You cannot buy a money order directly with a credit card at most places
Most money order sellers — post offices, grocery stores, check-cashing shops, and Western Union locations — do not accept credit cards as payment. They want cash or a debit card. This is a deliberate policy, not an accident. Money orders are meant to move cash-like value, and the sellers want to avoid the fraud risk and fees that come with credit card transactions.
If you try to pay with a credit card, you will be turned away. The exception is rare: some online money order services do accept credit cards, but they charge extra fees and the process is slower than walking into a store with cash.
The real question most people are asking is different: "I need cash or a money order but I don't have cash on hand. Can I use my credit card to get it?" The answer is yes, but you need an intermediate step.
Key Takeaways
- Money order sellers do not accept credit cards directly, so you cannot walk in and charge a money order to your card.
- You can withdraw cash from an ATM using your credit card (called a cash advance), then use that cash to buy a money order, but this costs you a fee and interest charges.
- A better option is to use your credit card to pay a bill directly or transfer money to someone's bank account, which avoids the money order step entirely.
- If you need a money order for a specific reason — like paying rent or a court fee — check whether the recipient will accept a different payment method first.
How to get cash from your credit card to buy a money order
A cash advance is when you use your credit card at an ATM to withdraw cash. You can then take that cash to any money order seller and buy one. This works, but it costs you money.
When you take a cash advance, your card issuer charges you a cash advance fee — usually 3% to 5% of the amount you withdraw, with a minimum fee of $5 to $10. So if you withdraw $200, you might pay $6 to $10 just for the withdrawal. On top of that, cash advances start accruing interest immediately, with no grace period. Your interest rate on a cash advance is often higher than your regular purchase rate. You will pay interest every single day until you pay the balance back.
To take a cash advance: go to an ATM that displays your card's logo, insert your card, select "cash advance" or "withdraw cash," enter your PIN, and choose the amount. The money comes out immediately. Then you can walk to a post office, grocery store, or check-cashing location and buy your money order with that cash.
Why a cash advance is expensive and what it costs you
Let's say you need a $500 money order. You take a $500 cash advance. Your card charges a 5% fee ($25) and a 25% annual interest rate. If you pay the balance back in one month, you will owe roughly $35 in fees and interest combined. If you take three months to pay it back, you could owe $50 or more.
A money order itself costs $1 to $3 depending on where you buy it. So your total cost is the cash advance fee plus interest plus the money order fee. For a $500 transaction, you are looking at $30 to $55 in costs if you pay within a few months.
This is why a cash advance should be a last resort, not your first choice. The fees and interest add up fast, and you are borrowing at a high rate.
Better alternatives to using a credit card for a money order
Before you take a cash advance, ask yourself: does the person or organization actually need a money order, or do they just need the money?
If you owe rent, many landlords now accept online payment through apps like Venmo, PayPal, or their own tenant portal. If you owe a court fee or government fine, you can often pay by credit card directly on the government website. If you are sending money to a friend or family member, you can use Venmo, PayPal, or a bank transfer instead.
If the recipient truly requires a money order — which is rare outside of formal legal or government settings — and you do not have cash, consider these options first:
- Ask a friend or family member to lend you cash, then pay them back with your credit card payment or bank transfer.
- Use a debit card instead if you have one, since debit cards are accepted at money order sellers and do not carry the fees and interest of a cash advance.
- Wait until you have cash on hand from your next paycheck or income.
- Ask the recipient whether they will accept a different form of payment or a delayed payment.
Online money order services that accept credit cards
A small number of online services will sell you a money order and accept credit card payment. MoneyGram and Western Union both offer online money order purchases through their websites, and some accept credit cards.
The tradeoff is cost and speed. Online money orders typically charge higher fees than in-person ones — sometimes $5 to $10 per order instead of $1 to $3. You also have to wait for delivery by mail, which takes several business days, whereas an in-person money order is ready immediately. And you still need to provide your credit card information to a third party, which carries a small fraud risk.
Online money orders make sense only if you cannot leave your home, you need the money order mailed to someone else, or you are in a location with no nearby money order sellers. For most people, they are not worth the extra cost and delay.
What happens to your credit score when you take a cash advance
A cash advance does not directly hurt your credit score the way a missed payment does. However, it does two things that can indirectly harm your score:
First, it increases your credit utilization — the percentage of your available credit that you are using. If you have a $5,000 credit limit and you take a $500 cash advance, your utilization jumps from 0% to 10% (or higher if you already had a balance). High utilization can lower your score by a few points.
Second, if you cannot pay the cash advance balance quickly, the interest charges will grow, and you may end up carrying a larger balance on your card. A larger balance means higher utilization for longer, which keeps your score depressed.
The score damage is usually small and temporary if you pay the balance back within a month or two. But it is one more reason to avoid a cash advance unless you truly have no other option.
When you actually need a money order and have no cash
If you are in a situation where a money order is genuinely required — for example, a court is demanding payment by money order, or a landlord will not accept any other form of payment — and you have no cash and no debit card, then a cash advance is your only option. In that case, do it, but pay the balance back as quickly as possible to minimize interest charges.
Before you do, call the recipient and confirm they will not accept a check, online payment, or credit card payment directly. Many organizations say they require a money order out of habit, but they will accept other forms of payment if you ask. You might save yourself the cash advance fee entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a credit card to buy a money order at Walmart or the post office?
No. Walmart, the U.S. Postal Service, and most other money order sellers only accept cash or debit cards. You cannot charge a money order to a credit card at the counter. Your only option is to withdraw cash using a cash advance, then buy the money order with that cash.
Is a cash advance cheaper than a payday loan?
It depends on the amount and how long you carry the balance. A cash advance typically charges 3% to 5% upfront plus 20% to 30% annual interest. A payday loan charges a flat fee (often $15 to $30 per $100 borrowed) but is meant to be repaid in two weeks. For small amounts repaid quickly, a payday loan might cost less. For larger amounts or longer repayment periods, a cash advance is usually cheaper. Compare the total cost before you choose.
What if I do not have a PIN for my credit card?
You will need a PIN to take a cash advance at an ATM. If you do not have one, call your card issuer and request one. They can set it up over the phone or mail it to you. This takes a few days, so plan ahead if you know you will need a cash advance.
Can I use a credit card cash advance to pay rent directly instead of buying a money order?
Yes, and you should. If your landlord accepts online payment, bank transfer, or credit card payment, use the cash advance to pay them directly and skip the money order entirely. You will save the $1 to $3 money order fee. Just remember that the cash advance fee and interest still apply.
Does taking a cash advance hurt my credit immediately?
Not immediately, but it can lower your score within a few days as the balance appears on your credit report and increases your utilization ratio. The damage is usually small — a few points — and temporary if you pay the balance back quickly. Missed payments and defaults hurt your score far more than a cash advance does.