Personalloaner

Virginia lending rules

Personalloaner covers 227 Census places in Virginia, which together hold an estimated 3,111,094 people. Licensed lenders set personal-loan terms here under Virginia law, and the sourced rules below reach every borrower in the state.

By the Personalloaner Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-09-16

Compare loan offers Run the numbers first

How we get paid: if you apply through the link above, a lending partner may send us a referral fee. It never changes the rate you are offered or what we publish. We are not a lender and we do not process applications. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Full disclosure.

Key rules for borrowers in Virginia

RuleDetailSource
Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) 12% per year maximum contract rate, except as otherwise permitted by law (Va. Code § 6.2-303)
Source says: no contract shall be made for the payment of interest on a loan at a rate that exceeds 12 percent per year		 Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia)
as of 2026-09-16
Payday lending status Legal via licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at a 36% simple annual rate plus limited fees (Va. Code § 6.2-1817)
Source says: Interest at a simple annual rate not to exceed 36 percent		 Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia)
as of 2026-09-16
Small-loan / installment lender licensing Consumer finance license required from the State Corporation Commission (Va. Code § 6.2-1501)
Source says: No person shall engage in the business of making loans to individuals for personal, family, household, or other nonbusiness purposes		 Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia)
as of 2026-09-16
State lending regulator Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI)
Source says: The Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI) is a regulatory division of the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC.)		 Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC)
as of 2026-09-16

Places we cover in Virginia

The Census Bureau counts 227 places in Virginia, and the largest are linked below.

Compare personal loan offers Run the numbers first

How we get paid: if you apply through the link above, a lending partner may send us a referral fee. It never changes the rate you are offered or what we publish. We are not a lender and we do not process applications. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Full disclosure.

Common questions

How high can interest rates legally go in Virginia?
The answer turns on the product and on which statute applies to it. This page's table sets out Virginia's usury cap and licensing rules, and each row carries its publisher and a link to the primary source.
What is Virginia's position on payday lending?
Each state handles payday lending on its own: some permit it, some cap it, some prohibit it. The sourced row on this page gives Virginia's current position.
How do I know a lender is licensed in Virginia?
Consumer lenders generally need a licence issued by the state regulator identified on this page. Verify that licence with the regulator before you commit to anything.

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