At what age can you get a credit card?

In the U.S., you have to be at least 18 to open your own credit card account. And federal law places additional requirements on applicants under the age of 21.

Learn about knowing when you may be ready for your first credit card, what to do before applying and more. 

What you’ll learn:

• You have to be at least 18 years old to open a credit card account.

• The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (CARD Act) puts additional requirements in place for applicants who are younger than 21.

• Student credit cards and secured credit cards may be good options for young people trying to establish and build credit. 

• Becoming an authorized user on the credit card account of a trusted family member or friend could be another way to access credit.

Technically, you can get a credit card at age 18. But under the CARD Act, applicants under 21 have to meet additional conditions to qualify. For example, they have to prove their income is sufficient to make minimum credit card payments on their own. If they can’t, they need to apply with a co-signer. Keep in mind that many major credit card issuers don’t allow co-signers.

The right time to get a credit card is different for everyone. Here are a few key questions you can ask yourself to help decide whether you’re ready.

• How will I use the card? You may plan to use your credit card to make a large purchase. Or you might use it as a budgeting tool to help cover everyday expenses. Thinking through how you intend to use your credit card could help you avoid overspending. 

• Can I afford the monthly payments? Credit card interest is typically charged when you don’t pay your balance in full by the due date of each billing cycle. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, you should pay your entire credit card balance whenever you can. When you can’t, the agency recommends paying as much as possible to avoid “spending more on the things you buy because you’re also paying interest.”

• Do I know how to use credit responsibly?: To build good credit and improve your credit scores, you need to use credit responsibly over time. This includes doing things like paying your monthly statements on time and staying below your credit limit.

If you’re thinking about getting your first credit card, you may have options, including cards designed for building credit. For example, you could:

Student credit cards are generally for college students with little or no credit history. They typically offer benefits and rewards that may appeal to students.

A secured credit card requires the applicant to make a refundable security deposit to open the account. With some secured cards, such as the Quicksilver Secured card from Capital One, you could earn cash back rewards.

If a trusted family member or friend agrees, you could become an authorized user on their credit card account. Authorized users can typically make purchases using the account, but the primary account holder is responsible for making the payments.

If the authorized user handles the account responsibly, it could positively impact both people’s credit. But the opposite is also true. Irresponsible card use by either could negatively impact both.

Here are a couple of things to consider doing before you apply.

Credit scores are based, in part, on information found in credit reports. Your scores reflect your creditworthiness and are typically used by lenders to determine how likely you are to pay your debts on time. 

With CreditWise from Capital One, you can access your credit report and credit score without hurting your credit scores. CreditWise is free. You don’t even have to be a Capital One customer to use it. You can also get free copies of your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com.

Checking to see whether you’re pre-approved for a credit card can help you compare options and find the right fit. It can also help you avoid unnecessary hard credit inquiries, which can cause your credit scores to drop temporarily. 

You can check whether you’re pre-approved for a Capital One credit card before you apply. It’s quick and only requires some basic info. And it won’t affect your credit scores because it only requires a soft inquiry.

If you meet certain requirements like proving your income, you might be able to open a credit card on your own at age 18. For your first card, you may want to start with a student credit card or a secured credit card. Or if it’s too soon for your own card, you could ask a trusted family member or friend about becoming an authorized user. 

To get started, you could compare Capital One credit cards to help find one that fits your needs. You can compare rewards, annual fees, credit requirements for approval and more.