The cost of fingerprinting at a police station varies widely depending on location and the reason for fingerprinting.
Local police departments often charge between $17 and $27 for an initial fingerprinting service, which typically includes two fingerprint cards. Additional fingerprint cards usually cost an extra $2 to $5 each[1]. Some departments, such as in Prince William County, VA, offer fingerprinting for as low as $5 for the first two cards, with each extra card also costing $5[6].
For electronic fingerprinting (such as Live Scan), costs can also fluctuate. In some areas, this service is priced around $12.50[1]. New Jersey’s electronic fingerprinting for licensing and background checks, for example, costs $66.05 total[7].
Fingerprinting required for federal background checks (such as an FBI Identity History Summary) has a fixed price of $18 per person[1].
A few other examples include:
- Connecticut State Police: $15 fingerprinting fee[2]
- New York City Police Department (non-criminal fingerprints): $25 for the first set, $1 for each additional card[4]
- University-associated police (e.g., UMBC): $30 for ink fingerprinting; fingerprint cards are $5 each[5]
- New York State (teacher certification and select licenses): $101.25 (Live Scan electronic capture)[8]
Most police departments accept payment by certified check, money order, or credit/debit card, but it’s important to confirm accepted payment methods in advance. Costs and procedures can also depend on state laws and the purpose of fingerprinting (e.g., employment, licensing, immigration, or background checks).
References
- [1] How Much Does Police Fingerprinting Cost? – CountyOffice.org
- [2] State Police Bureau of Identification – CT.gov
- [4] Record Requests – NYPD – NYC.gov
- [5] Fingerprint Services – Police Department – UMBC
- [6] Fingerprinting Services – Prince William County
- [7] Live Scan: Electronic Fingerprinting Process – NJ.gov
- [8] Fingerprint Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) | New York State
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