Can you have 3 personal loans at once?

Yes, you can have three personal loans at once. There is no official limit on how many personal loans you can have at the same time. However, qualifying for multiple personal loans can be harder because lenders will look closely at whether you can manage and repay all of them.

There’s no rule that says you can only have one personal loan. That said, having multiple loans at once can change how lenders look at your finances. Understanding how lenders evaluate multiple loans can help you avoid surprises when you apply.

Is there a limit to how many personal loans you can have?

There is no official limit on the number of personal loans you can have at the same time.

That said:

  • Many lenders choose to issue only one or two loans to the same borrower
  • You can apply for personal loans from more than one lender if you meet each lender’s requirements

Whether you’re approved usually comes down to lender policies and your overall financial profile, not a fixed numerical limit.

Why can it be hard to get multiple personal loans?

Getting approved for multiple personal loans can be challenging because lenders take a closer look at your full financial picture.

When reviewing your application, lenders may consider:

  • Your ability to make payments on all existing loans each month
  • Your total amount of debt
  • Your income, expenses, and debt-to-income ratio

Lenders may be concerned if your existing unsecured debt appears too high, even if you’ve made payments on time.

How lenders evaluate borrowers with multiple personal loans

If you already have one or more personal loans, lenders often focus primarily on your ability to repay, along with your overall debt profile—not just the number of loans you have.

They may look at:

  • Your monthly payment obligations across all loans
  • Your payment history
  • How much room you have in your budget for additional payments

Even if you’re allowed to have multiple loans, approval is not guaranteed.

When having multiple personal loans may be risky

Having more than one personal loan can increase financial pressure, especially if:

  • Your income changes
  • Unexpected expenses come up
  • Monthly payments become difficult to manage

Missing payments on any loan can have a negative impact on your credit and make future borrowing harder.

Key takeaways

  • You can legally have three personal loans at the same time.
  • There’s no official limit, but lender policies often matter more than the number itself.
  • Many lenders prefer to issue only one or two loans to the same borrower.
  • Approval depends on your ability to manage and repay all loans, along with your overall debt profile.
  • High levels of unsecured debt may make approval more difficult.

Frequently asked questions

Can you have more than one personal loan at the same time?

Yes. You can have more than one personal loan at the same time if lenders approve your applications.

Why do lenders limit the number of personal loans they offer?

Some lenders limit loans to manage risk and make sure borrowers can handle the monthly payments.

Does having multiple personal loans affect approval?

It can. Lenders may be concerned if your existing unsecured debt is high or if monthly payments stretch your budget.

Is it illegal to have multiple personal loans?

No. There is no law that limits how many personal loans you can have at once.

What do lenders care about most with multiple loans?

Lenders focus primarily on your ability to repay all loans on time, along with your overall debt profile—not just the number of loans you have.

Updated: January 2026

 

Disclosure:

This content is general in nature and provided for informational purposes only. This content is not specific to Upstart, except where explicitly stated. This content may contain references to products and services offered through Upstart’s credit marketplace. Upstart is not a financial advisor and does not offer financial planning services.

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