Adding a credit card to your Amazon account
To pay with a credit card on Amazon, you first add the card to your account, then select it at checkout. You can store multiple cards and choose which one to use for each purchase. Amazon keeps your card details encrypted and does not share them with sellers.
Go to your Amazon account and select Your Account from the dropdown menu in the top right. Click Your Payments, then Manage payment methods. Select Add a credit or debit card. Enter your card number, expiration date, CVV (the three-digit code on the back), and the cardholder's name and billing address. Amazon will verify the card with a small temporary charge that appears and disappears within a few days.
If you have a business Amazon account, the process is the same, but the card is linked to your business profile. Personal and business accounts keep separate payment methods, so you cannot mix them.
Key Takeaways
- Add a credit card through Your Account > Your Payments > Manage payment methods, and Amazon will verify it with a temporary charge.
- You can store as many cards as you want and choose which one to use at checkout for each order.
- Your card details stay with Amazon and are not shared with individual sellers or third parties.
- If a card is declined at checkout, check the expiration date, billing address, and available credit before trying again.
- Amazon Pay lets you use your stored card to pay on other websites, but you control which sites can access it.
Selecting your card at checkout
When you place an order, Amazon shows you all the cards you have saved. The card you used most recently appears first, but you can click on any other card to switch. If you want to use a different billing address than the one on file for that card, you can enter a new one at checkout without changing your account settings.
For one-time purchases, you do not have to save the card to your account. You can enter card details directly at checkout under Enter a new payment method. Amazon will ask if you want to save it for future orders. If you decline, the card is used only for that transaction.
What happens if your card is declined
If Amazon declines your card, the most common reasons are an expired card, a mismatch between the billing address you entered and the one your bank has on file, or insufficient available credit. Check all three before trying again.
If the card is still declined, contact your bank directly. They may have flagged the charge as suspicious, or there may be a hold on your account. Once your bank clears it, try the purchase again. Amazon will not charge you multiple times if the first attempt failed.
If you have a card saved to your account and it is declined during checkout, you can immediately switch to a different card without losing your place in the order. You do not have to start over.
Using Amazon Pay on other websites
Amazon Pay is a service that lets you use your Amazon account and stored payment methods to pay on other websites and apps. When you see the Amazon Pay button at checkout on another site, you can click it, log in with your Amazon credentials, and complete the purchase without entering your card details again.
You control which websites can access your Amazon Pay information. When you use Amazon Pay for the first time on a new site, Amazon asks for permission. You can review and revoke access to any site at any time through Your Account > Your Payments > Amazon Pay settings. Revoking access means that site can no longer use your Amazon account to process payments, but it does not affect orders you have already placed.
Keeping your card information secure
Amazon encrypts your card details and stores them on secure servers. Your card number is not shown to sellers, and sellers cannot see your full billing address — only the city, state, and ZIP code needed to confirm the delivery address.
If you believe your card has been compromised or used fraudulently, contact your bank immediately, not Amazon. Your bank can freeze the card and issue a replacement. Then log into your Amazon account, remove the compromised card from Your Payments, and add a new one. Amazon does not charge you for fraudulent purchases made through your account if you report them to your bank within the time your bank allows.
Removing or updating a saved card
To remove a card from your account, go to Your Account > Your Payments > Manage payment methods. Click the card you want to remove and select Delete. You cannot delete a card if an order is currently pending on it, so you may need to wait for the order to ship first.
To update a card — for example, if the expiration date changed — click the card and select Edit. You can change the expiration date, CVV, cardholder name, and billing address. You cannot change the card number itself; you must delete the old card and add a new one.
Credit card rewards and Amazon purchases
When you use a credit card to pay on Amazon, your card issuer's rewards program applies just as it would for any other purchase. If your card earns cash back, points, or miles, those accrue based on the purchase amount and your card's terms. Amazon does not add extra rewards or bonuses for using a credit card instead of another payment method.
Some credit cards offer higher rewards rates for purchases in specific categories — for example, 5% back on groceries or 3% back on online purchases. Check your card's terms to see whether Amazon purchases fall into a bonus category. Amazon Fresh (Amazon's grocery service) may be treated differently than regular Amazon.com purchases by your card issuer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a credit card from another country on Amazon?
Yes, if the card is issued by a bank outside the United States, you can still add it to your Amazon account. However, your billing address must match the address your bank has on file, and the card must be valid in the country where you are making the purchase. Some international cards may be declined if your bank does not process cross-border transactions.
What if I want to use a different card for each order?
You can switch cards at checkout for every order. Select the card you want to use from the list of saved payment methods, or enter a new card directly. There is no limit to how many times you can change your payment method during checkout.
Does Amazon charge a fee for using a credit card?
No. Amazon does not charge you a fee for paying with a credit card. Your credit card issuer may charge you interest if you carry a balance, but that is between you and your bank, not Amazon.
Can I pay with a credit card on Amazon Fresh or Prime Video?
Yes. Any credit card saved to your Amazon account works for Amazon Fresh orders, Prime Video purchases, and any other Amazon service. You select your payment method the same way you do for regular Amazon.com purchases.
What should I do if I do not recognize a charge on my card from Amazon?
Log into your Amazon account and check Your Orders to see what was purchased and when. If you do not recognize the order, contact Amazon's customer service through Your Account > Contact Us. If the charge is fraudulent and you did not authorize it, contact your bank to report it and request a chargeback or card replacement.