What Happens When Your Credit Card Expires?

Introduction

Much like the leftovers in your fridge from last week or the sweater in your closet from 15 years ago, nothing lasts forever — including credit cards.

Every credit card issued has an expiration date clearly printed, embossed, or engraved on the card. But ever wonder why credit cards expire? Or what you should do with your card when it reaches its expiration date?

Where Is My Credit Card’s Expiration Date?

First things first — where can you find the expiration date on your card? It’s located on the front or back of your credit card in a two-digit month/year format, such as 04/28.

What Does the Expiration Date Mean on a Credit Card?

The expiration date on your credit card is the day your card should become deactivated and no longer usable for purchases. Typically, it expires on the last day of the month listed on your card. So, if your card’s expiration date reads 04/28, the last day it should be active is April 30, 2028. If you try to use it to make a purchase on May 1, 2028, it probably won’t work.

It’s important to note that the expiration date applies only to the physical credit card, not to your credit card account.

Why Credit Cards Have Expiration Dates

It might seem like it’d be easier to keep using the same card indefinitely, but there are at least two good reasons credit cards have expiration dates.

Wear and Tear – Credit cards can get bent or warped, they can crack, the numbers can fade, and the EMV chip or magnetic stripe can become damaged after years of use, to name but a few ways they can take a beating. Credit card issuers put expiration dates on cards so they can hopefully supply you with a new card before the old one completely wears out.

Technology – Credit card technology is continually evolving. It has progressed from magnetic stripes to EMV chips and now to contactless technology. Technology updates frequently contain improved security measures — for both cardmembers and merchants — which can help reduce the risk of fraud. Replacing an expired credit card gives card issuers an opportunity to supply you with a card featuring the latest technology … at least the latest technology your credit card issuer currently offers.

What Happens When Your Credit Card Expires?

When your credit card expires, you can no longer make purchases with it.

Credit card issuers will automatically mail you a replacement card before the expiration date, which you’ll need to activate in order to use it for purchases — more on that below.

The new card will come with a new expiration date and card verification value (CVV) security code — that three- or four-digit number on your card that helps protect against unauthorized purchases. And, unless the account is upgraded or the product has changed, the card number usually stays the same.

Can You Use an Expired Credit Card?

If you try to use an expired credit card, it won’t work. It will be declined and you’ll have to use other means to make your purchase.

What To Do When Your Credit Card Expires

So, your card has expired. Now what do you do?

Activate your new credit card – In general, credit cards are good for about three years. Typically, when the expiration date of your card is approaching, the credit card issuer automatically sends you a new one. If that doesn’t happen, or your card wears out before its expiration date, you should contact your card issuer immediately and let them know your card has expired or no longer functions properly.

After you receive your new card, you’ll need to activate it before you can use it. Most credit cards can be activated by phone or online — there’s usually a sticker on the front of the card that tells you how to do it. Once the new card is activated, you can begin using it even if the old card hasn’t reached its expiration date yet. But to be safe, you’ll want to properly dispose of the old card to keep it out of the hands of anyone who might try to use it, or the information on it, to commit fraud.

Dispose of the expired credit card – If you have a plastic card, getting rid of it is pretty easy. You can either cut it up into small pieces and throw it away or shred it. To be extra careful, you may want to dispose of the pieces of your expired card in different loads. A determined dumpster diver might be able to piece your expired card back together if they have all of the required pieces in one trash bag. While they most likely wouldn’t be able to tape or glue it back together and use the actual card, they may be able to use the information on the reassembled card to make unauthorized purchases.

If you have a metal credit card, you won’t be able to cut it with scissors, and trying to shred it could do more damage to the shredder than the card. If you have a well-stocked toolbox, you should be able to cut it up with aviation snips. Or, you may be able to send it back to your credit card issuer for them to dispose of. Some credit card companies will even send you a postage-prepaid envelope with your new credit card that you can use to send back the old one for them to destroy.

Update your accounts – Once you’ve received a replacement credit card and it’s activated, be sure to update all your accounts linked to the card, including those you’re auto-paying with that card and online retailers with which you’ve stored your credit card information. Although your new credit card’s account number won’t change, its expiration date and security code will. If you forget to update accounts tied to that account with this new information, online purchases may not go through and automatic payments could be delayed or declined, which isn’t good. Even a single late payment could negatively affect your credit.

Bottom Line

Typically, dealing with an expired credit card is just a matter of receiving a new card, activating it, properly disposing of the old card, and updating your new card information with any accounts tied to that card. Your credit card may expire without you realizing it, but the first time you attempt to use it after its expiration date, a declined purchase should make it clear the card is no longer valid. At that point, if you haven’t yet received a new card, you’ll need to reach out to your credit card issuer to let them know you need a replacement card.