Where to Get a Money Order

Even though many people argue that the use of electronic money has reduced the use of money orders, the later is still quite popular in various parts of the world, including the United States. Today, many people resort to money orders as one of the most effective measures of money transfer. You would seldom come across anybody who would need an introduction to what is a money order. Even though the process of money order purchasing is quite easy, many people are confused about where it can be bought from. Simply put, money orders can be bought from any of the US Post Offices, but there do exist other sources from where you can buy money orders. Before we move on to see where to get a money order from, you need to understand that money order and cashiers checks are two different financial tools. The most prominent point of difference in the money order vs cashiers check comparison stresses on is that a cashiers check can be bought only from financial institutions, while a money order can be bought from various other sources as well.

Where to Get a Money Order From?

In the United States, you can purchase a money order from any of the branches of the US Post along with the various banks and convenience stores. Before buying it though, you need to take a few things into consideration. Money order cost will depend on the type of money order as well the amount of money you send. The maximum amount that you can send using a single domestic money order is $1,000 and the maximum you can send by an international money order is $700. A domestic money order will cost you $1.10 for $0.01 to $500.00 and $1.50 for $500.01 to $1,000.00. An international money order, on the other hand, will cost you $3.85 for an amount up to $700. You do have the facility of sending more than one money order in a day but the total amount should not exceed the specified limit imposed by the law. In case of domestic money orders, you will require a government-issued identification with a photograph for money order exceed $3,000. In case of international money order, you can send as many money orders as you want but the total amount should not exceed $10,000. When you fill out a money order, you need to give payee information as well as that of the payer's. You have to make sure that you give the correct information, and ideally keep a photocopy of the same with you.

Where to Get a Money Order Cashed?

When it comes to money orders, how to cash them is yet another frequently asked question about them. The process of cashing a money order is a bit more confusing as compared to purchasing or sending it. In the United States, you can get your money order cashed at the local post office. If the total amount is more than $3,000, you will have to produce a government-issued identification to cash the money. You may also come across a situation wherein your local post office may not have the amount of cash that is stipulated in the money order, and thus you may have no option but to visit the head post office to get it cashed. You are more likely to face such a situation when the amount of money being transferred is large. Some banks do facilitate cashing of money orders, but only when the name of the bank is specifically mentioned in the money order. While other sources such as commercial check cashing companies and convenience stores from where you purchase the money order may provide you with the cashing facility, they will charge a stipulated amount as the processing fee for the same.

Now that you are well versed with all the information about where to get a money order and where to get it cashed from, you can resort to this simple method of money transfer in your day-to-day life. The fact that postal money order system comes directly under the government jurisdiction makes it more reliable than any other measure of money transfer. More importantly, newly introduced safety measures, such as Unique Identification Number - which helps in international money order tracking, add to the security features of US Postal Money Order, and make it more reliable than any other means.