You can have a credit card before 18, but only with a parent or guardian as the account holder
A minor cannot legally open a credit card in their own name. Federal law requires cardholders to be at least 18 years old and able to enter a binding contract. If you are under 18 and want a card, the account must belong to a parent or guardian — you can be added as an authorized user on their existing card, or they can open a new account and add you to it.
Being an authorized user means you get your own card with your name on it and can make purchases, but the account holder is legally responsible for all charges. You do not have your own credit file yet; the account activity reports to the primary cardholder's credit report, not yours. This is the only way a minor can use a credit card with a major issuer.
Some banks and fintech companies offer accounts marketed as "teen cards" or "teen checking with a debit card," but these are not credit cards — they are debit accounts linked to a parent's bank account. They let you spend money that is already there, not borrow money and build credit history.
Key Takeaways
- You must be 18 to open a credit card in your own name; anyone under 18 can only use a card as an authorized user on a parent's or guardian's account.
- As an authorized user, you get a physical card and can make purchases, but the account holder is responsible for all debt and the account reports to their credit report, not yours.
- Teen debit cards and checking accounts are not credit cards and do not build your credit history, though they can teach spending habits.
- Some issuers allow parents to add authorized users as young as 13, while others set the minimum at 16 or 18; check with your parent's card issuer for their policy.
- When you turn 18, you can open your own credit card, and your history as an authorized user may help you get approved if the issuer reports that activity to your credit file.
How being an authorized user works in practice
When a parent adds you as an authorized user, the card issuer issues a card in your name linked to their account. You can use it to buy things online or in stores, and the charges go to the primary account holder's bill. The parent receives the monthly statement, pays the balance, and is responsible if the account goes unpaid or into collections.
Your transactions do appear on the account statement, so the parent can see what you bought and when. Some issuers let parents set spending limits or restrict certain types of purchases through their online account or mobile app. Chase, American Express, Bank of America, and Discover all allow parents to add authorized users, though the minimum age varies — some start at 13, others at 16.
The key difference from having your own card: you are not building your own credit history. The account reports to the primary cardholder's credit report. If the parent pays on time, that helps their credit score, not yours. If they miss a payment, it damages their credit, and you have no separate credit file to protect.
Whether authorized user activity helps your credit when you turn 18
When you turn 18 and open your first card in your own name, your history as an authorized user may or may not help you. It depends on whether the card issuer reported that account to the credit bureaus under your name.
Major issuers like Chase, American Express, and Discover do report authorized user accounts to the credit bureaus in the cardholder's name. This means your credit file will show that account history starting from when you were added — on-time payments, credit utilization, and account age all count toward your credit score. When you apply for your own card at 18, lenders can see this history and may view you as lower risk.
Some smaller banks and credit unions do not report authorized user accounts to the bureaus, so being added to those cards builds no credit history for you. Before your parent adds you, ask the issuer directly: "Will this account report to my credit file as an authorized user?" If they say no, you are getting the spending access but not the credit-building benefit.
Teen debit cards and checking accounts are not credit cards
Many banks offer accounts specifically for teenagers under 18 — Chase First Banking, Bank of America Teen Checking, Capital One MONEY Account, and others. These accounts come with a debit card and are linked to a parent's account or a separate teen account. You can spend money that is already deposited there, but you are not borrowing money and you are not building credit.
These accounts teach spending and budgeting habits and let you make purchases without carrying cash. Some offer parental controls, spending alerts, and the ability to set daily limits. But because no credit is extended, the account does not report to credit bureaus and does not build your credit history. They are useful for learning to manage money, not for establishing credit before you turn 18.
What happens when you turn 18 and want your own card
At 18, you can open a credit card account in your own name. You will need a Social Security number, proof of income or a statement that you have no income, and a current address. If you have been an authorized user on a parent's card and that issuer reported the account to the credit bureaus, you may have a credit score already — often in the 600s or 700s depending on the parent's payment history.
If you have no credit history, you have two paths: apply for a student card (most major issuers offer these with lower credit limits and no annual fee) or ask a parent to co-sign a regular card. A co-signer is different from an authorized user — both of you are legally responsible for the debt, and the account reports to both credit files. This is riskier for the parent but may help you get approved for a better card than you could get alone.
Some issuers also offer secured cards for people with no credit history. You deposit cash as collateral, and the card issuer gives you a credit line equal to that deposit. After 6 to 12 months of on-time payments, you can graduate to a regular card and get your deposit back.
How to choose which parent card to join as an authorized user
If your parent is willing to add you, ask them which cards they have and what the rewards or benefits are. A card with cash back on groceries or gas might be useful if you are buying those things. A card with no annual fee is better than one with a fee, since you are not the one paying it but you benefit from the account being open.
Ask the issuer what the minimum age is for authorized users — some will not add anyone under 16. Also ask whether the account will report to your credit file. If your parent has multiple cards, the one with the best payment history and lowest balance is the best choice for you to join, because that account activity will be what shows up on your credit file.
Be clear with your parent about what you will use the card for and set a budget together. The card is a tool for learning to spend responsibly, not a blank check. If you abuse it or run up charges the parent cannot pay, it damages their credit and the relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a credit card without my parent knowing?
No. You cannot open a credit card account in your own name until you are 18. If you are under 18, any credit card with your name on it must be linked to a parent's or guardian's account, and they must authorize it. The issuer will contact the account holder to add you.
What if my parent refuses to add me as an authorized user?
You cannot get a credit card on your own until you turn 18. In the meantime, a teen debit card or checking account lets you spend money and learn budgeting without credit. At 18, you can open a student credit card or secured card on your own, even if your parent will not help.
Does being an authorized user hurt my parent's credit?
No. Adding you as an authorized user does not change the parent's credit score. Their score is based on their own payment history, credit utilization, and account age — not on who else uses the card. However, if you make large purchases that increase the balance and the parent cannot pay it off, that higher utilization can lower their score.
Can I remove myself as an authorized user?
You can ask the parent to remove you, but you cannot do it yourself. The account holder controls who is authorized on the account. If you want to stop using the card, tell your parent and ask them to contact the issuer to remove you.
Will my authorized user history help me get approved for a card at 18?
It may help if the issuer reported the account to the credit bureaus under your name. Check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com (the free federal site) after you turn 18 to see if the account shows up. If it does and the payment history is good, lenders will see you as lower risk when you apply for your own card.