State rankings
Bad Check Laws by State
Maryland has the highest Service Fees (USD) ($35.00), followed by Ohio ($30.00) and Washington ($30.00). West Virginia has the lowest ($10.00).
Service Fees (USD)Better directionWhether a higher or a lower value is better. A green arrow means higher is better, a red arrow means lower is better, and no arrow means neither.More in the glossary →
50 of 51 statesService Fees (USD)
Green is better, red is worse (lower is better). Click a place to highlight it.
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All 50 ranked
Best first.
Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →
Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.
Median
$25.00
Middle half $21.25 – $30.00
Average
$25.20
50 states
Lowest (best)
$10.00
West Virginia
Highest (worst)
$35.00
Maryland
Data
Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.
50 states · # = rank by Service Fees (USD)
| # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  West Virginia | <$500 | >$500 | $10.00 | — |
| 2 |  New York | All amounts | — | $20.00 | Fee may be lesser amount if contracted. |
| 2 |  North Carolina | All amounts | >$2,000 | $20.00 | — |
| 2 |  New Jersey | <$200 | >$200 | $20.00 | — |
| 2 |  Tennessee | <$100 | >$100 | $20.00 | — |
| 2 |  Indiana | All other amounts | >$2,500 if property acquired was a motor vehicle | $20.00 | Fee rises to 5% for checks of more than $400, up to a maximum fee of $250. |
| 2 |  Missouri | <$150 | >$150 | $20.00 | — |
| 2 |  Minnesota | All amounts | — | $20.00 | For checks below $30, fee may be actual check amount instead. |
| 2 |  Utah | <$300 | >$300 | $20.00 | — |
| 2 |  Iowa | >$20 | >$20 | $20.00 | Fee rises to 5% for checks of more than $400. |
| 2 |  New Mexico | <$25 | >$25 | $20.00 | — |
| 2 |  Idaho | All amounts | — | $20.00 | — |
| 2 |  North Dakota | All amounts | May be felony if repeat offense | $20.00 | — |
| 14 |  California | At discretion of court | All amounts | $25.00 | Fee is $25 for first check, $35 for each subsequent check. |
| 14 |  Texas | All amounts | — | $25.00 | — |
| 14 |  Florida | <$50 | >$50 | $25.00 | Fee rises to 5% for checks of more than $500. |
| 14 |  Pennsylvania | <$75,000 | >$75,000 | $25.00 | Fee provided that prior written notice was given at time check was issued. |
| 14 |  Illinois | All amounts | >$150 if subsequent offense | $25.00 | Fee may instead be all costs, including attorneys fees. |
| 14 |  Georgia | <$500 | >$500 | $25.00 | Fee rises to 5% for checks of more than $500. |
| 14 |  Michigan | <$50 | >$50 | $25.00 | — |
| 14 |  Virginia | <$200 | >$200 | $25.00 | — |
| 14 |  Arizona | All amounts | — | $25.00 | Bank charge may be subbed for fee. |
| 14 |  Massachusetts | <$100 | >$100 | $25.00 | — |
| 14 |  South Carolina | All amounts | — | $25.00 | — |
| 14 |  Kentucky | <$3000 | >$300 | $25.00 | — |
| 14 |  Louisiana | <$100 | >$100 | $25.00 | Fee rises to 5% for checks of more than $500. |
| 14 |  Oregon | <$75 | >$75 | $25.00 | — |
| 14 |  Nevada | <$100 | >$100 | $25.00 | — |
| 14 |  Arkansas | <$200 | >$200 | $25.00 | — |
| 14 |  Maine | — | All Amounts | $25.00 | — |
| 14 |  Rhode Island | <$100 | >$100 | $25.00 | — |
| 14 |  Delaware | <$1,500 | >$1,500 | $25.00 | — |
| 14 |  Alaska | <$500 | >$500 | $25.00 | — |
| 14 |  Vermont | All amounts | — | $25.00 | — |
| 35 |  Ohio | <$150 | >$150 | $30.00 | Fee becomes 10% for checks over $300. |
| 35 |  Washington | <$250 | ->$250 | $30.00 | — |
| 35 |  Colorado | $100 to $500 | >$500 | $30.00 | Fee may be revised to equal 20% of check amount. |
| 35 |  Wisconsin | <$1,000 | >$1,000 | $30.00 | — |
| 35 |  Alabama | All Amounts | — | $30.00 | If bank charge is more than $30, fee amount rises to equal bank charge. |
| 35 |  Oklahoma | <$50 | >$50 | $30.00 | — |
| 35 |  Connecticut | >$1,000 | >$1,000 | $30.00 | — |
| 35 |  Kansas | <$500 | >$500 | $30.00 | — |
| 35 |  Mississippi | <$100 | >$100 | $30.00 | — |
| 35 |  Nebraska | <$300 | >$300 | $30.00 | — |
| 35 |  Hawaii | All amounts | — | $30.00 | — |
| 35 |  New Hampshire | <$500 | >$500 | $30.00 | — |
| 35 |  Montana | <$300 | >$300 | $30.00 | — |
| 35 |  South Dakota | <$500 | >$500 | $30.00 | — |
| 35 |  Wyoming | <$500 | >$500 | $30.00 | — |
| 50 |  Maryland | <$500 | >$500 | $35.00 | — |
What correlates with Service Fees (USD)?
Pearson r against 2,092 other state metrics sharing at least 30 states. Correlation is not causation.
Higher together
Places that have a higher Service Fees (USD) tend to score higher on these
Opposite directions
Places that have a higher Service Fees (USD) tend to score lower on these
Quick answers
- Which state has the highest Service Fees (USD)?
- Maryland has the highest Service Fees (USD), at $35.00, followed by Ohio ($30.00) and Washington ($30.00).
- Which state has the lowest Service Fees (USD)?
- West Virginia has the lowest Service Fees (USD), at $10.00.
- What is the median Service Fees (USD) across US states?
- The median is $25.00 across the 50 US states with data.
- Where does this bad check laws by state data come from?
- Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Stevens & Ricci; Communications Credit & Recovery; SEllmann & Ellmann P.C; MurrayPhillips P.A.