You cannot get a credit card on your own at 17 in the United States
Federal law requires you to be 18 years old to enter into a credit card contract. A credit card is a legal agreement between you and the card issuer, and at 17 you do not have the legal capacity to sign binding contracts on your own. No major credit card company will issue a card in your name alone until your 18th birthday.
This rule applies to all credit cards — whether from banks, credit unions, or other lenders. It does not matter if you have a job, excellent grades, or a parent willing to co-sign. The age requirement is set by federal law, not by individual card issuers' policies.
Key Takeaways
- You must be 18 years old to hold a credit card in your own name; no exceptions exist under federal law.
- A parent or guardian can add you as an authorized user on their existing card, which lets you use the card but does not create a contract in your name.
- Being an authorized user may help you build credit history, though this depends on whether the card issuer reports authorized user activity to credit bureaus.
- At 18, you can open your own card, but card issuers may require proof of income or a co-signer if you have no credit history.
- A secured credit card — one backed by a cash deposit you provide — is often easier to get at 18 if you have no prior credit record.
How authorized user accounts work
An authorized user is someone who can use a credit card account but is not the person legally responsible for paying the bill. If your parent or guardian adds you as an authorized user on their card, you receive a card with your name on it and can make purchases. The account holder remains responsible for all charges and payments.
Being an authorized user does not create a credit account in your name. You are not signing any contract, and you have no legal obligation to repay what you charge. The card issuer reports the account activity to credit bureaus under the primary account holder's name, not yours — though some issuers do report authorized user activity separately.
Ask the card issuer directly whether they report authorized user accounts to the credit bureaus in your name. If they do, using the card responsibly (and having the account holder pay on time) can help you build a credit history before you turn 18. If they do not, the account will not appear on your credit report.
What happens when you turn 18
On your 18th birthday, you become legally able to sign a credit card contract. You can walk into a bank, visit a credit card company's website, or call to open an account in your own name. However, card issuers will assess your creditworthiness before approving you — and at 18 with no credit history, approval is not automatic.
Most card issuers will ask for proof of income (a recent pay stub, offer letter, or tax return) or will require a co-signer — usually a parent or guardian who agrees to pay the bill if you do not. Some cards designed for people with no credit history, called student credit cards, have lower income requirements or no income requirement at all.
If you have been an authorized user on a parent's account and that activity was reported to credit bureaus, you may have a credit score by 18. A score helps issuers decide whether to approve you and at what interest rate. Without a score, you are more likely to need a co-signer or to be offered a secured card.
Secured credit cards as an alternative at 18
A secured credit card requires you to deposit cash with the card issuer — typically $200 to $2,500 — which serves as collateral. Your credit limit is usually equal to your deposit. You use the card like any other credit card, and the issuer reports your payment history to credit bureaus.
Secured cards are easier to get at 18 because the issuer's risk is lower: if you do not pay, they keep your deposit. After 6 to 18 months of on-time payments, many issuers will convert your secured card to a regular unsecured card and return your deposit. This path lets you build credit history without needing a co-signer.
The tradeoff is that secured cards usually charge higher interest rates and annual fees than standard cards. But if you pay your balance in full each month, the interest rate does not matter. The deposit is returned eventually, so the main cost is the annual fee — which ranges from $0 to $100 depending on the card.
Building credit before you turn 18
If your parent adds you as an authorized user on a card that reports to credit bureaus, you can start building credit at 17. The account will show up on your credit report, and on-time payments by the account holder will help your score grow. By the time you turn 18, you may already have a credit history.
Another way to build credit before 18 is through a credit-builder loan, offered by some credit unions and online lenders. You borrow a small amount (often $500 to $1,000), and the lender holds the money in a savings account while you make monthly payments. Once you finish paying, you get the money back. This creates a payment history that credit bureaus can see.
A third option is to become an authorized user on a card held by a family member with excellent payment history. The better the account holder's payment record, the more it can help your credit score. Avoid accounts with late payments or high balances, as those will hurt your score even if you are not responsible for the debt.
What to know about co-signers
A co-signer is someone who signs the credit card contract alongside you and agrees to pay the bill if you do not. At 18, if you have no income or no credit history, a card issuer may require a co-signer — usually a parent, guardian, or other adult with established credit.
Co-signing is a real legal obligation. If you miss payments, the co-signer is responsible for the full balance. Late payments or defaults will appear on the co-signer's credit report and can damage their credit score. Before asking someone to co-sign, make sure you understand that they are taking on real financial risk.
Some card issuers allow you to remove a co-signer after a period of on-time payments — often 12 to 24 months. Ask the issuer about this option before you apply. Building a strong payment history as a co-signed cardholder can help you get approved for your own card later without a co-signer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my parent add me as an authorized user right now, at 17?
Yes. Your parent can contact their card issuer and request to add you as an authorized user at any age. You will receive a card in your name, but the account remains in your parent's name and they are responsible for all payments. Ask the issuer whether they report authorized user activity to credit bureaus in your name.
Will being an authorized user hurt my parent's credit?
No. Your parent's credit score is based on their own payment history and account management. Adding you as an authorized user does not change their credit. However, if you use the card and the account holder misses payments, that will hurt their score — not yours, unless the issuer reports the account to your credit report.
What if I have a job at 17 — can I get my own card?
No. Federal law requires you to be 18 to sign a credit card contract, regardless of income. Having a job does not change this. At 18, your income will help you get approved, but you still cannot open an account before your birthday.
Is a secured card worth it if I can get a regular card at 18?
If a regular card issuer will approve you at 18 without a co-signer, that is usually the better choice because regular cards have lower fees and interest rates. But if you cannot get approved for a regular card, a secured card is a practical way to build credit. Compare the annual fees and interest rates before deciding.
What should I do to prepare for getting my own card at 18?
Start building credit now by becoming an authorized user on a parent's account (if the issuer reports it to credit bureaus), or by taking out a credit-builder loan through a credit union. Research card options designed for people with no credit history. At 18, gather proof of income — a recent pay stub or offer letter — to speed up the application process.