Age You Have to Be to Get a Credit Card | Capital One (2024)

FAQs

Age You Have to Be to Get a Credit Card | Capital One? ›

You have to be at least 18 to open a credit card account. A potential way to access credit if you're under 18 is to become an authorized user on someone else's credit card account.

You have to be at least 18 to open your own credit card with Capital One. But according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), if you're under 21, you'll have to prove that you can independently make payments on the account or have a co-signer who is over 21.

A credit card is essentially a means of taking out a loan; as such, you must be 18 to get one. If your child is under 18, the only way for them to “get” a credit card is to add them as an authorized user to an existing account. An authorized user is allowed to use the card but isn't responsible for paying the bill.

Does Capital One report authorized users to credit bureaus? Capital One reports authorized users to all three of the major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion). Authorized users are only reported if they are at least 18 years old and if the account in question is not delinquent.

Consumers can apply for credit cards starting at age 18, but the law requires them to have an independent income or a co-signer. However, most major issuers don't allow co-signers anymore. So, a person aged 18, 19 or 20 usually has to earn and prove their own income before being approved for a credit card.

Children 13 and older can check their credit the same way adults do.

Generally speaking, at 13 years old, you can become an authorized user on the credit card of a parent, guardian, etc., but you won't be able to get a credit card as the primary cardholder until you are at least 18.

Children under the age of 18 are not allowed to enter into credit card agreements, but many card issuers will allow minors to become authorized card users. Some issuers have minimum age requirements, that necessitate authorized users must be at least 13 or 16 years old.

Being an authorized user will also establish a credit report for your child (though some card issuers won't report authorized-user accounts until age 18). Paying your bill on time and keeping your credit utilization ratio low can help build your child's credit.

How to build credit fast at 18? ›

Start building credit as a teen

For best results, you should try to establish your credit history as soon as possible. If you're under 18, the main path forward is becoming an authorized user on a family member's account. If you're 18 or older, other options include a secured credit card or a credit builder loan.

Add a child as an authorized user

The account holder can give the authorized user their own credit card, but they don't have to. Even if the authorized user never makes a purchase on the account, they still may be able to build credit if the account holder uses the account responsibly.

How old do you have to be to get a credit card? You can be an authorized user as young as 13, but you have to be 18 to sign up for your first credit card on your own. When you're ready for this step, you'll need to be prepared to show some documentation.

At 18, it's likely you have little to no credit history. This factor could prevent you from obtaining a traditional credit card. Despite your lack of credit history, you could qualify for a secured credit card. This type of card requires you to pay a cash security deposit to open the account.

Late Teens / Early 20s. At age 18, you may be eligible for a credit card in their own name. If you don't have a credit history by this time, getting a card now will help you begin to establish one. That will be important down the line, when it comes time to rent an apartment or apply for a mortgage.

You must be at least 18 years of age and a student to qualify for student credit cards. You may be eligible for a Capital One student card if you're enrolled—or admitted and planning to enroll in the next three months—at an accredited university, community college or other higher education institution.

You must be a US citizen or permanent resident with a valid Social Security number. Account holders must be at least 18 years old or a joint holder with an adult.

Consider other options once your child turns 18

“In most cases, you're required to be at least 21 to get a credit card,” the CFPB says. That's unless the person has a co-signer who's over 21 or can prove they have income to make monthly payments.

It is possible to get a credit card at 16 by becoming an authorized user on an adult's credit card account. To get your own credit card, you'll need to wait until you're at least 18, and even then, you'll need to prove you have independent income or get a cosigner.