Escrow accounts

 

Log in to ACH at https://secap.dmv.ny.gov/vpass/

What is an escrow account?

New York State DMV customers who frequently process any or all of the DMV products and services listed below can establish an escrow account.

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 the account is debited to pay for the transaction.


What DMV products and services can I use my escrow account to pay for?

Your escrow account can be used to pay for

  • Copies of motor vehicle accident reports by mail-order
  • Bulk order driver license record 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 19A) notifications
  • Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP) accident prevention course filings
  • Motor vehicle title certificate lien filing accounts (includes paper and electronic lien filings)
  • Copies of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Lawbook


DMV Revenue Accounts mailing addresses and fax number

Use these addresses to add money to your escrow account by check or money order or to send correspondence:

By regular mail

DMV Revenue Accounts
PO Box 2409
Albany, NY 12220-0409

By express or overnight mail

DMV Revenue Accounts
Room 233A
6 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12228

 

Fax number: 

518-486-1191

Email:  

[email protected] 


Escrow Account Definitions

Escrow Amount - The 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, you must send a request to DMV Revenue Accounts on your letterhead. The request must be signed and dated and include the account number.

Escrow Account Statement - On the last business day of the month, the 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 from your statement. Only the total debit amount by date and type of product or service is available from your statement.

Credit - Payments to your escrow account by date. Payments are posted to your account by 3:00 pm on 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 via the DMV website.


How do I put money in my escrow account?

Currently, the DMV can only accept checks, money orders, or ACH (Automated Clearing House) as payments to escrow accounts. Make sure to include your account number with payments. Payments received without account numbers will be returned. Checks should be made payable to "NYS Department of Motor Vehicles".


Payment by mail

Use the DMV Revenue Accounts addresses provided above to make payments by regular, express, or overnight mail.


Payment by ACH

This service allows you to electronically transfer funds from your bank account into your DMV escrow account via the DMV website at https://secap.dmv.ny.gov/vpass/.  The funds are immediately credited to your account. This will eliminate the need to send your payments by mail. Your account liaison will also be able to update your business address and assign users to the system. You can post payment 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, whenever needed so that you don’t have to worry about running out of money or delays in replenishing your account.

If you are interested in signing up for this service, you must download and complete these forms

Authorization Agreement for Direct Deposits (PDF) (FM-138)

ACH Liaison Designation (PDF) (FM-139)

Send both forms and a voided check to:

Revenue Accounts
NYS Department of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 2409, Albany NY 12228.

You can also send these forms to us by fax at 518-486-1191 or email at [email protected]. It will take approximately 2-3 weeks to set up your ACH account and liaison once received.

If you have any questions about ACH, you may contact us at 518-474-0888.


How do I update my address?

If your address changes, you must notify DMV Revenue Accounts.

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

If you do not use ACH, you must send a letter to DMV Revenue Accounts with your old and new addresses. The request must be on your letterhead, must include your account number, and must be signed and dated.


How do I close my account?

To close your escrow account, send a request to close your account by mail, fax, or email to DMV Revenue Accounts. The request must be on your letterhead, must include your account number, and must be signed and dated. If you do not have letterhead, you can send in the request on your monthly statement.

If there is a remaining balance in your account, you can have a refund check issued, or you can have the balance transferred to another escrow account that you have with DMV.  When you close the account, please be sure to let us know what you want to be done with the remaining balance, if any, left in your account.

 

 

Escrow Account Live Chat

For your convenience, many DMV PDF forms can be filled in online and then printed.