My Credit Card Expired. Can I Still Use It?

A credit card expiration date indicates the last month and year a physical card is valid. This date, typically shown as a two-digit month and two-digit year, signifies the card’s “shelf life.” The expiration date applies only to the physical card, not the underlying credit account, which remains active. Your credit account and its associated credit line continue to exist even after the physical card expires.

Understanding Card Expiration

Credit cards feature expiration dates for several reasons. A primary purpose is to account for physical wear and tear from regular use. Chips can become worn, and the card’s material may degrade, making a replacement necessary. These dates also serve as a security measure, requiring periodic updates to card details like the Card Verification Value (CVV) and expiration date. This process adds an extra layer of protection against fraudulent activity by limiting the utility of compromised card information. Expiration dates allow card issuers to regularly integrate new card technologies, such as enhanced EMV chips or contactless payment features.

Consequences of Using an Expired Card

Attempting to use an expired credit card will almost universally result in a declined transaction. The payment system verifies the card’s expiration date against the current date. If the card’s “valid thru” month and year have passed, the transaction will be rejected. Point-of-sale terminals and online payment gateways are programmed to flag invalid expiration dates, preventing the transaction from processing. This immediate decline prompts the cardholder to use a valid form of payment.

While most transactions will be declined, some merchants with recurring payment setups might attempt to process charges on an expired card. This can occur if they utilize an automatic card account updater service provided by card networks, which can update card details in the background. However, relying on such updates is not advisable, as they are not guaranteed and failure to update your information could lead to service interruptions. An expired physical card is not functional for new purchases.

Actions to Take When Your Card Expires

Credit card issuers send a new card automatically before the old one expires, often arriving one to two months prior. This replacement card has the same account number but a new expiration date and CVV security code. Upon receiving the new card, activate it promptly through the issuer’s website, mobile app, or a dedicated phone number provided with the card. Activating the new card deactivates the old one, ensuring continuous access to your credit line.

Update your card details wherever they are stored for recurring payments or in digital wallets. Services like streaming subscriptions, utility bills, gym memberships, and online retailers save card information for automatic billing. You will need to manually update the new expiration date and CVV for each of these services to prevent payment failures. Update your card details in digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay. If your replacement card does not arrive before your current card’s expiration date, contact your credit card issuer directly to inquire about its status and arrange for a new one to be sent.