FAQ

Pawn loans are a quick and easy way to borrow money without a credit check or hassle. Loans are based on the value of your collateral, not your credit rating or pay schedule. Subject to individual state laws, a typical pawn loan may have a term length of 30 days/one month, plus a 15-day grace period. If you cannot pay back your loan in full, including any applicable grace period, we offer extensions/renewals (where permitted by state law) to give you extra time. You may also choose to surrender your collateral as payment in full. We loan on a variety of items, including gold and diamond jewelry, electronics, musical instruments, tools, and more. Simply bring us an item of value, along with a valid photo ID and we’ll get you money in minutes after your loan is approved.

If you are unable to pay back your loan in full on its due date, you may get a renewal, if permitted by state law. With a renewal, you pay the interest that has accrued on your loan in full, and a new loan is written. The principal loan amount remains the same, as does the interest rate.

The majority of our customers repay their pawn loans and pick up their merchandise. If a customer chooses not to repay the loan, the merchandise/collateral for the loan is forfeited. We will also purchase items of value if you do not want to get a pawn loan.

We base pawn loan amounts on the value of your item – its current appraised value, its current condition and our ability to sell the item. We use all the research tools we have at our disposal to determine an item’s value and get you the most money we can. The appraisal process varies depending on the type of item – for example, jewelry is evaluated differently than a DVD player. We have an internal pricing and research department that reviews thousands of items to insure that our loan values are in line with the general marketplace for pre-owned merchandise. They provide us with the item’s retail value with it was new, its pre-owned market value, and how to determine its condition.

The condition of an item is always taken into account during the appraisal process. If one 32-inch television comes in that is in perfect condition and one 32-inch television comes in with a crack in the case, we will loan more on the TV that’s in better condition. With its general merchandise you want to pawn, we test each item to ensure it is in good working condition. This includes, but is not limited to, a visual inspection, plugging an item in and turning it on, and noting if any necessary accessories (such as remote controls) and manuals are included. The better condition of your item, the more money we can loan you. This is true for any collateral.

When jewelry is the collateral we test the precious metals and diamonds to determine its worth. The diamond testing includes a visual inspection using a jeweler’s loupe, weighing the item, sizing (determining the carat weight) any stones, and noting the cut/color/clarity of each – you may know this as the 4 Cs. In addition, we test the metal using a special acid that determines the karat of gold. This is done to ensure a clean test so there are no false readings on your item that may detract from what we can loan you.

The price of gold is based on market values, the price for which is routinely reviewed and updated by our internal pricing department. Prices can vart greatly as the loan amount for 24k gold is significantly higher than that of the 14k gold.

Unfortunately, we cannot give quotes over the phone because loan amounts vary greatly depending on the condition of an item. For general merchandise, we test each item to ensure it is in good working condition. This includes but is not limited to, a visual inspection, plugging an item in and turning it on, and noting if any necessary accessories and manuals are included. The better the condition of your item, the more money we can loan. And for jewelry, we test to ensure diamonds and gold are genuine. This testing includes a visual inspection using a jeweler’s loupe, weighing the item, sizing (determining the carat weight) any stones, and noting the cut/color/clarity of each – you may know this as the 4 Cs. In addition, we test the metal using a special acid that determines the karat of gold.

While your item is in pawn, you still own it. It is our responsibility to keep it safe and in good condition while it’s in our care. When you give us an item for pawn, we keep all accessories (remote controls, cables, etc.) with your item and place it in a security area. Your item is safely stored here until you come back to pay your loan in full and claim your merchandise. All Cash America shops are fully insured for the loan value of the collateral we keep.

Yes, States have regulated the pawn industry for decades, and most pawnbrokers are licensed and regulated by local authorities as well. We are subject to such laws as Truth In Lending Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Patriot Act, and Federal Trade Commission Rules on Data Privacy and Security Transfer, as well as Federal Firearms Licenses for shops that deal with firearms. At the federal level, we are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Treasury Department.