How to avoid PDT rule?

Asked by: Lori Jones  |  Last update: February 13, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (35 votes)

5 Ways to Avoid the PDT Rule
  1. Option 1: Increase Your Capital to at least $25,000.
  2. Option 2: Open a Cash Account.
  3. Option 3: Switch from day trading to swing trading.
  4. Option 4: Trade Forex or Futures.
  5. Option 5: Utilize a Proprietary Trading Firm.

How do I not get flagged as a PDT?

  • Maintain a Balance Above $25,000 : The PDT rule applies to accounts with less than $25,000.
  • Use a Cash Account : Switching to a cash account instead of a margin account means you won't be subject to the PDT rule.
  • Trade Less Frequently
  • Diversify Trading Strategies
  • Consider Other Brokerages

Is there a way to get around the PDT rule?

Using a cash account is probably the easiest way to avoiding the PDT rule. The only set back with a cash account is you can only use settled funds. This means when you buy or sell a stock in a cash account, the money takes 1 day (T1) to settle before you can use it again.

What happens if you are flagged as a PDT but have over $25,000?

When a customer with more than $25,000 is flagged as a PDT, the customer can day trade for unlimited times if he/she has sufficient day-trading buying power(DTBP).

Can you day trade options without PDT rule?

If you want to day trade legally without breaking PDT rules, you need to apply for a margin account. It would give you buying power equal to four times the balance in your account. You can inform your broker beforehand when filling out your account opening form that you would be day trading in your account.

The Pattern Day Trader Rule & How to Avoid It

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What is the best broker to avoid the PDT rule?

1. Capital Markets Elite Group (CMEG) If you're looking for a no-PDT broker, Capital Markets Elite Group (CMEG) is a viable option. Since this company operates outside the U.S. (it's based in the Cayman Islands), it's not subject to the same rules as U.S.-based brokerage firms.

How long does the PDT flag last?

PDT policy update FAQ

Our pattern day trading (PDT) policy changed on September 5, 2023. Per FINRA regulation, PDT flags will remain on your account indefinitely, outside of extraordinary circumstances.

What is the 3-5-7 rule in trading?

The 3 5 7 rule is a risk management strategy in trading that emphasizes limiting risk on each individual trade to 3% of the trading capital, keeping overall exposure to 5% across all trades, and ensuring that winning trades yield at least 7% more profit than losing trades.

What happens if I break the PDT rule?

Regulatory action: Violating the PDT Rule may also result in regulatory action by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). This may result in fines, penalties, or other disciplinary action.

What is a good faith violation?

Good Faith Violation – A good faith violation takes place when you purchase a security with cash that has not yet settled, and then you sell that security before the proceeds to cover the purchase have settled.

How do I remove PDT restrictions?

You may call 855-525-7634 and request to use your one-time reset request. The removal of the restriction may take 1-2 business days. Note, any in-flight day trades will be considered at the time of your next day trade and may result in the re-implementation of the restriction.

What is the 6% PDT rule?

What is a pattern day trader? If you make four or more day trades over the course of any five business days, and those trades account for more than 6% of your account activity over that time period, your margin account will be flagged as a pattern day trader account.

How can I avoid PDT rule with small account?

By not opening and closing a position within one day, you can avoid the PDT rule entirely. Only open and close trades when one day has passed, you can save up your 3-free intraday trades for emergencies when you need to get out of a position. Trade Futures.

How to escape PDT rule?

5 Ways to Avoid the PDT Rule
  1. Option 1: Increase Your Capital to at least $25,000.
  2. Option 2: Open a Cash Account.
  3. Option 3: Switch from day trading to swing trading.
  4. Option 4: Trade Forex or Futures.
  5. Option 5: Utilize a Proprietary Trading Firm.

Why do day traders have to have $25,000?

Why Do I Have to Maintain Minimum Equity of $25,000? Day trading can be extremely risky—both for the day trader and for the brokerage firm that clears the day trader's transactions. Even if you end the day with no open positions, the trades you made while day trading most likely have not yet settled.

How do I reset my PDT status?

Once inside the Risk Monitoring section, select the account you wish to reset by clicking under Current Account if you have multiple accounts. Scroll down to the Reset Pattern Day Trader (PDT) Status section. If your margin account is eligible for a reset then click the green RESET PDT STATUS button.

How do I get out of PDT?

What are some ways for new traders to get around the PDT rule?
  1. Use a cash account. ...
  2. Divide that capital up into multiple margin accounts. ...
  3. Open an offshore trading account. ...
  4. Buy and swing trade overnight. ...
  5. Keep track of your 3 day trades. ...
  6. Use your day trades ONLY if you see a quality set up.

Which US broker has no PDT rule?

One of the best online brokers with no PDT rule is CMEG Group. They allow you to trade with no restrictions. The PDT rule is one that most traders have to adhere to if they want to trade with a margin and are below 25k in their brokerage account. So, how do you get around that?

Is it legal to buy and sell the same stock repeatedly?

There are no restrictions on placing multiple buy orders to buy the same stock more than once in a day, and you can place multiple sell orders to sell the same stock in a single day. The FINRA restrictions only apply to buying and selling the same stock within the designated five-trading-day period.

What is the 11am rule in trading?

The 11 a.m. trading rule is a general guideline used by traders based on historical observations throughout trading history. It stipulates that if there has not been a trend reversal by 11 a.m. EST, the chance that an important reversal will occur becomes smaller during the rest of the trading day.

What is the 70 20 10 rule in trading?

The 70:20:10 rule helps safeguard SIPs by allocating 70% to low-risk, 20% to medium-risk, and 10% to high-risk investments, ensuring stability, balanced growth, and high returns while managing market fluctuations.

How to get rid of PDT flag?

A pattern day trading flag can only be removed one time from your account. If the account is later reflagged as PDT, the flag will remain on the account. Remember that the $25,000 equity balance is the key. If you don't meet that requirement, you won't be allowed to day trade consistently.

What is a day trader's salary?

The estimated total pay for a Day Trader is $127,259 per year, with an average salary of $102,993 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.

How to day trade without 25k?

You can day trade without $25k by using brokers that bypass the Pattern Day Trader (PDT) rule, applicable mainly in U.S. stock markets. Forex and futures markets offer lower entry barriers with different regulations. Alternatively, consider swing trading, which involves holding positions for longer than a single day.