Adding a card takes three steps: go to Your Account, select Payment Options, and enter your card details

To add a credit card to Amazon, sign in to your account, navigate to Your Account in the top right corner, and select Login & security or Your payments depending on your region. From there, choose Payment options and select Add a payment method. Enter your card number, expiration date, CVV (the three-digit code on the back), and billing address, then save. Amazon will verify the card with a small temporary charge that appears and disappears within a few days.

The entire process takes about five minutes. You do not need to remove an existing card first — Amazon lets you store multiple payment methods and choose which one to use at checkout. If you are adding a card for the first time, it becomes your default unless you change it later.

Key Takeaways

  • Sign in to Amazon, go to Your Account, and select Payment options to add a new card.
  • Amazon verifies new cards with a temporary charge that reverses within a few days — this is normal and not a real charge.
  • You can store multiple cards and choose which one to use each time you order.
  • Your billing address must match the address on file with your card issuer, or the card may be declined.
  • If a card is declined, contact your bank to check for fraud blocks or call Amazon customer service to troubleshoot.

Where to find the payment options menu

Open Amazon.com and sign in with your email and password. In the top right corner, hover over Account & Lists and click Your Account. On the next page, look for a section labeled Login & security or Your payments — the exact label depends on your country and account type.

Click on that section. You will see a list of payment methods you have already saved. Below that list is a button or link that says Add a payment method or Add a card. Click it to open the card entry form.

What information you need to enter

Amazon asks for the card number (16 digits for most cards), the expiration date (month and year), and the CVV — the three-digit security code on the back of the card, or four digits if you are using an American Express. You will also enter the cardholder's name and the billing address associated with the card.

The billing address is important: it must match the address your bank has on file. If the address you enter does not match, Amazon's fraud detection system may decline the card at checkout, even if the card itself is valid. If you have moved recently and updated your address with Amazon but not with your bank, update your bank's records first or use the old address when adding the card.

How Amazon verifies the card

After you submit your card details, Amazon places a small temporary charge on the card — usually between $0.01 and $1.00 — to confirm the card is real and active. This charge appears in your bank statement but is reversed (removed) within three to five business days. You do not need to do anything; the reversal happens automatically.

If the charge does not reverse after a week, contact your bank and ask them to remove the pending charge. This is rare. Once the charge posts and reverses, your card is active and ready to use on Amazon.

Managing multiple cards and setting a default

You can add as many cards as you want to your Amazon account. Each time you place an order, you can choose which card to use at checkout. To set one card as your default (the one Amazon suggests first), go back to Your Account > Payment options, find the card you want to use most often, and select Make default or a similar option.

If you want to remove a card you no longer use, open the payment options menu, find the card, and select Delete. You cannot delete the card you are currently using for a subscription or active order, so cancel or change those first.

What to do if the card is declined

If Amazon declines your card when you try to add it or use it, the most common reasons are a mismatched billing address, a fraud block from your bank, or the card being expired or inactive. First, double-check that the address you entered matches exactly what your bank has on file — including spelling, abbreviations, and apartment numbers.

If the address is correct, call your bank's customer service number (on the back of your card) and tell them you are trying to add the card to Amazon. Banks sometimes block online transactions as a fraud prevention measure. Your bank can temporarily lift the block or confirm the card is active. Once you have done that, try adding the card to Amazon again.

If the card is still declined and your bank says it is active, contact Amazon customer service through the Contact Us link at the bottom of any Amazon page. They can see the decline reason and help you troubleshoot further.

Using a debit card or prepaid card instead

Amazon accepts debit cards and prepaid cards the same way it accepts credit cards. Enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV just as you would for a credit card. The verification process is identical — Amazon will place a small temporary charge and reverse it within a few days.

Prepaid cards sometimes decline if they have a low balance or if the card issuer blocks online transactions. If your prepaid card is declined, check the balance and contact the card issuer to ask if they allow online purchases. Some prepaid cards require you to register them with a billing address before they work online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Amazon charge my card just to add it?

Amazon places a temporary charge of $0.01 to $1.00 to verify the card is real, but this charge is reversed within three to five business days. It is not a real purchase and does not count toward your account balance.

Can I use the same card for multiple Amazon accounts?

Yes. One card can be added to as many Amazon accounts as you want. Each account manages its own payment methods separately, so adding a card to one account does not affect another.

What if I do not see the payment options menu?

The menu location varies by country and account type. Try going to Your Account and looking for sections labeled "Login & security," "Your payments," or "Payment methods." If you still cannot find it, use the search bar at the top of Your Account and search for "payment." Amazon will show you the right page.

Can I add a card without a billing address?

No. Amazon requires a billing address for every card. If you do not have a permanent address, use a mailing address, a work address, or ask if your bank will accept a PO box as your billing address.

Is it safe to store my card on Amazon?

Amazon uses encryption and fraud detection to protect stored card information. Your card details are not shown in full on your account — Amazon displays only the last four digits. If you are uncomfortable storing a card, you can delete it after each purchase and add a new one next time, though this is slower.