You cannot get a credit card in your own name at 13

Credit card companies are required by federal law to lend only to people who are at least 18 years old. This rule comes from the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (CARD Act), passed in 2009. At 13, you do not have the legal capacity to sign a binding contract, which is what a credit card agreement is.

That does not mean you have zero options for building credit habits or learning how credit works. There are real paths forward that start now and set you up to get your own card the moment you turn 18.

Key Takeaways

  • Federal law requires you to be 18 to hold a credit card in your own name, regardless of your income or credit history.
  • A secured credit card becomes available at 18 and requires a cash deposit but reports to credit bureaus, building your credit from zero.
  • A authorized user account lets you use a parent's or guardian's card now, and their payment history counts toward your credit score starting at age 13 or younger.
  • A student credit card is designed for 18-year-olds in college and typically has lower credit limits and fewer rewards than standard cards.
  • Starting now with a debit card or savings account teaches spending discipline and gives you a transaction history that some lenders review at 18.

Why the age 18 requirement exists

Credit card companies need someone who can be held legally responsible if they do not pay. At 13, you cannot sign a contract that a court would enforce against you. A parent or guardian can cancel any agreement you tried to make, which leaves the card issuer with no way to collect if you stopped paying.

The CARD Act also limits how credit card companies can market to young people and how much they can charge in fees. These protections exist because teenagers are still learning how money works, and the law recognizes that risk.

Becoming an authorized user on a parent's card

An authorized user is someone who gets a card linked to someone else's account — usually a parent or guardian. You can use the card to make purchases, but the account holder is legally responsible for all charges and payments. Most credit card companies allow authorized users as young as 13, and some have no age minimum.

The real benefit is that the account's payment history reports to the credit bureaus under your name. If your parent pays on time every month, that positive history builds your credit score even though you are not the one making the payments. By the time you turn 18, you may already have several years of credit history.

Ask your parent or guardian to contact their card issuer and request to add you as an authorized user. You will typically receive a card in the mail within one to two weeks. You do not need income, a Social Security number, or a credit check — the issuer only verifies the account holder's information.

Building credit with a secured card at 18

A secured credit card is designed for people with no credit history or poor credit. You deposit cash into a savings account held by the card issuer — usually between $200 and $2,500 — and that deposit becomes your credit limit. You use the card like any other credit card, and your payments report to all three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

The deposit is not a fee. It sits in the bank's account and protects them if you do not pay your bill. After 6 to 18 months of on-time payments, many issuers convert your secured card to a regular unsecured card and return your deposit. Some cards, like the Capital One Secured Mastercard and the Discover Secured Card, are known for this conversion path.

Secured cards do charge interest if you carry a balance, and some charge annual fees. Read the terms carefully before you open one. The goal is to charge small amounts and pay them off in full each month — that builds credit faster than carrying a balance.

Student credit cards at 18

Once you turn 18 and are enrolled in college, you become may be able to access for a student credit card. These cards are marketed to people with little or no credit history and typically have lower credit limits — often $500 to $2,500 — than standard cards. They may offer rewards on categories like dining or gas, though the rewards rate is usually lower than premium cards.

Student cards still require you to prove income or have a co-signer. Some issuers accept part-time work, work-study income, or even financial aid as income. Others require a parent to co-sign, meaning they are legally responsible if you do not pay.

Examples include the Discover Student Card, the Capital One Journey Student Card, and the Chase Freedom Student Card. Compare the annual fee (many have none), the interest rate, and the rewards before you choose.

What you can do right now at 13

Start with a debit card or a savings account in your own name. Many banks offer teen checking accounts that let you manage money, see transactions online, and learn spending discipline without borrowing. This account history does not build credit — credit only comes from borrowing and repaying — but it shows lenders at 18 that you have managed money responsibly.

If your parent or guardian has a credit card, ask to become an authorized user. This is the single fastest way to build credit before 18. You do not have to use the card; the payment history counts whether you swipe it or not.

Talk to your parent or guardian about how credit works: what interest is, why on-time payments matter, what a credit score measures, and what happens if you miss a payment. By 18, you will understand these things from experience rather than reading about them.

What happens at 18

The moment you turn 18, you can open a credit card in your own name. If you have been an authorized user for a few years, you will have a credit score already — often in the 700s or higher if payments were always on time. This head start means you may may have access to for better cards with lower interest rates and better rewards.

If you have no credit history at 18, a secured card is your entry point. It costs money to open (the deposit), but it is the most reliable way to build credit from zero.

Either way, the habits you build now — tracking spending, understanding how interest works, knowing why payment dates matter — will shape how you use credit for the next 50 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a credit card if my parent co-signs?

No. A co-signer makes the parent legally responsible for the debt, but the card is still in the parent's name, not yours. You would be an authorized user instead. At 18, you can open a card with a co-signer, but the card will be in your name and your credit history.

Does being an authorized user hurt my parent's credit?

No. Adding you as an authorized user does not change your parent's credit score or their ability to borrow. If the account is paid late, it hurts both of your credit scores. If it is paid on time, it helps both of you.

What if I turn 18 and have no credit history?

A secured card is your best option. You deposit $200 to $2,500, get a card with that amount as your limit, and use it like a regular card. After 6 to 18 months of on-time payments, the issuer usually converts it to a regular card and returns your deposit.

Can I build credit without a credit card?

Yes, but it is slower. Paying rent, utilities, or a car loan on time builds credit if the lender reports to the credit bureaus. Many landlords and utility companies do not report, so a credit card is usually the fastest path. At 18, you can also become an authorized user on someone else's card if you have not already.