You can get a credit card under 18, but only as an authorized user on someone else's account, or through a few banks that offer teen checking accounts with debit card features

You cannot open a credit card in your own name until you are 18 years old. Federal law requires you to be a legal adult to sign a credit contract. However, two paths exist for building credit before 18: becoming an authorized user on a parent's or guardian's card, or opening a teen account at a bank that reports activity to credit bureaus.

The authorized user route is the most common. When you are added to someone else's account, their payment history and credit limit show up on your credit report. This means their responsible use builds your credit score before you ever explore for your own card. You do not have to use the card — the account activity alone helps you.

The second route is less common but growing. A handful of banks offer accounts designed for teenagers that function like checking accounts but report to credit bureaus the way credit cards do. These are not credit cards — you cannot borrow money — but they create a credit history you own.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be 18 to open a credit card in your own name, but you can become an authorized user on a parent's or guardian's card at any age.
  • As an authorized user, the account holder's payment history and credit limit appear on your credit report and help build your credit score.
  • Some banks offer teen checking accounts that report to credit bureaus, creating a credit history you own before you turn 18.
  • When you turn 18, you can convert an authorized user account to your own card or open a card designed for people with limited credit history.

How authorized user accounts work

When a parent or guardian adds you as an authorized user, the credit card company reports the account to the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Your credit report will show the account's credit limit, payment history, and current balance. If the account holder pays on time every month and keeps the balance low, your credit score rises even if you never swipe the card.

You do not need to use the card to benefit from it. Some parents add their teenagers as authorized users specifically to build credit without giving them spending power. Others issue a physical card so the teenager can make purchases, but the parent remains responsible for the bill.

The account stays on your credit report until the card holder closes it or removes you. If they close it, the account history remains visible for seven years, which is actually helpful — a long history of on-time payments boosts your score. If they remove you, the account stops affecting your credit when ready.

Banks that offer teen accounts with credit reporting

A small number of banks have created checking accounts for teenagers that report to credit bureaus. These accounts do not extend credit — you cannot spend money you do not have — but the bank reports your account activity to Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion, creating a credit history.

Greenlight and Current are two examples. Both offer debit cards linked to teen accounts and report payment behavior to credit bureaus. The mechanics differ slightly: some report based on whether you stay within your balance, others on whether you meet savings goals. The result is the same — a credit history that starts before you turn 18.

These accounts typically cost between $5 and $15 per month and require a parent or guardian to co-own the account. They are useful if you want to build credit without relying on someone else's account history, but they do not replace a credit card — you cannot borrow money or build a credit limit.

What happens when you turn 18

At 18, you have two options if you are an authorized user: you can ask the card holder to convert your account to a primary cardholder account in your name, or you can explore for your own card elsewhere.

Converting to a primary account is often the easiest path. The card issuer may allow you to take over the account without a new process, especially if you have been an authorized user for a year or more. The account history you built stays with you, and you become responsible for payments going forward.

If you want your own card instead, your credit history as an authorized user gives you an advantage when you explore. Card issuers see that you have been associated with on-time payments and a responsible account. You are more likely to be approved and may may have access to for better terms than someone with no credit history at all.

Risks of being an authorized user

The main risk is that you have no control over the account. If the primary cardholder misses a payment, carries a high balance, or closes the account, your credit score is affected. You cannot fix these problems yourself — you can only ask the account holder to change their behavior.

If the account holder has poor credit habits, being an authorized user can hurt you. A high balance-to-limit ratio or late payments will lower your score. Before you agree to be added to someone's card, ask about their payment history and current balance.

Another consideration: some card issuers do not report authorized user accounts to credit bureaus. Before you are added, ask the card holder to confirm that the issuer reports to all three bureaus. If they do not, the account will not help your credit score.

Building credit as a minor without a credit card

If becoming an authorized user is not an option, a teen checking account is the alternative. These accounts create a credit history you own, which means the account holder cannot close it or remove you without your consent.

You can also ask a parent to co-sign a credit-builder loan at a credit union. These loans are designed specifically to build credit. You borrow a small amount — often $500 to $1,000 — and the credit union holds the money in a savings account while you make monthly payments. Once you repay the loan, you get the money back and have a credit history to show.

Credit-builder loans are less common for minors than for adults, but some credit unions will work with teenagers if a parent co-signs. Call your local credit union and ask whether they offer this product to minors.

What to do when you explore for your first card at 18

If you have been an authorized user or have a teen account, your credit score will be higher than someone with no history. When you explore for your first card, you may may have access to for a standard card rather than a secured card or student card.

If you have no credit history at all, expect to start with a secured card or a student card. Secured cards require a cash deposit that becomes your credit limit — you might deposit $500 and receive a $500 limit. Student cards are designed for people under 25 with limited credit history and typically have lower limits and higher interest rates than standard cards.

Whichever card you choose, the goal is the same: use it for small purchases you can pay off in full each month. This builds a strong payment history that qualifies you for better cards and lower rates later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a credit card at 17 if I have a job?

No. Federal law requires you to be 18 to sign a credit contract, regardless of income or employment. Having a job does not change this requirement. Your best option is to become an authorized user on a parent's card or open a teen checking account that reports to credit bureaus.

Will being an authorized user hurt my credit if the account holder misses a payment?

Yes. Late payments on the account will lower your credit score because the account appears on your credit report. Before you agree to be added, ask the account holder about their payment history and current balance. If they have missed payments in the past, the risk may outweigh the benefit.

Can I remove myself from an authorized user account?

You cannot remove yourself directly, but you can ask the primary cardholder to remove you. Once removed, the account stops affecting your credit when ready. However, the account history remains on your report for seven years, which is usually helpful if the payment history was good.

Do all credit cards report authorized user accounts to credit bureaus?

No. Some issuers do not report authorized user accounts to the credit bureaus. Before you are added to an account, ask the cardholder to confirm with their issuer that the account will be reported. If it will not, being an authorized user will not help your credit score.

What is the difference between a secured card and a student card?

A secured card requires a cash deposit that becomes your credit limit — you might deposit $500 and get a $500 limit. A student card does not require a deposit but typically has a lower limit and higher interest rate. Both are designed for people building credit for the first time.