Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between Pay Order and Demand Draft

Pay Order vs Demand Draft | Banker’s Check (Cheque) vs Demand Draft

What do you do when you need to transfer money in somebody else’s account? You can either issue a cheque in the name of the party or you can get a pay order or a demand draft made in the name of the party from a bank. What are pay order and demand draft, and how are they similar and different? Many people think they are same but the fact is that they are totally different instruments issued by banks. Let us take a closer look.

There are times in student life when one needs to pay money to appear in a exam and the institution or college requires a small amount of money through either a pay order or a demand draft. Why do colleges require these two instruments and not the cheque issued by your dad? The reason is simple. If you give a cheque, the college is not sure of the payment and may not have time to wait for the cheque to get clear as they are processing thousands of applications. One advantage of these two instruments is that they are both prepaid in the sense that you either pay the amount up front by depositing it in the bank, or the amount is deducted from your bank account before the bank issues a pay order or a demand draft in favor of third party for the desired amount. Why parties insist on a pay order or a demand draft is that they get immediate cash when they present them in a bank. Another point of difference with cheque is that these two do not require any signature appended at the bottom so there is no fear of them being dishonored.

If the party you wish to send money is out station, you need to get a demand draft made in his favor. On the other hand, pay orders are applicable for payment within the city and you cannot get a pay order made if the party is in any other city. Pay order is also called banker’s cheque and is usually cleared in the same branch that issued it. But this is a headache of the bank and not the party that receives it as he can deposit it in any branch of the bank in the city and also get the money without any delay. There is a maximum limit on pay orders and if you wish to have a pay order of higher denomination made, you need to get it made through your own account.

In brief:

Difference Between Pay Order and Demand Draft

• Both pay orders and demand drafts are safe and secure methods of making payments to third parties

• Pay orders are payable locally only. You cannot make payment through a pay order if the party is in any other city.

• To make payments to third part outside the city, you need to get a demand draft made in favor of the party by paying the amount to the bank or getting it made with your account.