You can get a credit card under 18, but only as an authorized user on someone else's account, not as the primary cardholder

A primary cardholder — the person whose name appears first on the account and who is legally responsible for the debt — must be at least 18 years old. This is federal law under the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (CARD Act). However, you can be added to an existing account as an authorized user at any age, even younger than 13, depending on the card issuer's rules.

The difference matters. As an authorized user, you receive a card linked to the account and can make purchases, but you are not legally responsible for paying the balance. The primary cardholder is. You also do not build your own credit history from an authorized user account — the account activity reports to the primary cardholder's credit file, not yours.

Some card issuers allow authorized users to be added at age 13 or 15; others have no stated age minimum. A few require authorized users to be at least 16. Call the card issuer directly or check their website to confirm their policy before asking a parent or guardian to add you.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be 18 to open your own credit card account as the primary cardholder, but you can be added as an authorized user at a younger age depending on the issuer's policy.
  • As an authorized user, you can use the card to make purchases, but the primary cardholder is responsible for paying the bill.
  • Authorized user accounts do not build your own credit history — the activity reports only to the primary cardholder's credit file.
  • When you turn 18, you can apply for your own card, and issuers often offer student cards or cards designed for first-time cardholders with limited credit history.

How authorized user accounts work

When a parent or guardian adds you as an authorized user, the card issuer issues you a card with your name on it linked to their account. You can use that card to make purchases at stores, online, or anywhere the card is accepted. The purchases are added to the primary cardholder's bill.

The primary cardholder receives the monthly statement showing all charges made by all authorized users on the account. They are responsible for paying the full balance, including any charges you made. If the bill is not paid on time, the late payment appears on their credit report, not yours.

Some card issuers allow you to set spending limits on an authorized user card, or they may require the primary cardholder to approve large purchases. Ask the cardholder to check with their issuer about what controls are available.

What happens to your credit when you are an authorized user

Being an authorized user does not create a credit file in your name. The account activity — the balance, payment history, credit limit, and age of the account — reports only to the primary cardholder's credit report. When you turn 18 and apply for your own card, you will have no credit history yet, even if you have been using an authorized user card for years.

However, some credit scoring models do count authorized user accounts when calculating a credit score, even though the account does not appear on your own credit report. This means that if the primary cardholder pays on time and keeps the balance low, the account may help your score slightly when you apply for credit. If the account has late payments or a high balance, it could hurt your score.

You can request to be removed from an account if the primary cardholder's payment habits are poor, or if you simply want to stop using the card. Contact the card issuer and ask to be removed as an authorized user. The account will no longer appear in any credit calculation for you.

Building your own credit history once you turn 18

At 18, you become legally able to sign a contract, which means you can open your own credit card account and be the primary cardholder. Many issuers offer student credit cards or first-time cardholder cards designed for people with no credit history or limited credit history. These cards typically have lower credit limits and higher interest rates than cards for established borrowers, but they allow you to start building your own credit file.

When you open your first card, the account appears on your credit report under your name. Every payment you make, every balance you carry, and every month the account stays open builds your credit history. After six months to a year of on-time payments and responsible use, you become may be able to access for cards with better terms and lower interest rates.

Some people who were authorized users on a parent's account find it easier to get approved for their first card because the credit scoring model may have already factored in the authorized user account. However, this is not may provide, and some issuers do not count authorized user accounts at all.

Choosing between staying as an authorized user and opening your own card

If you are under 18 and want to use a credit card, being an authorized user is your only option. There is no way around the age requirement for primary cardholders. However, once you turn 18, you have a choice: you can stay as an authorized user on the primary cardholder's account, or you can open your own card.

Staying as an authorized user is simpler — you do not have to manage a bill or worry about interest charges. But you do not build your own credit history, which you will need when you apply for a car loan, a mortgage, or other forms of credit later. Opening your own card means taking on the responsibility of paying the bill on time each month, but it builds your credit file from the ground up.

Many people do both: they keep the authorized user card for everyday purchases or emergencies, and they open their own card to start building independent credit. There is no rule against having both.

What to know about the primary cardholder's responsibility

The primary cardholder is legally responsible for all charges on the account, including charges made by authorized users. If you make a purchase as an authorized user and the primary cardholder does not pay the bill, the debt is theirs, not yours. However, the late payment or default will damage their credit, not yours.

This is why it is important to use an authorized user card responsibly. If you make large purchases or run up a high balance, you are putting the primary cardholder at financial risk. They may struggle to pay the bill, or they may ask you to pay them back. Before using an authorized user card, talk to the primary cardholder about what they are comfortable with and what they expect you to pay for.

If the primary cardholder wants to remove you from the account, they can contact the card issuer and request it. Once you are removed, you can no longer use that card, and the account will no longer count toward your credit score.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my own credit card at 16 or 17?

No. Federal law requires the primary cardholder to be at least 18. Some states have additional rules, but none allow 16- or 17-year-olds to open their own account. You can only be an authorized user at that age.

Will being an authorized user help me get approved for my own card at 18?

It may help, depending on the issuer and the credit scoring model they use. If the authorized user account has a good payment history and low balance, some issuers will view you as lower risk. However, not all issuers count authorized user accounts, so approval is not may provide. You will still need to meet the issuer's income and identity requirements.

What if the primary cardholder stops paying the bill?

The debt is theirs, not yours. You are not legally responsible for the balance. However, the late payment will damage their credit, and they may ask you to pay them back or remove you from the account. If you are concerned about the primary cardholder's ability to pay, ask to be removed as an authorized user.

Can I use an authorized user card to build my own credit score?

Not directly. The account reports to the primary cardholder's credit file, not yours. However, some credit scoring models do factor in authorized user accounts when calculating your score, even though the account does not appear on your own report. The effect is usually small compared to having your own card.

Do I need to pay taxes on purchases I make as an authorized user?

No. Sales tax is the same whether you use an authorized user card or your own card. The primary cardholder may ask you to reimburse them for purchases you made, but that is a personal arrangement between you and them, not a tax issue.