La Quinta at a glance
- Population: about 39,081, 205th by size in California of 482 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 37,653 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 3.8% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: the 205th-largest of 482 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 57% of California's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 33.6461, -116.2753 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Indio, CA (6 mi); Palm Desert, CA (8 mi); Coachella, CA (8 mi); Cathedral City, CA (17 mi); Palm Springs, CA (19 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller places close by: Indian Wells, CA (5 mi); Rancho Mirage, CA (12 mi); Desert Hot Springs, CA (26 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in La Quinta
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
California lending rules that apply in La Quinta
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving La Quinta: label, sourced figure, publisher and 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 La Quinta
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in La Quinta:
- 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.