Change your card in Account Settings in under two minutes
To change the credit card Amazon charges, go to Your Account in the top right corner, select Login & security, then scroll down to Manage your payment methods. From there you can delete an old card and add a new one. Amazon will use whichever card you mark as your default for future purchases.
If you're updating a card because it expired or was compromised, you don't have to delete the old one first — you can add the new card and then remove the old one. If you're in the middle of a purchase and need to swap cards, you can also change your payment method at checkout without touching Account Settings.
Key Takeaways
- The fastest way to change your card is through Your Account > Login & security > Manage your payment methods, where you can add and remove cards in seconds.
- You can change your card at checkout on any order without saving it to your account if you only need it for that one purchase.
- If a card is declined at checkout, Amazon will ask you to add a different payment method before you can complete the order.
- Removing an old card does not affect past orders or refunds — Amazon keeps a record of what you paid with regardless.
- If you have an Amazon Store Card or Prime Visa, you manage those through the same payment methods page as regular credit cards.
Add a new card to your account before removing the old one
Open Amazon and click Your Account in the top right. Select Login & security from the menu. Scroll down until you see Manage your payment methods and click it.
Click the Add a payment method button. Enter your card number, expiration date, CVV (the three-digit code on the back), and the cardholder's name and billing address. Amazon will verify the card with a small charge that appears within a few days — you don't need to do anything with it. Once verified, the card is ready to use.
After the new card is added and verified, you can go back to Manage your payment methods and delete the old card by clicking the trash icon next to it. Set your new card as the default if you want Amazon to use it automatically for future orders.
Change your card at checkout without saving it to your account
If you only need to use a different card for one order, you don't have to add it to your account permanently. During checkout, in the Payment method section, click Change or Add a payment method. You can enter a card number that exists only for that transaction.
This is useful if you're using someone else's card, testing a new card before you save it, or paying with a card you rarely use. The card will not be stored unless you check the box to save it for future purchases.
What happens if your card is declined at checkout
If Amazon cannot process your card, you'll see a message at checkout saying the payment was declined. Click Change payment method and enter a different card. Amazon will attempt to charge the new card when ready.
If the same card keeps declining, contact your bank — they may have blocked the charge for fraud protection, or the card may have expired or been reported lost. Your bank can tell you why the charge was rejected and whether you need to use a different card.
Manage cards linked to your Amazon account
Every card you've added to Amazon appears in your Manage your payment methods page, even if you're not using it anymore. You can have multiple cards saved at once. To see all of them, go to Your Account > Login & security > Manage your payment methods.
Each card shows the last four digits, the cardholder name, and the expiration date. You can set any card as your default by clicking the radio button next to it. When you delete a card, it's removed from your account when ready, but Amazon keeps a record of past purchases made with that card for your order history and refunds.
Update a card that's about to expire
If a card on your account is expiring soon, Amazon will sometimes prompt you to update it before the expiration date arrives. You'll see a notification in Your Account or at checkout asking you to add a new card or update the expiration date of an existing one.
You can also update it yourself before Amazon asks. Go to Manage your payment methods, find the card that's expiring, and click the pencil icon to edit it. Update the expiration date and CVV, then save. If you have a replacement card from the same bank with a new expiration date, it's usually easier to add the new card and delete the old one instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my card affect orders I've already placed?
No. Past orders are tied to the card you used when you placed them, and changing your payment method does not affect them. If you're waiting for a refund, it will go back to the original card you used, even if you've deleted that card from your account since then.
Can I use a debit card instead of a credit card?
Yes. Amazon accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover debit cards the same way it accepts credit cards. Add it to your account through Manage your payment methods and use it like any other card. Some debit cards may have daily spending limits set by your bank, which could prevent large purchases.
What if I want to use a different card for each purchase?
You can change your default card before each order, or add a new card at checkout without saving it. If you change your default card in Account Settings, future orders will use the new card unless you change it again at checkout. There's no limit to how many cards you can add to your account.
Do I need to update my card if I got a replacement card with the same number?
If your bank sent you a replacement card with the same number but a new expiration date and CVV, you can edit the card in Manage your payment methods instead of deleting and re-adding it. Click the pencil icon next to the card and update the expiration date and CVV. If the card number changed, add the new card and delete the old one.
What payment methods does Amazon accept besides credit cards?
Amazon accepts credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, Amazon gift cards, and Amazon Store Card. Some accounts can also use bank transfers or other regional payment methods depending on your location. You manage all of these through the same Manage your payment methods page.