A credit card typically expires three to five years after it is issued, but the exact length of time depends on the issuer. The expiration date on a card will show a month and a year, and the card expires on the last day of the month.
Key Facts About Credit Card Expiration
- When it happens: 3 to 5 years after a card is issued
- Expiration day: Last day of the month listed on the expiration date
- Location of expiration date: Typically on the front of the card, sometimes on the back
A few weeks before your credit card expires, your card’s issuer should send you a new one in the mail. Included with the card will be a number to call or a website to visit to activate the new card, which you should do as soon as possible. Then, cut the old card up and throw it away (or mail it back to the issuer for disposal if it’s metal).
This answer was first published on 08/11/22. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.
