Can I Add My 17-Year-Old to My Credit Card?

Adding a 17-year-old to a credit card account as an authorized user can be a strategic step for financial education and credit building. An authorized user receives a card linked to the primary cardholder’s account and can make purchases, though they are not legally responsible for the debt incurred. This arrangement allows a young individual to gain experience with credit, potentially establishing a credit history before reaching adulthood.

Eligibility and Information Needed

The ability to add a 17-year-old as an authorized user largely depends on the specific credit card issuer’s policies. While obtaining their own credit cards is challenging for individuals under 21 without independent income or a co-signer, adding a minor as an authorized user is permitted. Many major credit card companies permit authorized users under 18, with some having no minimum age requirement at all, while others set it as low as 13 or 15 years old. Therefore, primary cardholders must verify their specific issuer’s authorized user age policies.

To add a 17-year-old, the primary cardholder will typically need to provide certain personal details about the individual. This commonly includes their full legal name, date of birth, and often their Social Security number (SSN).

Steps to Add an Authorized User

Once eligibility is confirmed and the necessary information is collected, adding a 17-year-old as an authorized user generally follows a straightforward process. The most common approaches include using the issuer’s online portal, making a phone call to customer service, or submitting a mail-in form.

For online additions, the primary cardholder typically navigates to the account management section within their digital banking platform or mobile app, often labeled “Manage Cards” or “Add Authorized Users.” If adding by phone, the primary cardholder should call the customer service number located on the back of their credit card and inform the representative of their intention to add an authorized user. After submission, a new card bearing the authorized user’s name is usually mailed to the primary cardholder’s address. This card will then need to be activated before the 17-year-old can begin using it for purchases.

Financial Liability and Credit Reporting

A significant aspect of adding an authorized user is understanding the distribution of financial responsibility and credit reporting implications. The primary cardholder retains sole legal responsibility for all charges made on the account, including those made by the authorized user. This means the 17-year-old authorized user is not legally liable for any debt incurred, regardless of who made the purchases.

The credit activity of the account, including payment history, credit limit, and balance, is typically reported to the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) under the authorized user’s name. This reporting can help the 17-year-old establish a credit history, which is particularly beneficial for those with limited or no prior credit. Positive payment behavior by the primary cardholder, such as consistent on-time payments and low credit utilization, will generally reflect favorably on the authorized user’s credit report. Conversely, negative actions, such as late payments or high credit utilization by the primary cardholder, can adversely affect the authorized user’s credit score. The primary cardholder’s credit utilization ratio may also be affected, as the authorized user’s spending contributes to the overall balance, which can impact the primary cardholder’s credit score if utilization becomes high.