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

8 min read

Last Updated: November 13, 2024

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

You must be 18 or older to get a credit card in your name.
Borrowers between 18 and 20 must prove they have independent income to get approved for a credit card.
Primary cardmembers may be able to add individuals younger than 18 as authorized users to their credit card account.

At what age can you get a credit card?

Your first credit card is a major financial milestone. With a credit card, you can begin building positive credit history and earning rewards. However, managing credit is a significant responsibility, so it’s important to make sure you’re ready before applying.

Young adults aged 18-20 can only qualify for a credit card with proof of adequate independent income. If you’re under 18, you can explore alternative options like becoming an authorized user on another cardmember’s account, which allows you to start building credit as a young person.

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This article will review different credit card options for people who are under 21, along with eligibility requirements for different age groups.

Understanding credit cards for ages 18 to 21

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains that, per the Truth in Lending Act, credit card companies can’t offer credit cards to applicants aged 18-20 unless they can verify that they have enough independent income to pay back credit card debt. That income might include pay from a formal job, assets, or allowance. But it can’t include anyone else’s income, like family members. Once you reach age 21, you can apply for a credit card using household income you have access to, such as income from your spouse.

Regardless of age or income, younger borrowers may have difficulty qualifying for certain credit cards due to a lack of credit history, which is your record of managing debts and making payments. You begin to build history when you open your first credit account, which might be a credit card, personal loan, or student loan.

You may also have personal finance tools like a prepaid credit card, debit card, checking account, or savings account as a young adult. But these tools don’t build credit history because they don’t report your activity to a credit bureau or involve borrowing money.

At first, your credit card options might be limited to cards designed for people with no credit history or less-than-ideal credit scores. Once you have your first credit card, making on-time payments and keeping your credit utilization low can help you build credit history. That way, you can qualify for more rewards credit card options and better terms in the future.

Age Range	Credit Card Options
Under 18 years old	If you're under 18, you can generally be added to a cardmember's account as an authorized user (depending on the issuer), which is a great way to start building credit from an early age. However, you won't be able to get your own credit card until you turn 18.
18-20 years old	If you're 18,19, or 20 years old, you may be eligible for some credit cards. However, you'll need to demonstrate that you have sufficient income to pay your credit card bills. You can also apply for a secured credit card, like the Discover It^® Secured Credit Card.
21 or older	If you're 21 or older, you can apply independently for any type of credit card. However, you'll still need to meet the card issuer's other eligibility requirements, such as income-related or credit score requirements.

Types of credit cards for young adults

So, how do you begin building positive credit history as a young adult? You might consider a credit card option designed for people with limited credit history, like a secured or student card.

College students and young adults can apply for various credit cards, even with limited credit histories. While you’ll generally need to be at least 18 years old to open your own account, the specific requirements depend on the card issuer and what type of card you’re trying to get.

Many credit cards aimed at young people fall into one of two categories: student credit cards, like the Discover It^® Student Chrome Credit Card, and secured credit cards, like the Discover It^® Secured Credit Card. Let’s look at how these types of credit cards work, what you need to qualify, and what makes them ideal for students and other young adults.

Student credit cards

A student credit card is tailored to college students 18 and older with little to no credit history. To qualify, you usually have to meet income requirements and show proof of enrollment in school. A student card may have a lower credit limit (the maximum amount you can charge to your credit card before paying down your balance) than a traditional credit card. However, the lower limit may work in your favor, as it protects you from accumulating too much credit card debt at one time, and if you carry a balance on your credit card, you can keep interest to a minimum. Some student credit cards offer rewards, like cash back programs.

Using a student credit card responsibly can help you build personal finance skills and establish a credit history. A good credit score can also help you with future goals like securing a mortgage or financing a car.

Did you know?

The Discover it^® Student Cash Back Card lets you earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.

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Secured credit cards

A secured credit card is another option to consider if you’re just starting your credit journey. A secured credit card works like a traditional credit card, except that it requires a deposit. Typically, your credit limit equals your deposit amount. Because the deposit protects credit card issuers from losing money, secured cards are often easy to qualify for. For example, there’s no credit score required to apply for a Discover it^® Secured credit card.¹

As you shop with your secured card and make payments, the card issuer usually reports your activity to at least one major credit bureau. That means as long as you keep your credit utilization low and pay your bill on time each month, you can build your credit score. After 7 months, we begin automatic monthly account reviews to see if you qualify to upgrade to an 'unsecured' card and get your deposit back.²

Also with a Discover secured card, you can earn cash back on your next road trip with 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter.³

Cosigners for 18+ individuals with no credit history

Credit card applicants under 21 may have an easier time qualifying for credit with a cosigner. According to the Federal Trade Commission, a cosigner is usually a family member or friend over age 21 who has demonstrated responsible credit use on their credit report and has a stable income.

In this situation, a cosigner on the credit card acts as a guarantor to minimize the risk for the credit card issuer. If the main borrower doesn’t pay, the cosigner is obligated to pay any missed payments.

While a cosigner may be an option for some credit cards, most issuers don’t accept credit card cosigners—including Discover. This practice is more typically associated with loans, such as personal loans, student loans, mortgage loans, or car loans.

Can you use a credit card before you’re 18?

The minimum age to qualify for your own credit card is 18. However, some credit card issuers may allow younger people to become authorized users of adults’ credit card accounts.

Authorized users receive a card with their name on it, which they can use to make purchases on the primary cardmember’s credit card account. Both card users’ transactions affect the card’s credit limit and appear on both credit reports. However, only the primary cardmember is legally responsible for making payments toward the card’s balance. If the credit card issuer reports all account activity to a credit bureau, an authorized user can establish a credit history through responsible use. However, late or missed payments may negatively affect the credit history of all users listed on the account. A primary account holder may add family members and friends who are at least 15 years old to their Discover account as authorized users.

Children under the age of 18 can get a head start building positive credit history as authorized users on others’ accounts. However, 18 is the minimum age for completing a credit card application in your own name. And people over age 21 may have more options. Regardless of the route you choose to begin building credit, using a credit card responsibly is key to building a good credit score and long-term financial success.

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