Credit Card Expiration Dates: What You Need To Know (2024)

Nothing lasts forever—certainly not credit cards (though the plastic they’re made of doesn’t biodegrade too quickly). Here’s what any cardholder should know about credit card expiration dates.

What Does the Expiration Date Mean on a Credit Card?

An expiration date on a credit card is simply the date on which the card itself will no longer work and must be replaced. For cardholders, it doesn’t mean the actual credit account will cease to exist, it simply means you’ll need a new piece of plastic from the bank. Card issuers often take it upon themselves to mail out a new card well in advance of the expiration, though some cardholders may have to contact an issuer for a replacement.

How To Find Your Credit Card Expiration Date

Expiration dates appear on the front or back of a credit card in a two-digit month/year format. Credit cards expire at the end of the month written on the card. For example, a credit card’s expiration date may read as 11/24, which means the card is active through the last day of November 2024. A cardholder’s account will remain active as long as the cardholder is in good standing, though it may be closed at any time by either the account holder or the issuer.

How Credit Card Expiration Dates Are Determined

Credit cards expire every three to five years, depending on the issuer. Banks set expiration dates based on a number of factors, including physical wear-and-tear on the card, security and encouraging consumers to reevaluate their credit card plans for upgrade.

What Happens After a Credit Card Expires

After a credit card expires, it will no longer be possible to use it to make purchases. The card won’t work in stores and with online purchases and will return a “declined” notice from the bank.

Most credit card issuers automatically mail cardholders a replacement card 30 to 60 days before the card’s expiration date. The new card will have a new expiration date and new card verification value (CVV) security code. Unless the account is upgraded or product changed, the credit card number usually stays the same.

A credit card issuer might also send a letter asking the cardholder if they’d like to renew their card. The card issuer then has the option to reevaluate an account before they send out a new card. This might happen if the cardholder is in poor standing or has ceased using the account, in which case the issuer may decide to terminate the relationship and not send a new card as a result).

What To Do When the New Card Arrives

Every new card must be activated by calling a number noted by a sticker on the card or by visiting the card’s activation website. To verify identity, activation requires the cardholder to provide accompanying documentation or to log in to the associated online account.

Review that the terms are what you were approved for by checking the card’s APR, payment due dates, credit limit and any associated fees. Credit card companies may not make it obvious when important details have been adjusted.

Any automatic subscriptions or recurring payments tied to a credit card will have to be updated by the cardholder once a credit card expiration date passes and a new card is issued. Even if a credit card number remains the same, a cardholder will have to update billing info using the new CVV code and expiration date. It may seem like a hassle, but credit card expiration dates help all parties involved ensure financial information remains secure.

How To Dispose of an Expired Credit Card

Old credit cards should be destroyed or recycled. Some experts recommend shredding old credit cards to protect the credit card number from falling into nefarious hands. Cutting the card into small bits before tossing into the trash works as well. Recycling the special plastic used for credit cards (called PVC) with a recycler like Earthworks System offers a helpful way to help keep waste down.

Metal cards are harder to dispose of properly. Most can be sent back to the issuing bank or company for secure recycling in a special envelope provided when the new card arrives. (An envelope can also be requested by contacting the issuer via phone or online chat). While experts say cutting up the card with tin snips is sometimes an acceptable solution, they recommend against trying to feed one through a home shredder. Cardholders should steer clear of third-party disposal services. The only place someone should mail an old card for disposal is the place it came from.

Why Do Credit Cards Expire?

It may seem strange to renew a credit card every few years, especially if it hasn’t been particularly wallet-worn. Credit card issuers have a few incentives to keep up with this practice:

1. Important parts of the card may wear out. The magnetic strip on the back of a credit card may rub off over time or become less effective, even if the card doesn’t appear worse for wear. The card’s plastic may also chip or fall apart. Receiving a new card every few years is a surefire way to prevent any inconvenient purchase disruptions.
2. The expiration date is a vital anti-fraud security measure. Combined with the CVV code on the back of a card, the expiration date prevents people who have gained access to only the credit card number from making fraudulent purchases. Renewing this date more frequently limits opportunities for this fraud.
3. It’s an opportunity for credit card companies to renew inventory. New card technology like chips or tap-to-pay abilities benefit both the issuer and the customer. When cards are renewed, both parties can be sure that the cardholder is using the most up-to-date version with maximum security and updated technology.
4. It’s a marketing opportunity for the credit card company. Sometimes the card issuer will take it upon themselves to upsell the customer with an upgraded account. They may notify a customer of new deals, which could lead the customer to sign up for an entirely new account instead of or in addition to their existing one. It’s also an excuse for the issuer to remind an inactive customer of a forgotten card.

Bottom Line

Credit card expiration dates can feel like a hassle, but they have some specific benefits. Not only do they provide a shiny new card in the mail, they also help ensure a card is always in working order when you set out to use it and provide critical protection against fraud. Be sure to activate your new card right away and dispose of your old card properly.