How Old Do You Have to Be to Get a Credit Card?

You have to be at least 18 years old to get a credit card on your own, according to federal law. However, you can get access to a credit card as a minor by becoming an authorized user on someone else’s credit card account, which allows you to make purchases and build credit history.

Key Takeaways

• When to get a credit card: You should get a credit card of your own as soon as you turn 18 because it’s the best way to build credit. Credit cards also provide better consumer protections than other payment options and often provide rewards and other perks.
• Age requirements for authorized users: Some credit card companies don’t have any minimum age to add someone as an authorized user. Those that do typically set it at 13-18 years old.
• Income requirements before age 21: If you're 18-20 years old, you will need to have enough independent income to afford a credit card (per the Credit CARD Act of 2009).
• Income requirements for ages 21+: If you're at least 21 years old, you will be able to list shared household income you have access to (your spouse's, for example) when applying for a credit card. This will give you a better chance of approval.

Can You Get a Credit Card When You’re Under 18?

You can’t get your own credit card when you’re under 18 years old. If you want a credit card before age 18, your only option is to use someone else’s credit card account as an authorized user.

As an authorized user, you share a credit line with the primary cardholder and can make purchases, but the primary cardholder is responsible for all payments. Information about the account will appear on both the primary cardholder’s and authorized user’s credit reports.

Becoming an authorized user gives you valuable experience before your own financial reputation is truly on the line, and it will help you lay a solid foundation for your credit history, as long as the owner of the account handles it responsibly. You may even be able to get a better deal when you apply for your first credit card once you turn 18 if you’ve already built a decent credit score just from being an authorized user.

Credit Cards for 18- to 20-Year-Olds

Young adults usually have limited credit history and limited income. Those younger than 21 years old have the added requirement of earning enough independent income to afford monthly credit card payments. If you can’t prove independent income, you’ll have to stick to being an authorized user for the time being or get a cosigner, but it’s rare to find a company that will allow you to apply with a cosigner nowadays.

For this age group, credit card options are often limited to student credit cards, secured credit cards and other starter credit cards.

Student credit cards tend to have the best terms because issuers prize the above-average earning potential of college-educated consumers. Meanwhile, secured cards are the easiest cards to get, offering nearly guaranteed approval. No matter what type of card you go for, as long as you can get a credit card with no annual fee, or a low annual fee, you’ll be able to build credit inexpensively. That should be your top priority at this stage in your financial life.

Credit Card Options for Ages 21+

Credit card applicants who are at least 21 years old can list other household members’ incomes they have reasonable access to, such as a spouse’s income, on their credit card application. For instance, if you make $50,000 per year and your spouse makes another $50,000, you can put down a $100,000 income.

This can increase your chances of getting approved for some of the best credit card offers if you have good credit. At the very least, it should expand the range of credit cards that you can qualify for and help you get higher credit limits.

This content is not provided or commissioned by any issuer. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of an issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by an issuer. WalletHub independently collected information for some of the cards on this page.

Best Starter Credit Cards for People 18+ Years Old

WalletHub’s editors selected these cards from among more than 1,500 credit card offers. We specifically chose cards that don’t require an established credit history for approval. We also considered factors like fees, APRs, rewards, and the presence or absence of a security deposit. This enabled us to pick the best group of credit cards for different types of adults who are new to credit.

Credit Cards & Old Age: Is There a Limit?

Senior citizens often wonder if there is an upper limit to how old you can be and still qualify for a credit card. There is not. It would be considered discrimination for a credit card company to deny an adult applicant simply because they are “too old.” However, seniors still need to meet the same credit score and income requirements as anyone else.

Credit card companies can only use age as a reason for denial if you’re not at least 18 years old.

When Should You Get a Credit Card?

You should get your own credit card as soon as possible after you turn 18, as the earlier you do so, the sooner you’ll have the opportunity to build your way to a good or excellent credit score. Before applying for a card, it’s a good idea to make sure:

1. You have a steady income. You’ll need at least enough income to make the minimum payments on a credit card. On your application, you can include income from sources like a job, self-employment, unemployment benefits, disability payments, investments, and more. If you’re at least 21 years old, you can also include income from other household members that you have access to.
2. You know how to stick to a budget. When you’ve never used a credit card before, it’s easy to overspend, which can lead to expensive credit card interest if you’re unable to pay your balance in full by your due date. To make sure you don’t spend beyond your means, it’s important that you learn how to budget effectively and then stay disciplined about sticking to that budget.
3. You’re ready to start building credit. Before you get a credit card, you should be well versed in how to build credit. That includes being prepared to always make your monthly payments on time and keep your credit utilization low. You should also be prepared to check your credit reports and credit scores on a regular basis to track your progress.

You can learn more about how to get a credit card and why you should get one here on WalletHub.

Should You Get a Credit Card for Your Child?

You should get a credit card for your child because it can give them a huge leg up in their financial life, possibly even granting them a good credit score by the time they reach adulthood.  You can get your child a card by making them an authorized user on your account, as long as they meet any minimum age requirements set by the credit card issuer.

Of course, the catch is that you’ll need to be responsible with making on-time payments and keeping your credit utilization low. If you use your account irresponsibly, your child’s credit score can suffer too.

It’s also important to make sure that your child doesn’t use your card recklessly and hurt both your wallet and your credit score in turn. There are a few things you can do to prevent that:

1. Teach your child about financial responsibility. Explain how credit cards work, how to budget, and why overspending is harmful.
2. Don’t give your child a physical card. Until you’re confident that your child won’t abuse their authorized user privileges, don’t give them a physical card. They’ll still benefit just from being listed on the account. Alternatively, only give them the card for purchases you approve and take it back right after.
3. Set spending controls. Many credit card issuers allow you to set strict controls on how much an authorized user can spend. This way, you can effectively give your child a budget and prevent them from spending more than you allow.

You can learn more about authorized users here on WalletHub.