Woman paying with contactless credit card

What is a Contactless Credit Card?

7 min read

Last Updated: November 13, 2024

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

A contactless credit card allows you to make a secure transaction without swiping or inserting your chip.
If you see the contactless symbol on the back of your payment card and on the payment reader, you can tap to pay.
Contactless pay is widely accepted, but you can swipe or insert your contactless chip card when needed.

If you’ve ever seen someone pay for their morning coffee with a simple tap of their credit card or debit card, you likely understand the appeal of contactless pay. Paying with a quick tap, instead of using an EMV chip reader or swiping the magnetic stripe, seems so seamless and easy. But is it as secure as it is convenient? Read along for everything you need to know about contactless credit cards.

How do you use a contactless credit card?

Using a contactless credit card is a quick and easy method to pay for purchases. Since not all retailers offer contactless purchase options, you can still pay via EMV chip or swipe with a contactless card. If a retailer does offer contactless transaction options—which you can check by asking the merchant or looking for the EMVCo Contactless Symbol on the credit card reader—you can simply tap your card, wait for confirmation, and be on your way.

To make a contactless purchase, look for the EMVCo Contactless Symbol—it resembles the wireless internet symbol rotated clockwise—on the back of your credit card (or debit card). If you hold this type of card over a contactless reader for a few seconds, the transaction should get approved, then payment should go through, and you’ll be on your way.

What is a contactless Discover^® Card?

Discover began rolling out contactless credit cards in the fall of 2019. A contactless card is typically a chip card with a contactless option. Now, you can tap any Discover Card with the contactless symbol at participating terminals for a quick checkout. While this is an option for many cards across its product line, contactless cards aren’t available for all Discover credit cards.

If you have a Discover Card and want to know if it has tap-to-pay capabilities, just look for that EMVCo Contactless Indicator—consisting of four semi-circles that grow bigger from left to right—on the back of your card.

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Are contactless credit cards just as secure as inserting your card?

Adopting a new type of technology can raise questions about security. Is contactless payment technology safe?

In short: yes. Tap-to-pay transactions use Near Field Communication (NFC) to share necessary payment information, like your card number. These payments don’t require a physical connection between your device and the participating merchant’s checkout terminal to complete a purchase.

When it comes to credit card security, a contactless credit card provides the same level of security against credit card fraud and identity theft you’re used to receiving with EMV cards or a magnetic stripe card.

In some cases—perhaps if a charge is above a certain dollar threshold—merchants may ask for a signature as an additional verification method. As always, it’s a good idea to check your statements carefully to make sure there’s no unusual activity.

How can you request contactless cards?

If you don’t see an EMVCo Contactless Symbol on your credit card, you can usually request a contactless product in your credit card issuer’s online account portal.

As contactless technology has become mainstream, more credit card issuers are automatically sending out cards with an option for contactless payment. If you haven’t received one yet, reach out to your credit card issuer to ask about options, and see if it’s possible to get a new card with contactless technology.

If you request a contactless Discover Card, will your account information change?

You don’t need to open up a new Discover account to take advantage of contactless technology. If you request a new contactless card from Discover, your card will be issued with the same number and CVV code. A new contactless card from Discover also won’t have an impact on your credit score since your account information stays the same.

If you’re not a Discover Cardmember, it may be best to contact your issuer and ask if their cards include contactless options, and whether updating may impact your credit.

If you request a contactless Discover Card, is contactless your only payment option?

Nope. Just because your Discover Card has contactless payment doesn’t mean you have to use it. Depending on a merchant’s payment terminal, you can also insert your chip into the card reader, swipe, or pay with digital banking.

Not all merchants accept contactless payments. A cashier or payment terminal may direct you to pay via swipe or chip. For example, a merchant might ask you to swipe or insert your card if a contactless transaction is declined. If the card transaction is still declined, there may be a problem with your card.

You may also link contactless credit cards (or even a debit card without a contactless feature) to digital wallets on your smartphone or wearable device using Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or Apple Pay. Then, you can pay by tapping your device instead of a physical card. If you pay with your digital wallet, make sure you store your physical card in a safe spot and don’t lose it.

If you suspect your card has been lost or stolen, or you think someone else may have accessed your credit card information, alert your credit card company immediately to get a replacement card.

Where can you tap to pay with your contactless Discover Card?

Many places, like restaurants, grocery stores, and other shops, have contactless card readers, so you likely have many opportunities to use a contactless credit card throughout your day. Wherever you are, look for the contactless symbol on the payment terminal during checkout. This resembles the EMVCo Contactless Indicator on your card, but it’s surrounded by an oval key-line and also has a symbol of a hand holding a card.

Contactless payment technology is also used on major transit systems in parts of the U.S. and worldwide. For example, the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority has used the technology for years and, according to the state’s Governor’s Press Office, will expand to include the AirTrain JFK, which connects subway riders to JFK Airport. Check with your local transit system to see if it accepts contactless cards.

Can a contactless Discover Card be used for online or over-the-phone purchases?

Yes. Contactless credit cards are just like normal credit cards, complete with a 16-digit card number, expiration date, and CVV code. You can use them for any credit card purchase, including online and over-the-phone transactions.

Did you know?

As with any card, contactless options still leave you eligible to earn credit card rewards for your purchases, which will show up on your monthly statement. These cards may also have a specific balance transfer APR, annual fee, and more.

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How do you ensure charges go to your contactless Discover Card and not your other cards?

Contactless payment systems are a simple way to pay on the go, but it’s possible for contactless technology to pick up and "read" another nearby credit card. That’s why it’s important to make sure that only the contactless card you’d like to use is close to the contactless reader when it comes time to pay.

That said, the contactless payment method only works if your card is very close to the reader, meaning you don’t have to worry about accidentally paying for someone who’s standing ahead of you. But the technology could be triggered if you keep the contactless card next to other credit cards in a wallet that you hold to the reader. Being mindful of your contactless cards can help ensure that you’re using only the card you mean to select.

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