A mobile notary usually costs the notarial fee plus a travel fee, and often an after-hours surcharge. Guides put typical totals at about $50 to $150. The notarial fee is capped in most states, but travel fees often are not, so ask for an itemized quote before you book.
How much does a mobile notary cost in total?
The total is the state-capped notarial fee, plus travel, plus any after-hours, rush, or special-document charges. A notary guide puts the typical total for a mobile notary at $50 to $150, against an office notary’s fee of $2 to $15 per signature. The table shows what makes up a quote.
| Cost part | What it is | Who sets it |
| Notarial fee | The fee per signature or per act | Capped by state law in most states; the notary sets it in some |
| Travel fee | Payment for coming to you, by flat rate, mileage, or time | Set by statute, rules, guidelines, or the notary, depending on the state |
| After-hours surcharge | Extra for evenings, weekends, holidays, or rush | Usually the notary, where state law permits |
| Special documents | Loan signings and complex packages | Often paid by the title company or lender, not the signer |
| Extras | Printing, scanning, waiting time, extra signers | The notary; ask for them in writing |
The $50 to $150 range comes from a notary guide, which also says an office notary’s fee is typically $2 to $15 per signature and that you should confirm the total cost upfront with a quote that includes the notarization fee, travel, and any after-hours surcharge (Verified Notary USA). Treat it as a rough guide, because your state and distance change the number.
What is the notary’s own fee?
Most states cap the notarial fee, and it is usually small. Alabama, Florida, Indiana, and North Carolina cap an act at $10, California at $15, Missouri and Oklahoma at $5, and New York at $2 per person. Some states set no maximum, so the notary decides what to charge.
| State (examples) | Notarial fee cap | Note |
| Alabama, Florida, Indiana, North Carolina | $10 per act | NNA fee chart, 2026 |
| California | $15 per signature | Travel not capped, per a California fee guide |
| Missouri, Oklahoma | $5 per act | Travel fees follow state guidelines or the notary’s rate |
| Texas | $10 first signature, $1 each additional | Notary may set travel fees |
| New York | $2 per person | Notary may set travel fees |
| New Jersey | $2.50 (other amounts for real estate) | Notary may set travel fees |
| Louisiana, Kentucky, Iowa, Kansas | No set fee | Some require telling you the fee in advance |
These figures come from the National Notary Association’s 2026 notary fees by state, last updated September 16, 2026. The same page says Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, and Maine let notaries charge a reasonable fee but require them to disclose it in advance, and that notaries in states including Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Texas, and Utah must post or provide a written fee schedule. Ask for yours.
How are mobile notary travel fees set?
It depends on your state. Some states set travel fees, some use mileage-based rates, some publish guidelines, and many let the notary set their own. That is why two mobile notaries can quote very different prices for the same signature. A written quote that separates travel from the notarial fee protects you.
| How your state handles travel | States (per the NNA) |
| Set travel fees | District of Columbia, Idaho, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Virginia |
| Mileage-based rates | Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Utah, Wyoming |
| Travel fee guidelines | Arkansas, California, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Washington |
| Notary sets own travel fee | Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin |
This grouping is from the NNA fee page, and the NNA has a longer guide to notary travel fees. Missouri’s handbook adds that a travel fee must be agreed in advance and explained as separate from the notarial fee (Missouri Notary Handbook). One California fee guide estimates Los Angeles travel fees at $25 to $75 depending on distance and time (Mr. Fingerprints), but that is a local, provider-reported figure.
What do after-hours, weekend, and holiday visits add?
Evening, weekend, and holiday visits often cost more, usually as a surcharge on top of the notarial and travel fees. Providers report surcharges from about $25 to $50, or a multiple of the normal rate. State law may limit what a notary can add, so ask what the surcharge is before you agree.
• A mobile notary guide says after-hours signing, such as evenings, weekends, or holidays, can add a surcharge of $25 to $50 (Rush In Documentation).
• A notary pricing guide says after-hours, weekends, and holidays command 1.5x to 2x standard rates, and holidays can run higher (The Bearded Notary).
• A notary marketplace says evening, weekend, and holiday appointments frequently include an added fee, where permitted by state law (StampSpot).
These are provider-reported figures, not statutes, and they vary by market. The reliable move is to book a daytime weekday slot when you can and to get the full price in writing first.
What do loan signings and special documents cost?
Loan signing agents typically charge more than a basic notary because the documents are long and the work is specialized. A guide puts loan signing fees at $75 to $200 per appointment, usually paid by the title company or lender rather than the borrower. Ask your closing agent who pays before you book anyone.
Verified Notary USA says loan signing agents typically charge $75 to $200 per appointment, paid by the title company or lender, and that many have extra training such as the National Notary Association’s Certified Signing Agent designation (Verified Notary USA). The CFPB says the closing or settlement agent, often a title company, escrow company, or attorney, handles the legal transfer of title and the documents (CFPB), so the closing agent usually arranges the notary for a mortgage closing.
How does a virtual notary compare on cost?
A virtual notary, or online notary, has no travel fee because you meet by video. Online prices are set by the platform within any state cap for remote acts. Many states cap a remote act at $25, a few set higher, and some do not allow remote notarization yet. Compare the total, not only the notary fee.
| State (examples) | Remote notarization fee rule (NNA, 2026) |
| Florida, Indiana, Oklahoma, Illinois, Virginia | Up to $25 |
| Nevada | $25 per signature for acknowledgment and jurat |
| Maryland, Ohio | $30 (Ohio also allows up to a $10 technology fee) |
| Missouri | $5 plus a separate remote transaction fee |
| Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina | Remote notarization not permitted |
| California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, D.C. | Remote notarization not yet implemented |
BlueNotary’s published rates are $25 for one signer and one stamp, $8 for each extra stamp, and $5 for each extra signer, with a witness free if you bring one and $10 if BlueNotary provides one (checked October 2026, fee schedule). A hypothetical comparison: a two-signer document with one stamp is $30 online. With a mobile notary it could be a $10 notarial fee, $1 for the second signature in Texas, and a travel fee of $25 to $75, or about $36 to $86 before any surcharge. The cheaper choice depends on your state and distance.
Online is not available everywhere. North Carolina’s Secretary of State says emergency video notarization continues until the first remote electronic notarization license is issued (NC Secretary of State), and Alabama allows remote ink notarization on paper rather than full online notarization (BlueNotary Alabama help article). The steps for BlueNotary follow its signer instructions, last updated July 14, 2026, with accepted IDs in its identity guide. Its documents page lists exclusions. For signature-only documents, BlueNotary’s eSign may be enough. See the guide to how online notarization works, the pricing page, and the remote online notarization page.
How can you lower the cost of a mobile notary?
Get an itemized quote, bring everything in one visit, and avoid after-hours slots. Check free options first, such as a bank notary for customers, and consider an online notary if you have no need for someone to come to you. Ask about minimum fees, because many mobile notaries set one.
• Ask for an itemized quote that separates the notarial fee, travel, and any surcharge.
• Put all signers and documents in one visit; extra signers are cheaper than a second trip.
• Book a weekday daytime slot to avoid surcharges.
• Check free options. TD Bank says it offers free notary services to customers (TD Bank), and Bank of America lists notary service at no cost to customers in many financial centers (Bank of America).
• Compare a virtual notary, which has no travel fee, if your state and recipient allow it.
• Have the document complete and unsigned, and every signer’s ID ready, so you do not pay for waiting time.
Skip the travel fee? Notarize Online with BlueNotary from $25 after you confirm the receiving party accepts it.
FAQs
Q1: How much does a mobile notary charge?
Typically the state-capped notarial fee plus travel and sometimes an after-hours surcharge. Guides put typical totals at about $50 to $150, but prices vary by state and distance.
Q2: Can a mobile notary charge any travel fee?
In many states the notary sets the travel fee, according to the National Notary Association. Other states set travel fees, use mileage rates, or publish guidelines. Ask for a written quote.
Q3: Do mobile notaries charge more on weekends?
Often. Providers commonly add after-hours, weekend, and holiday surcharges, where state law permits. Ask what the surcharge is before you book.
Q4: Is a virtual notary cheaper than a mobile notary?
Often, because there is no travel fee. Many states cap a remote act at $25, but availability varies by state and your recipient must accept it.
Q5: Who pays for a loan signing agent?
Usually the title company or lender, according to a notary guide. Confirm with your closing agent before you book.
Q6: Will the other party accept an online notarization instead?
Often, but not always. Courts, lenders, agencies, and some recipients set their own rules, so confirm before you switch.
