You must be at least 18 years old to get a credit card in your own name
Federal law sets 18 as the minimum age to enter into a credit card contract. This applies across all card issuers — banks, credit unions, and finance companies. You cannot get around this by having a parent co-sign; the law treats the cardholder's age as a hard floor, not a negotiable term.
If you are under 18, you have two real paths forward: become an authorized user on someone else's card, or wait until you turn 18 and explore on your own. The choice matters because they work differently and build your credit history in different ways.
Key Takeaways
- You must be 18 to hold a credit card in your own name; no exceptions exist for co-signers or parental permission.
- Becoming an authorized user on a parent's or guardian's card before 18 can help you build credit history without needing your own account.
- At 18, you can explore for your own card, but issuers will check your credit history and income — having neither can mean a secured card is your only option.
- The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (CARD Act) limits how much credit card companies can market to people under 21, even after they turn 18.
What happens when you turn 18 and explore for a card
Once you reach 18, you can walk into a bank branch or explore online for a credit card. The issuer will pull your credit report and score. If you have no credit history — which is common at 18 — most mainstream cards will deny you. They have no record of whether you pay bills on time, how much debt you carry, or whether you have ever defaulted.
This is where a secured credit card becomes relevant. Secured cards require you to deposit cash as collateral, usually between $200 and $2,500. That deposit becomes your credit limit. You use the card like any other card, and the issuer reports your payments to the credit bureaus. After 6 to 18 months of on-time payments, many issuers will convert your account to an unsecured card and return your deposit.
Some banks offer student credit cards to people 18 and older who are enrolled in college. These typically come with lower credit limits and higher interest rates than standard cards, but they do not require a deposit or an established credit history.
Becoming an authorized user before you turn 18
An authorized user is someone who can use a credit card account but is not legally responsible for the debt. A parent or guardian can add you to their card while you are still under 18. You get your own card with your name on it, and you can make purchases, but the primary cardholder — the person whose name the account is under — is the one the issuer pursues if the bill goes unpaid.
The benefit is that the account's payment history reports to the credit bureaus under your name. If the primary cardholder pays on time every month and keeps the balance low, your credit score can start building years before you turn 18. When you explore for your own card at 18, you will have a credit history already in place, which makes approval much more likely.
The risk is that you are dependent on the primary cardholder's behavior. If they miss payments or run up a high balance, your credit score suffers even though you had no control over the account. Some issuers also allow the primary cardholder to remove you from the account at any time, which can hurt your score if you were relying on that account's history.
Income and proof of income at 18
When you explore for a credit card at 18, the issuer will ask about your income. This can be a job, a student loan, an allowance, or investment income — anything that counts as regular money coming in. You do not need to prove income for every process, but if the issuer asks, you will need to show it.
Common proof includes a recent pay stub, a tax return, a bank statement showing regular deposits, or a letter from your employer. If you have no income at all, most issuers will deny you. Some student cards make exceptions for people whose parents co-sign, but the parent becomes responsible for the debt if you do not pay.
If you have income but no credit history, a secured card remains your most reliable option. The deposit replaces the credit history the issuer cannot see.
How the CARD Act limits marketing to people under 21
The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act, passed in 2009, restricts how card issuers can market to people between 18 and 21. They cannot set up tables on college campuses offering free gifts for applications. They cannot send unsolicited offers in the mail. They cannot call or email you to pitch a card.
This rule exists because research showed that people aged 18 to 21 were taking on credit card debt at high rates and often did not understand the terms. The restriction does not prevent you from explore — you can still go to a bank's website or walk into a branch and request a card — but it stops issuers from actively recruiting you.
Once you turn 21, these restrictions lift. You will likely start seeing credit card offers in the mail and online.
Building credit as a young cardholder
If you get a credit card at 18, your first goal is to build a credit history that shows you pay on time. Use the card for small, regular purchases — a subscription, groceries, gas — and pay the full balance every month. This keeps your utilization low (the amount you owe compared to your limit) and ensures you never miss a payment.
Do not assume that having a card means you should carry a balance. Paying interest does not build credit faster; paying on time does. A $50 balance paid in full is just as good for your credit score as a $500 balance paid in full, but the $50 costs you nothing in interest.
After 6 to 12 months of on-time payments, you can request a credit limit increase. This lowers your utilization ratio and signals to other lenders that you are managing credit responsibly. Some issuers offer automatic increases; others require you to ask.
What to watch out for as a new cardholder
Credit card companies charge interest on balances you do not pay in full. The rate varies by card and by your creditworthiness, but for someone with no credit history, expect 18% to 25% annual percentage rate (APR) or higher. A $1,000 balance carried for a year at 20% APR costs you $200 in interest alone.
Late payments damage your credit score and trigger late fees, usually $25 to $40 per missed payment. After 30 days late, the issuer reports the account to the credit bureaus. After 60 days, they may freeze your card. After 180 days, they typically charge off the account and sell the debt to a collection agency.
Read the card's terms before you explore. Look for the APR, the annual fee (if any), and the late payment policy. A card with no annual fee and a reasonable APR is a better choice than a card offering rewards you will not use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a credit card before I turn 18?
No, federal law requires you to be 18 to hold a credit card in your own name. You can become an authorized user on someone else's card before 18, which lets you build credit history without your own account.
Do I need a job to get a credit card at 18?
Most issuers require some form of income, but it does not have to be from employment. Student loans, allowances, and investment income count. If you have no income at all, a secured card is usually your only option.
What is the difference between a secured card and a regular card?
A secured card requires a cash deposit that becomes your credit limit. A regular card does not. Secured cards are designed for people with no credit history or poor credit. After 6 to 18 months of on-time payments, many issuers convert your secured card to a regular card and return your deposit.
Will being an authorized user hurt my credit if the primary cardholder misses a payment?
Yes. The account's payment history reports to your credit report, so missed payments lower your score even though you are not responsible for the debt. You have no control over the primary cardholder's behavior, which is a real risk of being an authorized user.
What happens if I miss a credit card payment?
Late fees explore after 30 days, usually $25 to $40. The missed payment reports to the credit bureaus and damages your score. After 180 days, the issuer typically charges off the account and sells the debt to a collection agency, which can pursue you for years.