LoanStar Title Loans provides car title loans up to $10,000 at multiple Texas locations, requiring only your vehicle, photo ID, and a clear title to qualify.
Editorially reviewed by Harvey Brooks
LoanStar Title Loans traces its origins to 1990 in Jonesboro, Georgia, positioning itself from the start as a provider of emergency liquidity for vehicle owners. Over three-plus decades the company expanded into Texas, building a network of branches across the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. The Fort Worth presence includes locations on Camp Bowie, McCar Ave, and E Lancaster Ave within the city, plus additional branches in Haltom City, Richland Hills, and Burleson — giving borrowers in the western and southern suburbs several options for in-person service. The company's stated mission centers on helping working Americans leverage the equity in their vehicles when other credit options are unavailable.
LoanStar's core product is the auto title loan — a short-term secured loan in which the borrower's vehicle title is pledged as collateral. Loan amounts reach up to $10,000, making LoanStar suitable for borrowers who need more than a typical payday or small-dollar lender offers. The application requires three items: the vehicle (which stays with the borrower during the loan), a government-issued photo ID, and a clear, lien-free vehicle title. LoanStar structures repayment in two ways — single installment and multiple installment — and provides publicly disclosed fee schedules for $600, $1,200, and $2,000 loan amounts per Texas OCCC requirements. Accepted payment methods include cash, check, debit card, and Western Union.
Several operational factors distinguish LoanStar from smaller or independent title lenders. The company is licensed and regulated by the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, and the site links directly to OCCC-required fee disclosures for both installment types — a level of regulatory compliance that is mandated but not always visible on competitor sites. The multi-location Fort Worth cluster means borrowers across different parts of the metro have a branch within roughly 15 miles. LoanStar also provides an online payment portal, a toll-free national customer service number (877-511-CASH), and a Spanish-language interface option on its website.
Title loans carry significant financial risk that prospective borrowers must weigh carefully. The effective APRs on single-installment title loans are typically in the triple digits, and costs escalate rapidly if a loan is rolled over or extended. The most consequential risk is collateral: default puts the borrower's vehicle at risk of repossession — for many low-income households, both their primary transportation and their access to employment. This product is appropriate only for consumers who have a concrete repayment plan, have exhausted lower-cost alternatives such as credit union PALs or employer advances, and fully understand the lien being placed on their title. The in-person-only application process and limited hours — no Sundays, weekday closing at 6 PM — may also constrain access for hourly workers with inflexible schedules.
See which lenders actually approve borrowers with bad credit. We compared APRs, fees, minimum scores, and funding speed.
Yes. Loanstar Title Loans is a registered company headquartered in 14051 TX-249, Houston, TX 77086. They hold a NR rating with the Better Business Bureau.
CreditDoc Diagnosis
LoanStar Title Loans is best for DFW-area vehicle owners with a clear title who need emergency cash above what payday lenders offer and have no access to lower-cost credit. The central caveat is that title loans are among the most expensive consumer credit products available, and missing a payment puts the borrower's vehicle — often their primary asset — at immediate repossession risk.
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Read guide →New to credit and lending? Here are the key terms used on this page, explained in plain language with real-number examples.
The total yearly cost of borrowing money, including the interest rate plus any fees the lender charges. Think of it as the 'true price tag' on a loan.
Lenders must show APR by law (Truth in Lending Act) because the interest rate alone can hide fees. Comparing APR across lenders is the most reliable way to find the cheapest loan.
Example
You borrow $10,000 at 6% interest for 3 years, but there's a $300 origination fee. The interest rate is 6%, but the APR is 6.9% because it includes that fee. You'd pay $304/month and $946 total in interest.
Interest calculated on both the original amount borrowed AND the interest that's already been added. It's 'interest on interest' — and it makes debt grow faster than you'd expect.
Credit cards and many loans use compound interest. If you only make minimum payments, compound interest is why a $3,000 balance can take 15 years to pay off.
Example
You owe $1,000 at 20% annual interest compounded monthly. After month 1 you owe $1,016.67. Month 2, interest is charged on $1,016.67 (not $1,000), so you owe $1,033.61. After 1 year without payments: $1,219.
A special APR calculation used for military servicemembers that includes ALL costs — fees, insurance, and add-ons — capped at 36% by federal law.
The Military Lending Act protects active-duty servicemembers and their families from predatory lending. Any lender charging above 36% MAPR to military is breaking federal law.
Example
A payday lender charges a $15 fee per $100 borrowed for 2 weeks. For civilians, that's technically legal in some states. For military: that works out to 391% MAPR — illegal under the MLA.
The maximum interest rate a lender can legally charge in a particular state. Charging above this rate is called 'usury' and is illegal.
Usury laws are your main legal protection against predatory interest rates. But beware: some states have weak or no usury caps, and federal banks can sometimes override state limits.
Example
New York caps interest at 16% for most consumer loans (25% is criminal usury). If a lender tries to charge you 30% in NY, that loan is unenforceable — you could fight it in court.
An asset you pledge to the lender as security for a loan. If you stop paying, the lender can seize and sell that asset to recover their money.
Secured loans (with collateral) have lower interest rates because the lender has less risk. But you could lose your home, car, or savings if you default.
Example
A mortgage uses your house as collateral. A car loan uses your vehicle. A title loan uses your car title. If you miss payments, the lender can foreclose or repossess.
A charge added to your account when you miss a payment deadline. Most credit cards charge $29-$41 per late payment, and many loans have similar penalties.
The fee itself hurts, but the real damage is to your credit score. A payment 30+ days late stays on your credit report for 7 years and can drop your score 60-110 points.
Example
Your credit card payment of $150 is due March 1. You pay on March 18. The bank charges a $39 late fee. If it's 30+ days late, it gets reported to credit bureaus and your 760 score drops to 670.
A fee your bank charges when a payment bounces because there isn't enough money in your account. Also called a 'bounced check fee' or 'returned payment fee.'
NSF fees hit you twice — your bank charges you AND the company you were trying to pay may charge their own returned payment fee. That's $50-70 for one missed payment.
Example
Your auto-pay tries to pull $350 for rent, but you only have $280 in checking. Your bank charges $35 NSF fee. Your landlord charges $25 returned payment fee. Total damage: $60 in fees.
The practice of charging interest rates higher than what the law allows. Usury laws set state-specific caps on how much lenders can charge.
If a lender charges usurious rates, the loan may be void, penalties can be reduced, or you may be entitled to damages. Know your state's limits.
Example
Your state caps consumer loans at 24% APR. An online lender charges you 36%. That loan may be unenforceable, and you might only need to repay the principal — no interest or fees.
Using your credit card to get cash from an ATM or bank. It's one of the most expensive ways to borrow — higher interest rate, immediate interest accrual (no grace period), and an upfront fee.
Cash advances are a debt trap: 25-30% APR with no grace period plus a 3-5% fee. Interest starts the second you withdraw, not at the end of the billing cycle.
Example
You take a $500 cash advance. Fee: $25 (5%). Interest: 28% APR starting immediately. After 30 days, you owe $536.67. After 6 months of minimum payments, you've paid $85 in interest on $500.
Want to learn more? Read our Financial Wellness Guides for in-depth explanations and practical advice.
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