Adding a Credit Card to Your Amazon Account
To pay for an Amazon order with a credit card, you add the card to your Amazon account first, then select it as your payment method at checkout. Amazon stores your card information in your account's payment settings, so you do not have to enter it every time you shop.
Go to your Amazon account and select Your Account from the top menu. Click Login & security, then scroll to the Login section and select Edit next to your email or phone number. From there, navigate to Your Account again and choose Your payments. Select Add a payment method and choose Credit or debit card. Enter your card number, expiration date, CVV (the three-digit code on the back), and the billing address associated with the card.
Amazon accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. The card must be issued by a U.S. bank or have a U.S. billing address on file. If your card is declined during this step, contact your card issuer to confirm the card is active and has not been flagged for fraud.
Key Takeaways
- You must add your credit card to your Amazon account through Your payments before you can use it to check out.
- Amazon stores your card securely and lets you select which card to use each time you place an order.
- Your billing address must match the address on file with your card issuer, or the payment will be declined.
- If a card is declined, check with your card issuer to confirm the card is active and not flagged for fraud.
- You can remove a card from your account at any time by going to Your payments and selecting Delete next to the card.
Selecting Your Credit Card at Checkout
When you place an order, Amazon shows all the payment methods you have saved. On the checkout page, under Payment method, you will see a list of your cards. Click the card you want to use, and Amazon will charge that card when you complete the purchase.
If you have multiple cards saved, Amazon defaults to whichever card you used most recently. You can change this by clicking a different card before you click Place your order. The card you select will be charged immediately after you confirm the order, unless you are using a deferred payment option like Amazon Pay Later (which is available only in certain states and for certain purchase amounts).
What Happens When Your Card Is Charged
Amazon charges your credit card at the moment you place the order, not when the item ships. The charge will appear on your card statement within one to three business days, depending on your card issuer. The transaction will show as "AMAZON.COM" or "AMZN.COM" on your statement.
If you cancel an order before it ships, Amazon will reverse the charge. The refund goes back to the same card you used to pay, but it may take three to five business days to appear on your statement. If you cancel after the item has shipped, you will need to return it to receive a refund.
If you dispute a charge or report it as fraudulent, Amazon will suspend your account while the dispute is investigated. Contact Amazon customer service before disputing a charge with your card issuer, because disputing without notifying Amazon first can result in account closure.
Updating or Removing a Credit Card
To change the expiration date or billing address on a card already saved to your account, go to Your Account, select Your payments, and click Edit next to the card. You can update the expiration date, CVV, and billing address without removing and re-adding the card.
If your card expires or is compromised, update it in your payment settings as soon as possible. Any pending orders will use the updated information. If an order fails because your card on file has expired, Amazon will send you an email asking you to update the payment method before the order can proceed.
To remove a card entirely, go to Your payments, find the card, and click Delete. You cannot delete a card if it is the only payment method on your account. Amazon will not charge a deleted card, even if an old order is still pending.
When Your Credit Card Payment Fails
If your card is declined at checkout, Amazon will show an error message and ask you to use a different payment method or update the card information. Common reasons for decline include an expired card, insufficient funds, a billing address mismatch, or fraud flags from your card issuer.
Check that the billing address you entered matches exactly what your card issuer has on file. Even a small difference—like "St." instead of "Street"—can cause a decline. If the address is correct, contact your card issuer to ask whether the card has been flagged for fraud or if there are any holds on the account.
If you cannot resolve the issue, you can use a different card, a debit card, or another payment method like Amazon Gift Card balance or Amazon Store Card (if you have one). You can also contact Amazon customer service to report the problem, though they cannot override a card issuer's decline.
Credit Card Rewards and Amazon Purchases
When you pay with a credit card on Amazon, you earn rewards according to your card's terms. Most cards earn cash back, points, or miles on all purchases, including Amazon orders. Some cards offer bonus rewards for certain categories like online shopping or purchases over a certain amount.
Check your card's rewards program to see whether Amazon purchases earn bonus rewards or if there are any caps on rewards. Some cards limit cash back to a certain amount per year or per category. Your card issuer, not Amazon, determines how much you earn and when the rewards post to your account.
If you have an Amazon-branded credit card (such as the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card), you may earn higher rewards on Amazon purchases than you would with a standard card. These cards are issued by banks like Chase and come with their own terms and conditions separate from your Amazon account.
Security and Fraud Protection
Amazon encrypts your credit card information and does not store your full card number on its servers. When you save a card, Amazon keeps only the last four digits visible in your account. This protects your card data if Amazon's systems are compromised.
Your credit card issuer provides fraud protection under federal law. If someone uses your card without permission, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer and are typically not liable for unauthorized purchases. Report unauthorized charges to your card issuer immediately, not just to Amazon.
To protect your account, use a strong, unique password for Amazon and enable two-factor authentication in your account settings. If you notice charges you did not make, change your Amazon password and contact your card issuer right away. Do not wait for a statement to arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a credit card that is not in my name to pay for an Amazon order?
No. The billing address on the card must match the name and address associated with your Amazon account. If you want to use someone else's card, they would need to add it to their own Amazon account and place the order themselves, or you would need to use a different payment method.
What if my credit card is declined but I know I have enough money?
Contact your card issuer first. They may have flagged the transaction as suspicious, placed a temporary hold on the card, or the card may have expired. Ask them to confirm the card is active and that there are no fraud blocks. Once they clear it, try the purchase again.
Do I have to use the same credit card every time I order from Amazon?
No. You can add multiple cards to your account and choose a different one for each order. Amazon will remember all of them and let you pick which card to charge at checkout.
How long does it take for a refund to go back to my credit card?
Refunds are processed within three to five business days after Amazon approves the return or cancellation. Your card issuer may take an additional one to two business days to post the credit to your account. The timing depends on your card issuer, not Amazon.
Can I pay for an Amazon order with a prepaid credit card?
Yes, if the prepaid card is Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover and has a billing address on file. Some prepaid cards do not allow online purchases or have restrictions on certain merchants. Check with the card issuer before attempting to use it on Amazon.