How long do you have to cash a cheque?

Cheques remain a valid mode of payment. This article explores how cheques work, how long they may be valid, and what happens if they expire before they’re cashed.

This article includes tips, suggestions and general information. We recommend that you always do your own research and consider getting independent tax, financial and legal advice before making any important decision.

What is a cheque, and how does it work?

Thousands of Britons still use cheques every year.¹ A cheque is a written order from an individual that instructs their bank to pay a specific amount of money from their account to a person or organisation, whose name is written on the cheque.

Key details on a cheque generally include the date, payee name, amount, and the account holder's signature.

How long are cheques valid for?

In the UK, the value of a cheque may be cashed in or added to an account six months from the date of issue.² This is often referred to as the cheque's validity period. Banks may agree to process cheques older than six months, though there is no guarantee.

How to check if a cheque has expired

The expiry date of a cheque is usually not printed on it. The six-month period normally begins from the date written by the user when it was filled in. A simple way to check if a cheque has expired is by looking at the date written on it.

What happens when a cheque expires?

If a cheque has expired and a bank has rejected it for this reason, a new cheque may be requested from the relevant person or business.

Do cheque books expire?

Unlike cheques, cheque books do not expire.² The validity of a cheque comes from the date written on it by the user. Cheques from a cheque book can be used as long as the bank account associated with the cheque book remains open.

However, a change in the information listed on a cheque book can make the cheques inside invalid. For example, if an owner of a cheque book changes their address, then cheques may still be used if they have the correct account number. But if the account number changes, then the cheque book will likely need to be changed.³

A bank may agree to let someone keep their existing cheque book if they change their name (after a marriage, for example), but a new cheque book can also usually be requested.