A credit card is valid for the years printed on its face, usually three to five years from the month it was issued
The expiration date on your card — printed as two digits for month and year, like 03/27 — tells you the last month you can use that physical card. A card issued in March 2024 with an expiration of 03/27 works through the end of March 2027. After that date, the card stops working at checkout, online, or at an ATM.
The card itself is just plastic. Your actual credit account — the line of credit, your balance, your payment history — continues whether the card expires or not. When your card expires, your bank or credit card company sends you a replacement card with a new expiration date, usually four to six weeks before the old one stops working. The account number on the new card is often the same as the old one, though some issuers change it for security reasons.
Key Takeaways
- Credit cards expire three to five years after issue, with the expiration date printed on the front as month and year.
- Your credit account stays open after the card expires; only the physical card stops working.
- Banks send replacement cards automatically four to six weeks before expiration, so you should receive a new one without asking.
- If you don't receive a replacement card, contact your bank to request one or confirm your mailing address is current.
- Recurring charges (subscriptions, autopay bills) linked to your old card may fail after expiration unless you update them with the new card number.
Why cards expire at all
Expiration dates exist for security and wear. A card that sits in a wallet for five years gets bent, scratched, and faded. The magnetic stripe or chip degrades. The bank also wants to reissue cards periodically to update security features — newer cards have better fraud protection than older ones, and the expiration cycle forces that upgrade.
Expiration also gives the card company a natural moment to review your account. If you've missed payments, run up debt, or shown other risk, they may not send a replacement. If they do send one, they might lower your credit limit. This is rare for accounts in good standing, but it happens.
What happens when your card expires
On the expiration date itself, the card stops working. You can't swipe it, insert it, or use the number online. If you try, the transaction will be declined. This is true even if you have available credit and your account is in good standing — the card is straightforward no longer valid.
Your account and credit history don't disappear. Your balance (if you have one) is still owed. Your payment history stays on your credit report. You just can't use that particular piece of plastic or its number for new transactions until you have a replacement.
How to get a replacement card
In most cases, you don't have to do anything. Your bank sends a new card automatically four to six weeks before expiration. Check your mailbox during that window. The new card arrives with the same account number (usually), a new expiration date, and a new security code on the back.
If you don't receive a replacement card by two weeks before expiration, call the customer service number on your statement or the back of your current card. Confirm your mailing address is correct — mail sent to an old address won't reach you. Ask them to send a replacement when ready. If your address recently changed, update it before requesting the card.
If you need a card sooner than the automatic replacement arrives, some banks offer expedited shipping for a fee (usually $15 to $25) or can issue a temporary card number you can use online while you wait for the physical card.
Updating recurring charges before expiration
This is the most common problem people face when a card expires. If you have subscriptions, autopay bills, or other recurring charges linked to your old card, those payments will fail once the card expires. Your streaming service, gym membership, insurance payment, or loan autopay will all bounce.
Before your card expires, log into each service where you've saved the card and update the payment method. Use the new card number, expiration date, and security code. Do this at least a week before expiration to avoid missed payments. If you forget and a payment fails, contact the service to update it and ask whether they can retry the charge.
Some banks offer a service where they automatically update merchants with your new card number, but this doesn't work everywhere. Don't rely on it — update the charges yourself to be certain.
What happens to your credit if you don't use the replacement
If your bank sends a replacement card and you never set up it or use it, your account stays open. The card just sits unused. Your credit history and account remain active, and you can still use the account if you need to — you just have to request another card or ask the bank to reactivate the unused one.
However, if you don't use a credit card for a long time (usually 12 months or more), the bank may close the account due to inactivity. A closed account can lower your credit score because it reduces your total available credit. To keep an account open, use the card occasionally — even a small purchase every few months is enough.
Replacing a lost or damaged card before expiration
If your card is lost, stolen, or damaged before the expiration date, contact your bank when ready. They will cancel the old card and send a replacement with a new number and security code. This is different from a routine expiration replacement — the new card arrives faster (usually three to seven business days) because it's a security issue.
While you wait for the replacement, you can't use that card, but your account is still active. Ask your bank if they can issue a temporary card number for online purchases or if they offer a mobile wallet option (Apple Pay, Google Pay) so you can still make payments with your phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my credit card after the expiration date?
No. Once the expiration date passes, the card stops working everywhere — in stores, online, and at ATMs. You'll need the replacement card your bank sends before that date. If you don't receive one, contact your bank to request it.
Will my credit score drop when my card expires?
No. The expiration of the card itself doesn't affect your credit score. Your account and payment history remain the same. Your score only changes if you miss payments or if the bank closes the account due to inactivity.
What if my new card arrives but I'm still using the old one?
Stop using the old card once you receive the new one. The old card will stop working on the expiration date anyway. Update any recurring charges to the new card number before that date to avoid failed payments.
Do I have to pay a fee to get a replacement card?
No. Routine replacement cards sent before expiration are free. You only pay a fee if you request expedited shipping or if you lose the card and need an emergency replacement sent faster than normal.
What if I lose my replacement card in the mail?
Contact your bank as soon as you realize it's missing. They can cancel that card and send another one. If someone else receives it, they can't use it without the security code, but it's safer to have it replaced anyway.