Pawnbrokers operating in San Antonio must hold a Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner license under Texas Finance Code Chapter 371. Maximum interest is roughly 20% per month on small pawns, items must be held 30 days, and SAPD monitors transactions through LeadsOnline.
Texas Finance Code Chapter 371 governs pawn transactions statewide and applies fully in San Antonio. Pawnbrokers must obtain an OCCC license, post a $100,000 surety bond per location, and pay annual fees. Maximum monthly pawn-service charge follows a tiered formula that currently runs roughly 20% per month on the smallest tier, declining for larger loans. Pledged items must be held at least 30 days plus the loan term before forfeiture under Section 371.176. Pawnshops file daily LeadsOnline reports accessible to SAPD's Pawn Detail, verify customer identification, and record each item by serial number. State preemption bars San Antonio from imposing higher rate caps or layered local licensing, though SAPD investigates theft-recovery inquiries and refers fraud to Bexar County prosecutors.
Operating without an OCCC license, exceeding statutory rate caps, selling pledged items before the 30-day hold expires, or skipping LeadsOnline reporting triggers OCCC administrative penalties up to $1,000 per day, license revocation, and SAPD criminal referrals.
See how San Antonio's pawnbrokers rules stack up against other locations.
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