Payday loans are small loans with very short repayment terms and exorbitant borrowing fees. Depending on your province or territory, you could pay between $15 and $25 for every $100 borrowed.
What are the payday loan interest rates in Canada?
The annual percentage rates (APR) for payday loans in Canada are much higher compared to other types of loans. APR is a loan’s interest rate and fees expressed as an annual cost. It gives you a truer view of the cost of a loan, and it helps you compare the cost of different types of loans.
Payday loan APRs typically range from about 390% to 780%, with many payday loans sitting around the 540% APR mark. As an example, let’s take a $900 payday loan in Ontario with a borrowing fee of $135 ($15 charged for every $100 borrowed). If you have a repayment term of 14 days, your APR would come out to 391.07%.
How do payday loan rates differ from other financial products?
Payday loans have higher APRs compared to credit card cash advances and personal loans for bad credit. Credit card cash advances typically have a 23% APR plus a fee, while bad credit personal loans tend to max out at 47% APR.
Let’s go back to the $900 example. Here’s how the costs would compare:
Payday loan ($15 for every $100 borrowed)
Credit card cash advance (23% APR + 5% fee)
Personal loan (46.96% APR)
Loan amount
$900
$900
$900
Loan term
21 days
21 days
6 months
Borrowing cost
$135
$11.91 + $45 = $56.91
$171.20 monthly payment, $127.21 in total interest
The credit card cash advance is the cheapest option. The costs of the bad credit personal loan and payday loan are almost the same in dollar terms. The key difference is the loan term; the personal loan has a longer loan term of 6 months, allowing you to spread out your payments.
Can a payday loan interest rate change depending on my personal situation?
Unlike other types of loans, the borrowing fee of a payday loan is the same for borrowers and does not depend on personal factors, such as credit score and income. Lenders in the payday loan space tend to charge the maximum they’re legally allowed to, no matter your financial situation.
The payday loan’s APR, however, can change depending on your loan term. Let’s go back to the $900 loan example with a borrowing fee of $135:
Loan amount
Borrowing fee
Loan term
APR
$900
$135
14 days
391.07%
$900
$135
21 days
260.71%
$900
$135
42 days
130.36%
$900
$135
62 days
88.31%
Even with the maximum loan term allowed for payday loans, the APR is still very high.
What other fees come with payday loans?
If you want to take out a payday loan, a lender cannot charge you any fees besides the borrowing fee. However, if you don’t pay back your loan on time, you will be charged fees like NSF fees and late payment fees.
What to consider with payday loans
Before getting a payday loan, examine your financial situation and decide if a payday loan is truly the best option for your financial needs. If you don’t think you can make the repayments, don’t take a loan out in the first place. Explore other options like a credit card cash advance, an installment loan or borrowing from friends or family. Payday loans should be a last resort.
If you decide that a payday loan is the right option for you, be absolutely sure that you can afford to make the repayments on time. Also, check that you’ll have enough income left to pay for other expenses once you repay your payday loan. Otherwise, you may find the need to apply for another loan.
How to compare payday loans
What is the loan turnaround time?
Find out how long it takes for the lender to transfer the loan to you. If you apply in person at a store, you can walk out with your funds. If applying online, you can get a payday loan within a few hours.
Is the lender easy to contact?
Make sure the lender is easy to contact, and lists a phone number and email address. It is also convenient if the company offers a live chat feature. Being able to reach the company is helpful in case you have problems with repayments or need to ask a question. If a lender does not list any contact information, this is a red flag and you should re-consider borrowing money from this lender.
Does the site have clear information?
Look for a lender that lists all loan information clearly and is transparent about all of the details. See if you can find information on fees and terms and conditions on the company’s website. If costs aren’t stated or there seem to be unclear or hidden fees, consider looking for another lender.
How to apply for a payday loan
If you’re interested in applying for a payday loan, follow these steps:
Research and compare your options. Take the time to compare the different lenders and the loans they offer.
Meet the eligibility requirements. To be eligible for a loan, you must be at least 18 years old or the age of majority in your province or territory, have proof of an income and be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You may also need to have a valid bank account.
Apply. Once you decide on a lender, you can apply on their website or visit a branch in person if the lender has physical locations.
Are payday loans available in my province or territory?
Payday loans are available in all provinces and territories across Canada. You should be aware that payday loans are regulated by individual provinces, which means costs and fees can vary. Ensure that any lender you choose abides by the laws of the place you live.
The Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories do not have legislation regulating payday loans at the territorial level. Payday loans are regulated in these territories at the federal level only.
Leanne Escobal is a publisher for Finder. She has over 11 years of experience in financial services, specializing in content and marketing. Leanne has completed the Canadian securities course (CSC®) as well as the personal lending and mortgages course by the Canadian Securities Institute. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English literature and creative writing from Western University.
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