on the first $2,000 of the principal amount" License category: Title loan lender license (Fla. Stat. § 537.004). |
Florida Legislature — Florida Statutes ch. 537 (Title Loans) as of 2026-09-17 |
| Sales finance / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance loan license required (chapter 516) Source says: "A person must not engage in the business of making consumer finance loans ... unless ... the person first obtains a license from the office". Motor-vehicle retail installment sales are separately governed by the The Motor Vehicle Retail Sales Finance Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 520.01–520.10, 520.12, 520.125, 520.13). |
Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-17 |
| State lending regulator | Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) Source says: "The Office of Financial Regulation is a state-government agency created by the Governor and Cabinet to provide regulatory oversight for Florida's financial services industry". |
Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-17 |
| Sales tax on vehicle purchases | 6% state rate; county discretionary sales surtaxes additional (on motor vehicles, the surtax applies to the first $5,000 of the sales price). Source says: "Florida's general state sales tax rate is 6%" |
Florida Department of Revenue as of 2026-09-17 |
How to use these rules
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Check the ceiling before you compare offers
If a quoted APR looks extreme, compare it against the Florida cap above — and note that a specific statutory exemption can apply to a particular product.
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Verify the lender is licensed
Use the regulator named in the table to confirm the lender or sales-finance company may legally serve borrowers in the state.
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Know what is secured against your car
A vehicle title loan is secured by the car itself. If the state permits it, understand the repossession terms before you sign anything.
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Budget for tax and fees separately
Sales tax and title fees are financed along with the car, so they raise the amount you borrow — and therefore the interest you pay on them.
Cities in Florida
We cover 411 Census places in Florida.