28-46-506. RENEWAL OF TITLE LOAN AGREEMENTS. (1) Title loan agreements shall not exceed thirty (30) days in length. However, such agreements may provide for renewals, which may occur automatically, unless one (1) of the following has occurred:

(a) The debtor has paid all principal and finance charges due in accordance with the title loan agreement;

(b) The debtor has surrendered possession, title and all other interest in and to the titled personal property to the title lender; or

(c) The title lender has notified the debtor in writing that the title loan agreement is not to be renewed.

(2) A debtor has the right to cancel the debtor’s obligation to make payments under a title loan agreement until the close of the next business day after the day when the debtor signs a title loan agreement if the debtor returns the original check or cash to the location where the loan was originated. For the purpose of this section, "business day" means any day that the title loan office is open for business.

(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this part 5 to the contrary, beginning with the third renewal or continuation and at each successive renewal or continuation thereafter, the debtor shall be required to make a payment of at least ten percent (10%) of the principal amount of the original title loan in addition to any finance charges that are due. Finance charges due at each successive renewal or continuation shall be calculated on the outstanding principal balance. Principal payments in excess of the ten percent (10%) required principal reduction shall be credited to the outstanding principal on the day received. If at the maturity of any renewal requiring a principal reduction, the debtor has not made previous principal reductions adequate to satisfy the current required principal reduction, and the debtor cannot repay at least ten percent (10%) of the original principal balance and any outstanding finance charges, the title lender may, but shall not be obligated to, defer any required principal payment until a future date. No further finance charges may accrue on any such principal amount thus deferred.

(4) Within fourteen (14) days after a title loan is automatically renewed, the title lender shall provide the debtor written notice of the renewal either by personal delivery to the debtor or by deposit in the regular mail to the debtor’s residential address listed in the title loan agreement. For the purpose of this section, a renewal is any extension of a title loan for an additional period without any change in the terms of the title loan other than extension of the maturity date and a reduction in principal.

History:

[28-46-506, added 2006, ch. 323, sec. 1, p. 1026.]