Do Money Orders Expire? How Long Are They Good For? Answered

Each money order issuer has a unique policy regarding expiration, but in most cases, your money order will depreciate rather than expire.

The depreciation timeline and amount for your money order will depend on the issuer. It usually takes one to three years for a money order to begin losing value.[1][2][3][4]

I detail each major money order issuer’s policy below — plus your options for what to do with an old money order.

Do Money Orders Expire?

Money orders typically don’t expire, but one to three years after purchase, most issuers will charge service fees when you attempt to cash or refund the money order, meaning it’ll be worth less than it was at the time of purchase.[1][2][3][4]

Service fees typically accrue monthly,[1][4] so the longer you wait to resolve the issue, the less your money order will be worth.

Policies by Issuer

I detail the depreciation policy for each of the major money order issuers below.

I’ve listed the issuers alphabetically so you can easily find the one that matches your money order.

Amscot

• Depreciation policy: Money orders begin depreciating monthly after one year. Amscot will deduct a monthly service charge of $2 from the face value, with a maximum fee of $144.[4][5]

MoneyGram

• Depreciation policy: Once the money order is a year old, MoneyGram will charge a monthly service fee (in the amount displayed on the back of your money order). It will deduct the accumulated service fees from the face value.[1]

United States Postal Service (USPS)

• Depreciation policy: No depreciation; the USPS will pay the exact, full value of the money order, regardless of the original purchase date.[2]

Western Union

• Depreciation policy: Within one to three years of the original purchase date, the money order will begin to depreciate. The exact service fees will appear on the back of your money order.[6][3]

Note that many banks also sell money orders that don’t expire but do depreciate. Policies regarding depreciation and refunds may vary depending on your relationship with the bank, so it’s best to visit a branch for assistance.[7][8][9][10]

What to Do With an Old Money Order

You can cash an old money order to prevent it from depreciating further.[11]

If you were the original buyer, you also have the option to request a replacement or refund.

If you don’t have the original money order in hand, you should first track it to be sure no one has cashed it.

Assuming no one has cashed it, you can get a replacement. This will allow you to resend the money order or fill it out to yourself and cash it.

If you don’t need to resend the money order, you can request a refund.

Note that you’ll need the original receipt or stub to receive a replacement or refund.

Tip: If you have a money order that’s filled out to you or blank, cashing it will be the easiest and least expensive option. If you refund or replace the money order, you’ll pay an additional processing fee — usually anywhere from $12 to $25.[12][2][13][14]

FAQ

How long are money orders from stores like Walmart good for?

Stores don’t issue their own money orders. They serve as authorized agents for MoneyGram or Western Union. The standard MoneyGram or Western Union expiration policy will apply.[15]

Do money order expiration policies vary by state?

The same expiration policy applies nationwide — whether you’re in Maine, Texas, Washington, or anywhere in between. However, the exact amount you’ll pay in service charges does vary by state.[16]

Do money orders have expiration dates or purchase dates printed on them?

Your money order won’t include an expiration date or an exact date when depreciation will begin. However, the front of your money order and the receipt should display the purchase date. The back of your money order will also include printed instructions, which you can use to calculate when your money order will begin to drop in value.[17][18][5]

Find out more in the full money order FAQ.

In Summary

Money orders from most issuers (including MoneyGram, Western Union, and Amscot) generally depreciate over time rather than expiring. However, USPS money orders don’t expire or depreciate.

If you have a blank money order you purchased or an old one that you received, you can cash it to stop it from depreciating further; if you sent one that was never cashed, you can request a replacement or refund.

If you have any questions or want to share your experience with cashing an old money order, feel free to leave a comment below.

1. https://www.moneygram.com/mgo/us/en/help/faq/money-orders[↩][↩][↩][↩]
2. https://www.usps.com/shop/money-orders.htm[↩][↩][↩][↩]
3. https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/money-order.html[↩][↩][↩]
4. https://www.amscot.com/free-money-orders.aspx[↩][↩][↩][↩]
5. Amscot customer service (800) 801-4444[↩][↩]
6. https://wucare.westernunion.com/s/article/Do-money-orders-have-an-expiration-date?language=en_US[↩]
7. https://www.wellsfargo.com/online-banking/service-fees/[↩]
8. https://www.chase.com/content/dam/chase-ux/documents/personal/checking/ABSF-en.pdf[↩]
9. Chase Bank branch customer service representatives[↩]
10. Fifth Third Bank branch customer service representatives[↩]
11. Western Union customer service via live chat[↩]
12. https://www.amscot.com/resources/MoneyOrderClaimForm819EN.pdf[↩]
13. https://wucare.westernunion.com/s/article/How-do-I-request-a-money-order-refund?language=en_US[↩]
14. https://www.moneygram.com/mgo/us/en/help/faq/money-orders/[↩]
15. Walmart store customer service representatives[↩]
16. https://wucare.westernunion.com/s/article/Do-money-orders-have-an-expiration-date?language=en_US[↩]
17. Western Union customer service via live chat[↩]
18. https://www.usps.com/shop/money-orders.htm[↩]