You had to be at least 18 years old to apply for the DFCU Student Visa Platinum Card. But, you can get the card at 14 years old as an authorized user on a Michigan resident’s account, per Michigan (and federal) law. This card, though, is not available anymore.
Generally, you need to be at least 18 years old to apply for your own credit card account. And since the Credit CARD Act, applicants under the age of 21 must have independently verifiable income (i.e. not a parent’s income) or a cosigner with sufficient income. The cosigner, who must be 21 or older, would share responsibility for any debt incurred on the card.
Yes, you can get a credit card at 14, but only as an authorized user on someone else’s account. You have to be at least 18 years old to open a credit card account in your own name. When you turn 18 years old, you’ll also need to show that you have your own independent income in order to qualify for your first credit card account. In the meantime, you can begin to … read full answerbuild credit as an authorized user, and you can always use a debit card for everyday purchases.
Most 14-year-old authorized users won’t have much of a choice when it comes to which card they use, but if a young person’s parents happen to have one of the following credit cards, the arrangement could lead to outsized savings.
Notable Credit Cards for 14-Year-Old Authorized Users
So, keep in mind that you can’t get a credit card at 14, at least not one of your own. But if you find someone to back you, then you can start building credit right away. And in just four years, you’ll be eligible for student credit cards, secured credit cards, and other options for people new to credit.
The only way to get a credit card when you’re under 18 years old is to become an authorized user on an adult’s credit card account. You cannot get your own credit card account until you turn 18 and you’re able to demonstrate enough independent income to make monthly bill payments… read full answer.
However, being an authorized user will help you build credit in the meantime, as long as the primary accountholder pay the bills by the due date.
Alternatives to getting a credit card if you’re under 18:
Become an authorized user: If you know someone else who has a credit card (like your parent) you can become an authorized user on their credit account. You’ll get your own card that’s connected to the cardholder’s account, and any purchases you make will show up on their statement.
The primary cardholder is the one responsible for paying. This is a great way to build credit, although you won’t build it as quickly as you would with your own card.
Take out a loan.Credit-builder loans are sometimes available to people under 18 who have a cosigner (someone with established credit who takes responsibility if you default). But it will be more difficult than getting a loan at age 18.
Use a debit card. You can’t build credit with debit cards, but they can make everyday spending more convenient. And there’s no need to worry about going into debt because you’ll be spending the money from your checking account, not borrowing anything.
You’ll definitely need to wait until you’re 18 to get a credit card account in your own name. But being an authorized user is still a very useful way to build credit and practice using a credit card responsibly. Then, once you turn 18, you’ll already have some credit history and may be eligible for better offers right off the bat. You can track your progress with WalletHub’s free daily credit score updates.
By becoming an authorized user you'll have the the possibility to learn how to use a credit card responsibly, but you can also start building credit early.
WalletHub Answers is a free service that helps consumers access financial information. Information on WalletHub Answers is provided “as is” and should not be considered financial, legal or investment advice. WalletHub is not a financial advisor, law firm, “lawyer referral service,” or a substitute for a financial advisor, attorney, or law firm. You may want to hire a professional before making any decision. WalletHub does not endorse any particular contributors and cannot guarantee the quality or reliability of any information posted. The helpfulness of a financial advisor's answer is not indicative of future advisor performance.
WalletHub members have a wealth of knowledge to share, and we encourage everyone to do so while respecting our content guidelines. This question was posted by WalletHub. Please keep in mind that editorial and user-generated content on this page is not reviewed or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution. In addition, it is not a financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered.
Ad Disclosure: Certain offers that appear on this site originate from paying advertisers, and this will be noted on an offer’s details page using the designation "Sponsored", where applicable. Advertising may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.