Nothing lasts forever, and that includes your credit cards.
Credit cards are always issued with an expiration date. Before your credit card expires, the card issuer will send a fresh new one to your mailing address. Most card issuers do this about a month or two before the card's expiration date. Once you have your new card and activate it, you can start using it.
That still leaves you with an expired credit card, and this isn't something you should just throw in the trash. Your new credit card will have the same card number as the old one, so that you don't need to update your payment information every time you get a new card. But this also means if someone digs through your trash and gets your old card, you could become a victim of credit card fraud. That's a common crime, with nearly 400,000 credit card fraud reports in 2021.
So, what's the right way to handle old, expired credit cards? That depends on whether it's a plastic card or a metal card.
What to do with expired plastic credit cards
You can dispose of plastic credit cards yourself with a few household items. To start, here's how to destroy the card:
- Demagnetize the card. Slowly run a magnet along the card's magnetic strip, as this strip contains account information. A stronger magnet is the best option, but you could use a fridge magnet in a pinch.
- Destroy the chip. The chip in your credit card also stores information, so you need to destroy it. You could do this with a hammer, scissors, or anything else you have on hand.
- Cut up the card. Grab a pair of scissors and cut the card into several pieces. Make sure that no piece contains more than a few numbers in a row. The smaller you cut up your card, the better.
Take the pieces of your old card, divide them up, and throw them away separately. If anyone goes through your trash, they'll only get a fragment of your card and won't be able to piece it back together.
Another way to dispose of plastic credit cards is a paper shredder, as many of these also shred credit cards. If you have one, or have access to one at your work, you could use it to quickly destroy your old credit cards.
Lots of people love the look of metal credit cards, but there is one area where they're more inconvenient than plastic cards. It's much harder to dispose of metal credit cards yourself.
The best way to dispose of a metal credit card is to mail it back to the card issuer. When your card issuer sends you a new card, it will also include a prepaid mailing envelope. Use this envelope to mail back your expired credit card, and the card issuer will take it from there.
If you don't get a prepaid mailing envelope, contact your card issuer to ask for one. Or, if your card issuer has any physical branches in your area, you could visit one and drop off your old card.
It's also possible to destroy an old metal credit card at home. You'll still need to demagnetize it by running a magnet over the magnetic strip. To cut it up, you'll likely need metal shears.
Disposing of expired credit cards takes a little time, but it's an important precaution to protect yourself from identity theft. By doing this correctly, you'll prevent crooks from getting their hands on your credit card number.
FAQs
What to do with expired or old credit cards
- It's important to destroy old credit cards until they're rendered unusable.
- To destroy plastic cards, cut with scissors or shred and dispose of the pieces in separate bags.
- To get rid of metal credit cards, return them to your credit card issuer for safe disposal.
Once you've received your replacement in the mail from your issuer, you can cut the card with scissors and throw the pieces away in the trash. Some paper shredders also have a slot for credit and debit cards that makes it easy to destroy them along with other important documents you no longer need.
What to do with my expired credit card? ›
Dispose of your expired card.
If you have a plastic credit card, you can cut or shred it to protect the card number and CVV. If you have a metal credit card, it may be too thick to be cut by most scissors or home shredders.
What can people do with old credit cards? ›
Expired credit cards need to be disposed of properly so that no one gets their hands on your card information. Dispose of plastic credit cards by demagnetizing them, destroying the chip, cutting them up, and throwing away the pieces separately. Mail metal credit cards back to the card issuer.
Is it safe to throw away old credit card statements? ›
You'll put yourself at risk of fraud or identity theft if you simply throw away private documents, such as financial statements. Invest in a cross-cut shredder that will eliminate all traces of your personal information, or search for free shredding events in your community.
Do old credit cards need to be destroyed? ›
Can You Recycle Credit Cards? Without question, you should destroy cards and throw them away; do not recycle them. While recycling a card would mean it doesn't go to a landfill, it would instead go to a plant where it would be placed onto a conveyor belt and sorted by human hands.
Is it OK to throw away old cards? ›
Old Greeting Cards
They are not keepsakes to be stored or framed. You aren't throwing away someone's love by throwing away a Hallmark card that they picked out. Unless the card had something particularly sentimental and meaningful written inside, throw it away. "Happy Birthday, Love Mom" does not count.
What do I do with credit cards I don't use? ›
In general, keep unused credit cards open so you benefit from longer average credit history and lower credit utilization. Consider putting one small regular purchase on the card and paying it off automatically to keep the card active.
How to safely dispose of old bank cards? ›
It's best to cut your card into pieces, making sure to cut through the chip and magnetic strip and put the card in with your normal waste, rather than your recycling.
Why cut up an expired credit card? ›
It's best to destroy it by shredding it. An expired card still has account numbers and technology that could be used to help someone access your account, so cutting it up helps limit your exposure to credit card fraud.
To render your expired or damaged debit card unusable, start by cutting it into several pieces. Use a pair of scissors or a sharp object to carefully cut through the magnetic strip, chip, and embossed numbers on the card. Make sure to cut through the card in multiple places to destroy its integrity.
How do I dispose of unused credit cards? ›
To destroy an old or expired credit card, run a magnet slowly along the card's strip to demagnetize it. Then, smash the chip with a hammer to ensure your information cannot be stolen. Finally, cut the plastic card into different sized pieces.
Is it worth keeping an old credit card? ›
Keeping the card open can help maintain a healthy credit score by contributing to your credit history and utilization ratio. However, there are valid reasons to consider canceling, such as high annual fees or difficulties managing multiple accounts.
Is it best to get rid of unused credit cards? ›
In general, if you have a lot of old cards that you're not using, you should look to cancel some of them, especially if you don't check them often, as they could be used fraudulently. However, there are cards you should try to keep... The card that has your highest credit limit.
What can I do with old credit card bills? ›
Securely Dispose of Your Old Credit Card Statements
Believe it or not, dumpster divers who find old credit card statements in trash cans or landfills can steal your identity with their newfound “treasure.” The best way to prevent identity theft is to shred every statement before it's thrown away.
