Pawn Shop Forms, Printed on Plain Paper

Pawn shop forms are the legal documents a pawnbroker issues for each transaction — the pawn ticket (a combined loan agreement, property receipt and Truth-in-Lending disclosure), the buy-outright or secondhand-purchase form, check-cashing and payday/title forms, and the Military Lending Act disclosure — each with its own required fields, copy counts and retention rules set by state and federal law. The exact wording and format vary by state, which is why most pawn software lets shops customize the templates or print onto pre-approved stock. This guide explains each form type and what it must contain, and how PawnSmarts prints customizable pawn tickets on plain paper with any inkjet or laser printer, in 48 pre-configured states, from $89/month with no contract.

The five core pawn shop form types

1. Pawn ticket (pledge receipt)

The pawn ticket is the cornerstone of every pawn transaction. It is simultaneously a loan agreement, a receipt for the pledged property, and a Truth-in-Lending (TILA / Regulation Z) disclosure. State law dictates the exact wording, copy count (usually 2–4 parts) and the information it must capture. Fields required on virtually every state's pawn ticket:

• Pawnshop name, address and phone number
• Unique sequential ticket number
• Transaction date and maturity date
• Pledgor's full name, address, date of birth and phone number
• Government-issued ID type, issuing agency and ID number
• Physical description of the pledgor (height, weight, hair/eye color, sex, race) — required in most states
• Complete description of the pledged item: brand, model, serial number, color, engravings and other identifying marks
• Amount loaned, finance charge, total of payments and APR
• Pledgor's and pawnbroker's signatures
• Statement that the pledgor is the lawful owner, and notice of forfeiture rights

2. Buy-outright / second-hand purchase form (buy ticket)

When a shop buys an item outright rather than lending against it, a separate form is required — a "buy ticket," "purchase agreement" or "second-hand dealer form." It documents the item and seller and is typically filed with local law enforcement on the same schedule as pawns.

3. Check-cashing form

Shops that cash checks must issue a receipt capturing the check amount, fee, check number, maker and the customer's ID. Some states regulate check cashing separately and require a distinct form.

4. Payday / title loan form

Short-term consumer loans require their own TILA-compliant disclosure forms, governed by both state consumer-finance law and the federal Truth-in-Lending Act.

5. MLA disclosure (Military Lending Act)

Federal law requires active-duty military personnel and their dependents to receive a written Military Annual Percentage Rate (MAPR) disclosure in addition to the standard pawn ticket. It's a two-part form that must reference the pawn ticket number and bear the customer's signature confirming receipt in writing and orally.

Pre-printed forms — Burrell Printing

The leading supplier of pre-printed, state-specific pawn forms is Burrell Printing Company, Inc., Pflugerville, TX. Their forms carry the required state-law language pre-printed, so you (or your software) only fill in the variable data per transaction — especially important in states like Florida where the form itself must be state-approved. Burrell offers laser/sheet forms and continuous-feed forms for impact printers. Free samples are available by calling (800) 531-5234.

Plain-paper tickets vs. pre-printed forms

In most states you can print tickets on standard copy paper with software, or order pre-printed forms. Here's how they compare:

Police department reporting

Most states require pawnbrokers to report every pawn and second-hand purchase to local law enforcement, daily or weekly. Methods vary: printed forms handed to officers, a PDF or spreadsheet emailed to police, or upload to LEADS Online. PawnSmarts exports in the format your jurisdiction needs — see the police reporting and LEADS Online pages. Confirm the exact format and frequency with your local department before opening.

Forms included in PawnSmarts

Every PawnSmarts plan includes built-in, fully editable form templates you can customize to your state's requirements and print on plain paper with any inkjet or laser printer — eliminating the ongoing cost of pre-printed forms in most states:

• Pawn ticket — customizable for any state, TILA/Regulation Z compliant
• Buy-outright / second-hand purchase form
• Check-cashing form
• Payday / title loan form
• Police & LEADS Online reports exported in your jurisdiction's format (Essential plan)
• Electronic gun log + ATF Bound Book + Form 4473 at redemption (Professional plan)

Custom ticket templates are part of the Professional plan. PawnSmarts can also print onto Burrell's pre-printed forms in any state, and is pre-configured for Florida's approved tickets (10-0909 laser, or 10-0920 / 10-0924 continuous-feed). Pricing is $89/month Essential or $129/month Professional, month to month with no contract, or $2,995 to own Professional outright.

Pawn shop licensing

No private website should put itself in the position of giving legal advice. Every state publishes its pawn laws and form requirements online — search "pawn laws [your state]" and the government site should appear at the top. Consult your state's pawn laws for all required fields, and review our US state licensing guide and the overview of what pawn shop software does.

Frequently Asked Questions