Dos Palos at a glance
- Population: 5,708 — 416th in California, which has 482 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 5,799 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 1.6% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among California places: 416th-largest of 482 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 14% of the Census places in California (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 36.9854 / -120.6338, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Los Banos, CA (13 mi); Firebaugh, CA (13 mi); Mendota, CA (21 mi); Chowchilla, CA (23 mi); Merced, CA (24 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: San Joaquin, CA (36 mi); San Juan Bautista, CA (51 mi); Sonora, CA (70 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Dos Palos
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
California lending rules that apply in Dos Palos
The California rate caps and licensing rules that reach Dos Palos are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 7% per annum default; written contracts may set up to 10% per annum for consumer-purpose loans Source says: "shall be 7 percent per annum"; "for use primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, at a rate not exceeding 10 percent per annum". | California Legislature — California Constitution, Article XV, § 1 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law; max $300 face amount; fee ≤15%; term up to 31 days Source says: "The face amount of the check shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300)"; "A fee for a deferred deposit transaction shall not exceed 15 percent of the face amount of the check" (Financial Code § 23036). | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23035 (and § 23036) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Finance lender/broker license required from the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation (California Financing Law) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of a finance lender or broker without obtaining a license from the commissioner". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22100 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) Source says: "“Department” means the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23001 as of 2026-09-16 |
| 36% rate cap on mid-size consumer loans (AB 539) | Consumer loans of $2,500 to under $10,000: cap of 36% per annum simple interest plus the Federal Funds Rate Source says: "charges at a rate not exceeding an annual simple interest rate of 36 percent per annum plus the Federal Funds Rate". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22304.5 as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Dos Palos
Before you commit to a personal loan in Dos Palos, work through these steps:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in California using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.