Most lenders allow one deferral per loan, but some permit two or three over the life of the mortgage
The number of times you can defer a mortgage payment depends entirely on your lender's policy and the terms of your specific loan. There is no federal limit on how many deferrals a lender must allow. Some lenders permit only one deferral ever; others allow up to three. A few have no stated limit but evaluate each request individually. You need to contact your lender directly to learn what your loan permits—the answer is not in your promissory note or standard disclosure documents.
Deferral is different from forbearance. A deferral postpones a single payment, usually by 30 to 90 days, and adds it to the end of your loan. A forbearance pauses multiple payments temporarily and may have different rules. This article focuses on single-payment deferrals. If you need to pause several months of payments, ask your lender whether forbearance is available instead.
Key Takeaways
- Contact your lender before your payment is due to ask whether a deferral is available and how many times you can use it on your loan.
- Most lenders allow one deferral per loan, though some permit two or three; there is no federal standard.
- A deferral adds the skipped payment to the end of your loan, extending the payoff date and increasing total interest paid.
- Deferrals typically do not appear on your credit report if you request them before the payment is due, but late fees and credit damage can occur if you miss the deadline.
- If you have already used your deferral allowance, ask about forbearance, loan modification, or a payment plan as alternatives.
Why lenders limit the number of deferrals
Lenders restrict deferrals because each one extends your loan term and increases the total interest you pay. If you defer a payment on a 30-year mortgage, that loan now takes slightly longer to pay off. Multiple deferrals compound the effect. A lender also wants to see that you are making progress toward paying off the debt, not simply postponing it indefinitely.
Deferrals also create administrative work. Each deferral requires the lender to modify your loan account, recalculate your amortization schedule, and track the deferred amount. Lenders limit deferrals partly to manage this cost and partly to discourage borrowers from treating deferral as a routine option rather than an emergency measure.
How to find out your deferral limit
Call your lender's customer service line and ask: "How many times can I defer a payment on this loan?" Have your loan number ready. The representative should be able to tell you immediately whether you have used any deferrals already and how many remain available.
If the representative cannot answer, ask to speak with a loan servicer or someone in the loss mitigation department. That team handles payment arrangements and will have access to your complete deferral history. If your lender is a bank, credit union, or mortgage company, they service the loan themselves. If you pay a third party, that company is your servicer and is the one to contact.
Get the answer in writing if possible. Ask the representative to send you an email or letter confirming how many deferrals you have left. This protects you if you later request a deferral and the lender claims you have exceeded your limit.
What happens when you use a deferral
When you defer a payment, the lender postpones it by 30, 60, or 90 days—the exact period depends on the lender's policy. The skipped payment is not forgiven; it is added to the end of your loan. If you have 240 payments remaining on a 20-year mortgage and you defer one payment, you now have 241 payments remaining, and your payoff date moves back by one month.
The deferred amount typically accrues interest. If your regular payment is $1,200 and you defer it for 60 days, you will owe $1,200 plus interest on that $1,200 for those two months when the deferral period ends. The exact interest depends on your loan's rate and how the lender calculates daily interest.
If you request a deferral before your payment is due, it usually does not trigger a late fee and does not appear on your credit report. The key is timing: you must contact the lender before the payment deadline. If you miss the deadline and then ask for a deferral, the lender may treat it as a late payment, which can damage your credit score and trigger fees.
When you have already used your deferrals
If you have exhausted your deferral allowance and still need payment relief, ask your lender about forbearance. Forbearance pauses multiple payments for a set period—typically three to six months—without requiring you to make them up immediately. At the end of forbearance, you and the lender agree on a repayment plan: you might resume regular payments, pay a lump sum, or add the paused amount to future payments.
You can also ask about a loan modification, which permanently changes the terms of your loan. A modification might lower your interest rate, extend your loan term, or capitalize (add to the principal) the missed payments. Modifications require the lender's approval and typically take several weeks to process.
A payment plan is another option. You and the lender agree that you will pay a reduced amount for a set number of months, then resume your regular payment. This is different from deferral because you are making a payment each month, just a smaller one.
The cost of deferring multiple times
Each deferral extends your loan and increases the total interest paid. On a $300,000 mortgage at 6.5% over 30 years, the total interest is roughly $379,000. If you defer one payment, you add approximately one month of interest to the loan. If you defer three payments over the life of the loan, you add roughly three months of interest—which could amount to $1,500 to $2,000 depending on your rate and balance.
The cost is usually manageable for one or two deferrals. But if you find yourself needing to defer repeatedly, it signals that your current payment is unsustainable. In that case, forbearance or modification is a better option because it addresses the underlying problem rather than postponing it.
Deferral vs. skipping a payment on your own
Do not skip a mortgage payment without contacting your lender first. If you simply do not pay, the lender will report you as late after 30 days. Your credit score will drop, and you will owe a late fee. After 90 days, the delinquency appears on your credit report. After 120 days, the lender may begin foreclosure proceedings.
A requested deferral is different. When you ask in advance, the lender agrees to postpone the payment, and it does not count as a late payment. The distinction matters enormously for your credit and your legal standing. Always ask before you miss a payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I defer a payment if I am already behind?
It depends on the lender and how far behind you are. If you are 30 days late, some lenders will still grant a deferral, but others will not. If you are 60 days or more behind, most lenders will not defer; they will push you toward forbearance or modification instead. Contact your lender immediately to ask what options are available in your situation.
Does a deferral hurt my credit score?
A deferral requested before the payment is due does not appear on your credit report and does not hurt your score. However, if you miss the payment deadline and then ask for a deferral, the late payment may already be reported, and your score will drop. The key is requesting the deferral early.
What if my lender says I have no deferrals left?
Ask about forbearance, loan modification, or a payment plan. These are separate programs with their own rules and do not count against your deferral limit. Forbearance is often the fastest option if you need immediate relief. Modification takes longer but may permanently lower your payment.
Do I have to pay the deferred amount all at once?
No. The deferred payment is added to the end of your loan, so you pay it off gradually as part of your regular amortization schedule. You do not owe a lump sum at the end of the deferral period.
Can I defer a payment on a second mortgage or home equity line of credit?
Some lenders allow deferrals on second mortgages and HELOCs, but the policies vary widely. Contact your lender for that loan to ask. Second mortgages often have stricter deferral policies than first mortgages because they carry more risk for the lender.