You don't have to use your credit card every month, but inactivity can hurt you in ways that matter
A credit card sitting unused won't damage your credit score directly. You won't be charged a fee for not swiping it, and the issuer won't close the account immediately. But here's what actually happens: after months of no activity, the card issuer may close the account on their own, which removes available credit from your report and can lower your credit score. Even if they don't close it, an inactive card stops building the payment history that credit scores depend on. If you're trying to build or rebuild credit, that matters.
The real question isn't whether you have to use it—it's whether you want the card to keep working for you. A card that sits in a drawer stops being an asset and starts being a liability you've forgotten about.
Key Takeaways
- Credit card issuers can close inactive accounts without warning, usually after 6 to 12 months of no activity, which lowers your credit score by reducing available credit.
- A closed account stops building payment history, which makes up about 35% of your credit score and is the strongest factor lenders look at.
- Small, regular charges—even a dollar or two—keep the account active and prevent closure without requiring you to carry a balance.
- If you want to keep a card open but don't use it, set a small recurring charge like a streaming service to it and pay the bill in full each month.
- Closing a card yourself is usually worse for your score than letting it sit unused, because it immediately removes available credit.
Why card issuers close inactive accounts
A credit card company makes money when you use the card—they collect a small percentage from the merchant each time you swipe. An account that hasn't been used in months generates no revenue and ties up their resources. After a period of inactivity, they close it to clean up their portfolio.
The timeline varies by issuer. Some close accounts after 6 months of no activity; others wait 12 months or longer. You won't receive a warning before it happens. You'll find out when you try to use the card or when you check your credit report and see the account marked as "closed by issuer."
How account closure affects your credit score
When an issuer closes your account, two things happen to your credit report. First, the account no longer counts toward your available credit—the total amount you're allowed to borrow across all your cards. If you had a $5,000 limit and that was your only card, you just lost $5,000 in available credit. Second, the account stops building payment history, which is the record of on-time payments that makes up 35% of your credit score.
The score drop is usually immediate and noticeable. How much depends on how much available credit you lost and how much payment history the card had built. If it was a newer card, the impact is smaller. If it was an old card with years of on-time payments, the impact is larger—you've lost both available credit and a long history of reliability.
The closed account stays on your credit report for about seven years, so the damage isn't temporary.
How to keep a card active without using it regularly
If you want to keep a card open but don't need to use it for everyday purchases, the simplest approach is to put one small recurring charge on it. A streaming service, a magazine subscription, a gym membership—anything that charges $5 to $20 per month. Set up automatic payment so the full balance is paid from your bank account each month. The issuer sees activity, the account stays open, and you build payment history without thinking about it.
The charge needs to be small enough that you won't forget about it, but real enough that the issuer registers it as genuine use. A single dollar charge might not be enough to prevent closure on some cards; a recurring subscription is clearly legitimate activity.
Make sure the automatic payment is set to pay the full balance, not just the minimum. Paying interest defeats the purpose of keeping the card open. You're trying to build credit, not pay fees.
The difference between inactivity and closing the account yourself
If you decide you don't want a card anymore, you have two choices: stop using it and let the issuer close it, or call and close it yourself. Most people think closing it themselves is cleaner. It's actually worse for your credit score.
When you close an account, the available credit disappears immediately. When an issuer closes it due to inactivity, the same thing happens—but at least you got months or years of payment history building up first. The damage from closing it yourself is usually larger because you're giving up available credit without the benefit of that history.
If you genuinely don't want the card, closing it is the right move. But if you're on the fence, leaving it open with a small recurring charge is almost always better for your score.
What happens if your card is closed and you didn't know
You might not realize a card has been closed until you try to use it and it's declined, or until you pull your credit report and see it marked as "closed by issuer." At that point, the damage is done—the account is already off your active credit mix and the issuer won't reopen it just because you ask.
The best recovery is to move forward. If you have other cards, keep using them and paying on time. If this was your only card, consider opening a new one (a secured card if your score is low) and building history again. The closed account will age off your report in seven years, and the impact on your score will fade as newer, positive history accumulates.
Cards with annual fees and inactivity
Some premium cards charge an annual fee whether you use them or not. If you're not using the card, you're paying money for nothing. In this case, closing the card or downgrading to a no-fee version of the same card makes sense. Call the issuer and ask if they offer a no-annual-fee product; many do. You keep the account open and the history intact, but you stop paying the fee.
If downgrading isn't an option and you're not using the card enough to justify the fee, closing it is reasonable. The annual fee is a real cost, and it outweighs the credit score benefit of keeping the account open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my credit score go down if I don't use a card for three months?
Not immediately. Your score won't drop just because you haven't swiped the card. But if inactivity continues for six months to a year and the issuer closes the account, your score will drop when that happens. The key is preventing closure, not preventing inactivity itself.
Can I use my card once a year to keep it active?
Once a year is risky. Most issuers expect to see activity at least every six months. A single charge per year might not be enough to prevent closure on some cards. A recurring monthly charge is much safer because it's consistent and shows the issuer the account is genuinely in use.
What if I close a card and then want to reopen it?
You can't reopen a card you've closed. Once you call and close it, that account is closed permanently. You would have to open a new account with the same issuer, which counts as a new application and triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report. If you're unsure, don't close it—just stop using it or put a small recurring charge on it instead.
Does paying off my balance in full count as using the card?
Yes. Any transaction—whether you pay it off immediately or carry a balance—counts as activity. The issuer sees the charge and the payment, and the account stays active. Paying in full is actually the best way to use a card because you avoid interest charges while keeping the account open.
How do I know if my card has been closed?
Check your credit report through AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the official site for free credit reports. Look for accounts marked "closed by issuer" or "closed by consumer." You can also call the card issuer directly and ask the status of your account, or try to use the card online—a declined transaction is a sign it's been closed.