Store worker uses a card reader to swipe a customer’s credit card

Where are Discover Credit Cards Accepted?

Last Updated: November 26, 2023
1 min read

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Key points about: Discover Credit Card acceptance

  1. Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of places that take credit cards1

  2. Discover Cards can be used to make withdrawals for cash advances.

  3. You can conveniently use your Discover Card at gas stations, restaurants, online, or at major retailers for cash back rewards.

Buy groceries online. Pick out a birthday gift. Head to a catch-up dinner with friends. Get gas. You’re probably making dozens of purchases throughout the week—and it’s important to have a credit card that you’re confident will be accepted where you use it. Good news: Discover is accepted at millions of places nationwide.1

Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards

Get the facts–99% of merchants nationwide who take credit cards accept Discover.1

How do you know whether Discover is accepted? The best thing to do is to ask. While some stores may have “payment accepted” decals at the register, others may not.

How widely accepted are Discover Cards?

Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.1 So, you can earn rewards with Discover when you shop, order food, and much more.

Learn more

Are Discover credit cards accepted at gas stations?

As Discover is widely accepted, chances are high that your favorite gas station accepts Discover too. If you ever find a gas station that doesn’t accept credit cards from Discover, you can call the customer service number on the back to let us know. We’ll work to add them.

Can you rent a car with a Discover Card?

Because Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards1, your favorite place to rent a car likely welcomes Discover too.

How can you determine whether your Discover Card will be accepted?

If you’re shopping in person, you can look for a sticker on the door or checkout area with the Discover acceptance mark. Even if that sticker is missing, you can always ask to try your Discover Card first.

Why are Discover Cards not accepted everywhere?

It’s not always clear why some merchants still don’t accept credit cards from Discover. When Discover was founded in 1986, it had to catch up with other credit card networks. Our merchant acceptance has grown by millions since then. And over 30 years later, Discover Cards are now accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide.1 So, it’s easy to earn Discover rewards when you shop in stores or online, pay bills, order food, and so much more.

What can you do if your Discover Card is not accepted?

There are a couple of things you can do if a merchant doesn’t accept your Discover Card.

In some instances, Discover is accepted even if the merchant doesn’t know it. You may want to try to use your card to be sure. If you find a merchant that doesn’t accept Discover, you can message or call our 100% U.S. Based Customer Service team to let us know and we’ll work to add them.

Did you know?

If you would miss out on extra cash back rewards from Discover because a merchant doesn’t accept your card, you may be able to find a merchant who will. Because Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards1, merchants who welcome your card may be easy to find.

See if you’re pre-approved

How can you determine whether Discover is accepted in a specific country?

To check for acceptance in a specific country, visit the Discover international credit card acceptance page. Select a country to review Discover credit card acceptance and ATM availability there.

Reminder: If you’re traveling internationally, you should notify Discover to ensure uninterrupted use of your Discover Card.

What can you expect when using your Discover Card in a foreign country?

When using your Discover Card in a foreign country, you can expect to earn rewards on every purchase you make.

Discover Card is accepted at millions of places around the world8, allowing you to use your card when traveling internationally. And you can look for the Discover and Diners Club acceptance marks when making a purchase. Even if you don’t see the acceptance marks, you can try using your card.

A Discover Card can be used at participating merchants to withdraw cash

Discover has a cash at checkout option at participating stores, like Kroger and Walmart, that allows you to withdraw cash up to $120 within 24 hours when you make a purchase—and helps you avoid ATM fees (though it will be subject to your standard purchase APR).

How can you get a cash advance from your Discover Card?

It’s possible to use your Discover Card at a bank, ATM, or credit union for a cash advance up to your cash available limit. (Note: Interest rates on cash advances tend to be higher than those on purchases and a service fee would also apply.) To set up your card to allow for cash advances, just contact customer service and get a PIN to use at the ATM. You can also present your credit card and a photo ID at a bank or credit union to get money. To find ATMs and banks where you can withdraw cash, check our ATM locator.

You can get a cash advance from your Discover Card from more than 415,000 domestic ATMs that accept PULSE card once you create a PIN. If you take a cash advance, you can choose to direct deposit it into your checking account online, or you can request checks by going to Discover.com/checks or call 1-800-DISCOVER (1-800-347-2683) to order. Keep in mind that your cash advance APR applies to the amount you take, and interest charges begin to accrue immediately.

Discover credit cards are accepted at online merchants

Do you shop on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop? Discover is accepted at most online retailers, and paying with your Discover Card can make it easy to earn or redeem rewards. For example, you can redeem any amount, any time2 using your Discover Card at Amazon.com—there’s no minimum.3 You can also redeem any amount of rewards with PayPal.4

How can you use your Discover Card online?

You can use your Discover Card to shop online at retailers like Amazon.com5, order food from local restaurants, pay for subscriptions like streaming services, donate at charity websites, and add it to digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, store in payment services such as PayPal6, and much more.

What are the benefits of using your Discover Card online?

Every purchase with Discover earns rewards, which can be redeemed in a variety of ways best suited for cardmember needs.

And Discover monitors every account transaction and alerts you of any suspicious activity to help monitor fraud. You’re never held responsible for unauthorized purchases on your Discover Card account.7

See if you’re pre-approved

With no harm to your credit score9

How can you determine whether an online retailer accepts Discover?

Discover is accepted by 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide1, so your retailer may already accept Discover. But to be sure, you can see if they list Discover among payment options at checkout or in their terms. Even if you don’t see Discover acceptance listed, keep in mind that online payment services allow you to use Discover to fund your purchases as well. For instance, you can pay for your purchase with PayPal using any amount of your rewards.4

Discover secured credit cards are also accepted

Some people wonder whether secured credit cards, like the Discover it® Secured, are accepted by retailers the same as unsecured credit cards. The answer is yes. To a retailer, credit cards all operate in a similar way.

The main difference for a credit card holder between a secured credit card and an unsecured credit card is that a secured credit card requires a deposit which acts as your card’s spending limit. A secured credit card can also help card owners build credit while earning rewards.

Discover is accepted at millions of places nationwide

Do your research to determine whether a credit card is the right choice for your lifestyle–and your wallet. When you have a Discover card, you can feel confident that your card will be accepted by the majority of vendors you use on a daily basis.

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