Escrow Accounts

An escrow account is an alternative to sending a check or money order for each DMV transaction. You deposit money into the escrow account, and then DMV debits the account to pay for the transaction. New York State DMV customers who frequently process any of the following products and services can establish an escrow account:

• Copies of motor vehicle accident reports by mail-order
• Bulk order driver license abstracts
• DMV Central Office record searches
• DMV Central Office abstract orders
• DIAL-IN account display searches
• DIAL-IN account display abstract orders
• Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests
• License Event Notification Service (LENS) notifications
• Bus driver (Article 19-A) notifications
• Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP) accident prevention course filings
• Motor vehicle title certificate lien filing accounts (paper and electronic lien filings)
• Copies of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law book

Escrow Amount - DMV requires a minimum escrow amount of at least $200 for search accounts. We recommend that you keep enough money in the escrow account to cover 2 months of transactions. To change your escrow amount, send a request to DMV Revenue Accounts on your letterhead. Sign and date your request and include your account number.

Escrow Account Statement - On the last business day of the month, DMV automatically issues a statement of the activity in the escrow account during that month.

Debit - The amount taken, by date, from the escrow account. Details about each debit are not available on your statement. Only the total debit amount by date and type of product or service is available on your statement.

Credit - Payments to your escrow account by date. Payments are posted to your account by 3 p.m. the day they are received.

Balance - The amount in your escrow account available to use. If the balance reaches zero or a negative amount, the account is disabled. You cannot pay for transactions from the account until payment is received and processed. A negative amount indicates that the account is overdrawn.

Monthly Charges to Date - The total debits to your account for the statement period.

Total Charges - The cumulative total of debits to your account.

Escrow Deficiency - Indicates that the balance in your account is less than the required Escrow Amount.

Pay This Amount - The payment amount necessary to return your account balance to the required Escrow Amount.

ACH (Automated Clearing House) Payments - Electronic transfer of funds from your bank account into your escrow account by the DMV website.

Currently, DMV only accepts checks, money orders or Automated Clearing House (ACH) as payments to escrow accounts. Be sure to include your account number with each payment. DMV will return all payments without an account number. Write your check payable to "NYS Department of Motor Vehicles".

Payment by ACH

The ACH service allows you to electronically transfer funds from your business account into your DMV escrow account. The funds are immediately credited to your accounts. This eliminates the need to send your payments by mail. Your account liaison can also update your business address and assign users to the system. You can post payments 24 hours a day/7 days a week so that you never have to worry about running out of money or a delay in replenishing your account. 

To sign up for ACH, download and complete

• Authorization Agreement for Direct Deposits (PDF) (FM-138)
• ACH Liaison Designation (PDF) (FM-139)

Send these forms and a voided check to Revenue Accounts at the address below. You can also send the forms by fax or by email. Once DMV receives your paperwork, DMV will take approximately 2 to 3 weeks to establish your ACH account and liaison. If you have any questions about ACH, contact (518) 474-0888.

Log in to ACH

Payment by Mail

Use the addresses below to add money to your escrow account by check or money order.

If you use ACH, your account liaison can use the system to update your address.  

If you do not use ACH, send a letter to DMV Revenue Accounts at the address below and include your old and new addresses. Put your request on letterhead and sign and date it. Be sure to include your account number.

To close your escrow account, use the contact information below to send a request by mail, fax, or email to DMV Revenue Accounts. Put your request on letterhead and sign and date it. Be sure to include your account number. (If you do not have letterhead, send in the request on your monthly statement.)

If there is any remaining balance in your account, DMV can issue you a refund check or transfer the balance to another escrow account that you have with DMV. When you close the account, let DMV know what you would like to do with the balance, if any, left in your account.