Credit Card Expiration Dates Guide: Key Things to Know (2024) (2024)

May 3, 2023

Fact checked

Written by John S Kiernan

WalletHub Managing Editor

Fact Checked by Alina Comoreanu

WalletHub Senior Researcher

What Is a Credit Card Expiration Date?

A credit card expiration date is the month and year when the credit card will stop working, and it appears on the front or back of a credit card in a MM/YY format. For example, if the expiration date on a credit card is 02/25, it means that you can use the card until the end of February 2025. The actual expiration date is usually three to five years after the card is first activated, and you can use the card without interruption through the end of the listed month.

All credit cards have expiration dates, and they actually serve a number of important functions, including fraud prevention. You can learn more below.

Table of Contents

Where Is the Expiration Date on a Credit Card?How Do Credit Card Expiration Dates Work?Reasons for Expiration Dates on Credit CardsTips for Dealing With Credit Card Expiration DatesCredit Card Expiration Date FAQ

Where Is the Expiration Date on a Credit Card?

The expiration date on a credit card is usually located on the front, but it may be on the back of some cards. When it’s on the front of the card, it’s typically printed below the 15-16 digit credit card number.

It should be relatively easy to find the expiration date because it’s the only set of numbers on the card listed in a MM/YY format, such as 01/24 for January 2024 or 12/25 for December 2025. In addition, the expiration date will also be clearly labeled.

Common Ways an Expiration Date Is Labeled

Expiration Date
Expires
Good Thru
Valid Thru

How to Find Your Credit Card Expiration Date Without Your Card

To find out your credit card expiration date without your card, you will likely need to call customer service and answer questions proving your identity to receive that information from the representative. Your expiration date usually won’t be listed in your online account or on your account statements.

How Do Credit Card Expiration Dates Work?

The first two digits indicate the month the card expires.
The second set of numbers indicates the year the card expires.
The card can be used through the last day of the stated month.
After the card expires, it can no longer be used and should be cut up.
The cardholder will receive a replacement card a few weeks before the old card expires, and must activate it to continue using their account.

Reasons for Expiration Dates on Credit Cards

There are a few logical reasons why credit card expiration dates exist.While they primarily serve to benefit card issuers, a credit card company’s interests aren’t always counter to ours as consumers.

Fraud Prevention

The inclusion of expiration dates on credit cards is mandated by fraud prevention agreements between card issuers and card networks (e.g. Visa, Mastercard), as they give payment processors one additional piece of account data to cross-check and verify. This makes it harder for criminals to use stolen credit card numbers (which are much easier to come by than expiration dates) to make unauthorized transactions online or over the phone.

Refresh Inventory

Credit card companies regularly introduce new card designs and security features, and expiration dates give them an opportunity to get as much fresh inventory into circulation as possible. Creditors also have a monetary incentive to improve the ease with which you can use your card.The more you spend, the more issuers make in transaction costs and interest.Since it’s difficult to use a beaten up card with a damaged magnetic stripe, expiration dates allow issuers to keep their customers’ cards functional and keep revenue flowing in.

Reengage with Consumers

Expiration dates give credit card companies a built-in excuse to get in touch with you, maybe reminding you of an unused card that you’d forgotten about or providing the issuer with an opportunity to upsell you on other products and services. In this sense, expiration dates actually help with customer retention.

Tips for Dealing With Credit Card Expiration Dates

Know what your expiration date is. When you first receive your card, be sure to locate your expiration date so you know how long your card is valid.
Keep your expiration date a secret. You will need to provide your expiration date when making a purchase online or over the phone, but you shouldn’t give out the date to anyone aside from that. The more information someone has about your credit card, the easier it is for them to make an unauthorized online purchase.
Keep an eye out for replacement cards. A few weeks before your card expires, you will get a replacement. You must activate this card in order to use it, so you should do that as soon as possible. You don’t need to wait until the day your old card expires to activate the new one. Once you have received and activated your new credit card, even if it's before the expiration of your old card, your old card will no longer be valid.
Dispose of your old credit card. You should dispose of your old card by cutting it up if it’s plastic, or by sending it back to your issuer if it’s metal.

Video: Credit Card Expiration Dates Explained

Credit Card Expiration Date FAQ(12 questions)

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Does a credit card expire at the beginning or end of the month?

WalletHub

@WalletHub

A credit card expires at the end of the month written on the card, not the beginning. You'll find your credit card's expiration dateon the bottom half of your card, below your card number, in a month/year format. The date is usually about three years in the future. So if you have a card that expires in November 2020, you'll be able to use it all the way through the last minute of the last day in November of that year. But the issuer will likely send you a new card automatically before then. The new card's expiration date, security code, and card number will be different, so you'll have to update your information for any automatic payments.

Key Things to Know About Credit Card Expiration Dates

A credit card will expire at the end of the last day of the listed month. So if your card has an expiration date of January 2020, the last time you could use it would be 11:59 PM, January 31st 2020.
A credit card's expiration date is an anti-fraud security measure. It's an extra data point that helps prevent people who might only have your card number from making purchases with your account.
You'll receive your new card by mail one to three months before the old one expires. You'll need to activate your new card to use it, just like you did with the old one.

If you'd rather not keep your account open, you don't have to wait for the expiration date. You can call customer service at any time and inform them of your decision. But closing a card canhurt your credit score, so unless you're losing money on annual fees, it's probably best to keep it open.

View more answers

Upvotes

What is the Amazon Credit Card expiration date?

Is there a Dillard's Store Card expiration date?

WalletHub

@WalletHub

No, there is no Dillard's Store Card expiration date. The card never expires. You will be able to use the same card for as long as your credit card account is open.

Only the American Express version, called the Dillard's Credit Card, has an expiration date. That date is embossed on the front of your card. The card will expire on the last day of the specified month.

Upvotes

What should I do if my Wells Fargo credit card expired?

Robert Sambrick, WalletHub Analyst

@robsam

If your Wells Fargo credit card expired, you should have already received a new one in the mail a few weeks before the expiration date listed on the card. If you didn't receive a new card in the mail and your Wells Fargo credit card expired, you should contact customer service as soon as possible. They'll be able to tell you whether your new card was sent out, and send you a new one if...

Upvotes

How do I check if my credit card is still active?

Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator

@m_adams

The easiest way to check if your credit card is still active is to contact customer service by calling the number you see on the back of your card. A customer care representative should be able to help you find out whether your card is inactive or not. Depending on the credit card you have, there might be several ways to see if it's still active.

Ways to Check if Your Credit Card Is Still...

Upvote

In how many years does a credit card expire?

Adam McCann, Financial Writer

@adam_mcan

A credit card typically expires three to five years after it is issued, but the exact length of time depends on the issuer. The expiration date on a card will show a month and a year, and the card expires on the last day of the month.

Key Facts About Credit Card Expiration

When it happens: 3 to 5 years after a card is issued
Expiration day: Last day of the...

Upvote

Do credit cards expire every 4 years?

John Miller, Credit Cards Moderator

@john_miller

No, not all credit cards expire every 4 years. The expiration date of a credit card varies depending on the issuer, and typically falls within a 3-5 years period from the date that the card was issued. Your credit card's specific expiration date should be located on the front of the card, below the 15 or 16-digit number.

Having an expiration date on a credit card serves as a security feature because it gives payment processors one...

Upvote

What is the longest expiration date for a credit card?

John Miller, Credit Cards Moderator

@john_miller

The longest expiration date for a credit card is typically five years after it is issued. To know when your credit card will expire, look at the front of the card for the date, usually shown in MM/YY format. The expiration date marks the end of that month. When your card is about to expire, you'll typically receive a new one automatically from your credit card issuer. Just keep an eye on the expiration date, and...

Upvotes

Why does my credit card not have a expiration date?

Upvotes

How can I check if a credit card is valid?

Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator

@m_adams

The easiest ways to check if your credit card is still valid is to check its expiration date, look for physical signs of damage, or contact the issuer by calling the number you see on the back of your card. But there are other ways to check whether your credit card is still valid or not.

Ways to Check If Your Credit Card Is Still Valid

Check the Expiration Date: Locate the expiration date...

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