Not using a credit card does not hurt your credit score, but it can affect how lenders see you over time
A credit card sitting unused in a drawer will not damage your credit. Your score is built on payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, credit mix, and new credit inquiries — not on whether you actually swipe the card. You can hold a card for years without using it and see no negative impact on your three-digit score.
The real issue is what happens when a card issuer decides an unused account is not worth keeping open. If your card goes dormant long enough, the bank may close it without asking. When that happens, you lose available credit, which can raise your credit utilization ratio (the percentage of your total credit limit you are using). That shift can lower your score, even though you did nothing wrong.
The other consideration is that not using credit at all — across all your accounts — means you have no recent payment history to show lenders. If you have not borrowed or paid back anything in two years, a mortgage lender or car lender will have less recent data to assess your reliability.
Key Takeaways
- An unused credit card will not lower your score by itself, but the card issuer may close it if it sits dormant too long.
- When a card is closed, your available credit shrinks, which can raise your credit utilization ratio and lower your score.
- A small purchase every few months, paid off in full, keeps the account active without costing you money or interest.
- If you never use credit anywhere, lenders have no recent payment history to review, which can make borrowing harder later.
- Closing a card yourself has the same effect on utilization as the bank closing it, so inactivity is preferable to cancellation.
Why card issuers close inactive accounts
Banks make money when you carry a balance and pay interest, or when merchants pay them a small fee on your purchases. An unused card generates neither. After a certain period of inactivity — typically 6 to 12 months, though this varies by issuer — the bank may decide the account is not worth maintaining and close it.
You will usually receive a notice before closure, but not always. Some issuers close quietly. The closure itself does not hurt your score, but the loss of available credit does. If you had a $5,000 limit and were using $2,000 across other cards, your utilization was 40 percent. After the card closes, your total available credit drops to $5,000, and your utilization jumps to 40 percent of a smaller pool — which can lower your score by a few points.
How to keep a card active without using it much
The simplest way to prevent closure is to use the card occasionally. A single small purchase every three to six months — a coffee, a gas fill-up, a streaming subscription — is usually enough to keep the account flagged as active. Pay the full balance when the bill arrives so you owe no interest.
Some people set up a recurring small charge, like a subscription they already pay for, and let the card handle it automatically. This removes the need to remember to use it. As long as the charge posts and you pay the bill, the account stays open.
If you want to be certain the card will not close, contact the issuer directly and ask what their inactivity policy is. Some cards have no closure policy at all, particularly premium cards with annual fees (which you are already paying, so the bank has revenue regardless of use). Knowing the threshold for your specific card removes the guesswork.
The difference between not using credit and never using credit
There is a meaningful difference between having a credit card you do not use and having no credit history at all. A card you hold but do not touch still shows up on your credit report as an open account with a zero balance — a sign of financial responsibility. Lenders can see you have access to credit and are not using it, which is generally viewed as a positive.
If you have never borrowed money, never had a credit card, and never taken a loan, you have no credit history. This is not the same as a bad credit score. It is an absence of data. When you eventually need to borrow — for a car, a mortgage, or even renting an apartment — lenders have nothing to review. Some will deny you outright. Others will charge you a higher rate because they cannot assess your risk.
Building credit takes time. A single card used lightly and paid in full each month, held for a few years, creates a track record that makes future borrowing easier and cheaper.
What happens if you close a card you are not using
Closing a card yourself has the same effect on your credit as the bank closing it: you lose available credit, your utilization ratio rises, and your score may drop. The difference is that you control the timing. If you close a card, you know when it happens and can plan around it.
The score impact is usually temporary. Within a few months, as you continue to pay other accounts on time, your score typically recovers. But if you are planning to borrow soon — explore for a mortgage or car loan in the next few months — closing a card right before you explore can work against you.
If you dislike having unused cards, the better move is to keep them open but use them minimally, rather than closing them. The account stays active, your available credit stays high, and your score stays stable.
When not using a card actually makes sense
There are situations where keeping a card unused is the right choice. If a card has an annual fee and you do not use it enough to justify that fee, you might close it — accepting the temporary score hit in exchange for saving money. If the card has a high interest rate and you are worried you might use it in a moment of weakness, not using it is safer than canceling it.
Some people keep multiple cards open for emergencies but use only one or two regularly. This is a sound strategy. The unused cards sit there as backup, your available credit stays high, and you have options if your primary card is lost or compromised.
The key is intention. If you are not using a card because you forgot about it, set a calendar reminder to use it once every few months. If you are not using it because you do not need it and do not want to pay a fee, close it and accept the small, temporary score impact. Either way, the decision is yours — inactivity alone will not hurt you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my credit score go down if I stop using a credit card?
No, straightforward not using the card will not lower your score. However, if the issuer closes the account due to inactivity, your available credit shrinks and your utilization ratio may rise, which can lower your score slightly. Using the card once every few months prevents closure.
How long can I leave a credit card unused before the bank closes it?
Most issuers close accounts after 6 to 12 months of inactivity, though the exact timeline varies. Premium cards with annual fees are less likely to close. Contact your issuer to learn their specific policy, or use the card occasionally to avoid the question altogether.
Is it better to close a card or leave it open and unused?
Leaving it open is better for your credit score. Closing a card reduces your available credit and raises your utilization ratio, both of which can lower your score. An open, unused card has no downside as long as there is no annual fee.
Does having a credit card I never use hurt my chances of getting a loan?
No. Lenders look at your payment history and utilization, not whether you use every card you own. An unused card with a zero balance actually looks good — it shows you have credit available and are not maxing it out.
What is the cheapest way to keep a card active?
Use it for a small recurring charge you already pay for, like a streaming service or gas, and pay the full balance each month. This costs nothing extra and keeps the account flagged as active. Alternatively, make one small purchase every few months and pay it off when ready.