Your credit or debit card expires a few years after it’s issued to you. The expiration date, which is printed on the back of your card, is a way to keep your information secure when shopping online or over the phone. It also helps to ensure your card is in working condition and equipped with the latest technology.
Why credit and debit cards expire
The expiration date on a credit or debit card is a checkpoint that helps verify the cardholder’s identity by requiring an extra layer of information to make purchases. It also gives the card issuer an opportunity to update the card with new features or perks, such as an EMV chip. Replacing cards every few years also helps ensure that the cards don’t degrade beyond working condition. And if a card is lost or stolen, the expiration date helps to prevent the card from being used by an unauthorized user to make an online transaction.
Why credit and debit cards expire
Your card expires so it can receive a bit of a refresh. After years of use, your card gets worn down. Magnetic strips and security chips aren’t immune to wear and tear and neither is the card’s plastic. After your card expires, a new one may arrive with a different look, like an updated logo or design.
When your card expires, it also gives your credit or debit card issuer an opportunity to update the card with the most recent security technology. For example, when EMV chips and contactless technology first hit the scene, many consumers eventually got access once their old cards expired.
Additionally, an expiration date adds a layer of security for card-not-present, or CNP, transactions, when a cardholder makes a purchase online or by phone. You need to have the card’s expiration date to be able to complete the transaction or else it’ll be declined. If an unauthorized person tries to use your card, they won’t get very far without its expiration date.
How do you renew your credit or debit card?
Renewing your debit or credit card should happen automatically. If everything goes to plan, you’ll be notified by the card issuer -- usually by mail or email -- that a replacement card is on the way. The new card should ship 30 to 60 days before your current card expires. Keep a close eye on your mail (and resist the urge to toss out junk mail) as the expiration date approaches.
If you don’t receive a replacement card with a new expiration date, contact your issuer so it can send you another one. If you somehow end up with two replacement cards, you should use the most recent card sent by your issuer.
Once you’ve received your new card, destroy your old one with a shredder or a pair of scissors to keep your information secure. You won’t be able to use a credit card past its expiration date.
How to handle a credit or debit card expiration
When you have your replacement card, remember to activate it by calling the number on the back or logging on to the website so you can use it for purchases. You’ll also need to update your subscriptions or automatic bill pays with your new card information. This should be your first order of business to avoid missing any payments.
The bottom line
An expiration date on your credit or debit card is one way to help prevent fraudulent charges on your account. It also ensures that your physical card functions properly after years of use and is equipped with the latest technology.
Correction: An earlier version of this article was assisted by an AI engine and it mischaracterized some aspects of credit cards. Those points were all corrected. This version has been substantially updated by a staff writer.
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