How old do you have to be to get a credit card?

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Starting your credit-building journey from a young age has its advantages. You’ll develop a longer credit history and better understand the value of healthy credit habits.

However, there is an age requirement when it comes to credit cards. You must be 18 years old to open a credit card account in your name alone.

Opening a credit card at a young age can seem overwhelming, but understanding the steps and benefits of doing so will help you through the process. Below, we dive into the different credit card options for young applicants and tips for getting started.

Table of contents

• At what age can you get a credit card?
• How to get a credit card at 18
• How to apply for a credit card as a teenager
• Tips for getting approved
• How to know if your teen is ready for a credit card
• Best practices when building credit
• Why you should start building credit from a young age

At what age can you get a credit card?

In the U.S., you can open a credit card as the primary account holder when you turn 18. However, just because you turn 18 doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be approved for a credit card. You’ll still need to go through the application and approval process.

Between the ages of 18 and 21, you’ll need to prove independent income (such as a part-time job) to show you’re able to afford your credit spending. If you do not have any independent income, your parent or guardian can act as a cosigner on the credit card account with you.

A cosigner is someone that agrees to take responsibility if the primary cardholder can’t pay off their outstanding balance. Applying for a credit card with a cosigner that has good credit can help improve your odds of being approved and may lead to a higher credit limit than if you’d applied on your own.

Keep in mind that not every credit card company allows cosigners, so you may need to do some research before you apply.

How to build credit before you’re 18

While 18 is the minimum age to be the primary holder of a credit card, there is a way that those under 18 can still use one: a parent or guardian can make their child an authorized user on their credit card account.

An authorized user can use a credit card without being responsible for the bill. You’ll need to submit a request to the credit card company to add your child as a user if this is an option you’re interested in.

Also note that some credit card companies issue a minimum age requirement for authorized users, while others do not.

By establishing them as an authorized user, you give your child a head start in building credit for themselves. This will become useful when your child is ready to qualify for a loan or apply for their own credit card.

Becoming an authorized user will also help them establish healthy credit practices early on. Make sure your child knows how to properly use their card, because as the primary cardholder, you’re still responsible for the bills, and you want to make sure your credit is taken care of too.

How to get a credit card at 18

When you’re applying for a credit card as a teenager, you may want to apply for one of the types of credit cards that are made for younger people and first-time credit applicants. These cards are designed for users that may not have a high stream of income or any preexisting credit.

Opt for a secured credit card

You can think of a secured credit card as a prepaid credit card. These cards require an initial cash deposit in order to use the card.

The amount of your cash deposit acts as your credit limit. As a result, secured cards typically also have higher interest rates than normal credit cards. Even with a cash deposit, all activity put on a secured credit card still impacts your credit score.

Choose a student credit card

Student credit cards are designed for college students without experience in building credit. These cards typically offer low fees, low interest rates, and perks such as money back.

While these cards may be easier to qualify for than other types of credit cards, you are required to show proof of income and enrollment in school when you apply.

Go for a store credit card

Some retailers also offer store credit cards. While these cards are mainly for customers to shop at the specific store, some cards can be used for purchases elsewhere.

These cards are easier to acquire since they often don’t require a specific credit score. Store credit cards intrigue customers with exclusive discounts and rewards, but they often come with high interest rates.

Tips for getting approved for a credit card

Getting approved for a credit card as a teenager can be difficult, since you likely don’t have significant preexisting credit or income. Both of these factors highly impact whether an applicant will get approved for a card.

Here are a few tips to help increase your chances of getting approved as a young borrower:

• Consider getting a part-time job. Having a stable salary will show credit card companies that you have the ability to pay off your card.
• Take into consideration all forms of income. When your application asks for your income, you can include more than just your income from a part-time job. You can also include student loans and parental allowance as income.
• Add a cosigner if your credit card allows you to. As mentioned above, this will help the lender see that you have someone to help you keep up with your payments.
• Apply for a card designed for young adults. College credit cards and secured cards are a few great ways to get started with building credit. Both cards are designed for those who may not have a prior credit history.

How to know if your teen is ready for a credit card

Before agreeing to cosign for your teen or adding them as an authorized user to one of your accounts, take some time to consider whether they’re ready for this type of financial responsibility. Ask yourself these questions:

• Do they understand credit? Before your teen gets a credit card in their name, it’s important that they understand how credit works. Explain to them the importance of a credit score, factors that can impact their credit score, and best practices for credit card use.
• Are they responsible? It’s a good idea to set a few ground rules for your teen and their spending habits. Will the card only be used for emergencies? How will the balance be paid each month? Think through these questions and set clear expectations around their credit card use.
• Can your credit handle it? Adding your teen as an authorized user has the potential to impact your own credit. If they rack up a large amount of credit card debt from unchecked spending, it can add a burden to your own finances and affect any major financial decisions like buying a car or home that you may have on the horizon. Consider the risks before committing.

Best practices when building credit

Building and maintaining good credit can be confusing for those who haven’t gotten much experience yet. The following are some best practices for doing so:

• Apply for a credit card. You typically can’t build credit without using credit. Do your research and find a card that you have a good chance of being approved for.
• Be responsible with your spending habits. Having a credit card can positively impact your score if you use it responsibly. Be careful not to overspend—it can feel like you have unlimited funds if you’re new to using credit. Make sure you can pay off your balance in full every month to avoid a negative impact on your credit.
• Keep utilization low. A rule of thumb is to use no more than 30 percent of your card’s spending limit at a time. This will show lenders that you can be smart with your spending habits.
• Make on-time payments. Late payments hurt your score immensely, as payment history actually makes up 35 percent of your overall score. If you can’t make full payments at the card’s due date, at least pay the minimum amount due on your balance.

Why you should start building credit at a young age

Building good credit doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes years of smart financial decisions and healthy practices to build a solid foundation. If you wait too long to start building, you’ll have a harder time when applying for loans or engaging in other financial decisions later.

Starting young also helps you establish good credit practices from the very beginning. By doing so, you’ll be less likely to engage in activities that hurt your credit down the line. It can be easy to damage your credit, but hard to repair it. By learning this now, you hopefully won’t need to do much damage control later.

Although 18 is the required age to be a primary account holder on a card, there are still ways to start building credit at a younger age. This can be very beneficial for the future, as long as it’s done right. We know the process of applying for a card and building credit can be stressful at times. For professional help with working to improve your credit, schedule a free consultation with our team today.

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