The Short Answer: Not Alone, But There Are Real Options

You cannot get a credit card in your own name at 13. Credit card companies require you to be at least 18 years old and have a Social Security number and verifiable income. The law that sets this rule is the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (the CARD Act of 2009), which was designed to protect young people from debt they cannot manage.

But that does not mean you have to wait until 18 with no way to build credit. You have three realistic paths: becoming an authorized user on a parent's or guardian's card, opening a teen checking account that teaches spending without credit, or starting with a secured credit card once you turn 18. Each one works differently and teaches you different things about money.

Key Takeaways

  • Federal law requires you to be 18 to hold a credit card in your own name, but you can start building credit history now as an authorized user.
  • When you are added as an authorized user, the card's payment history appears on your credit report, even though your parent or guardian controls the account.
  • Teen checking accounts let you practice spending and saving with a debit card, but they do not build credit because they are not credit products.
  • At 18, a secured credit card is often the fastest way to build credit from scratch because it requires a cash deposit instead of proof of income.

Becoming an Authorized User: Building Credit Without Owning the Card

An authorized user is someone who can use a credit card account but does not legally own it. Your parent or guardian owns the account, pays the bill, and is responsible for the debt. You get a card with your name on it and can make purchases, but the account stays in their name.

The key benefit: the account's payment history shows up on your credit report. If your parent pays on time every month, that positive history builds your credit score even though you are not the one making the payments. This is one of the fastest ways to start a credit history before you turn 18.

Not every card issuer reports authorized user accounts to the credit bureaus, so ask your parent's card company first. Most major issuers (Chase, American Express, Capital One, Discover) do report them. Some issuers let you set a spending limit on the authorized user card, which is useful if your parent wants to control how much you can spend.

The risk: if your parent misses payments or carries a high balance, that negative history also appears on your credit report. You are building credit, but you are also exposed to their credit behavior. Talk with your parent about this before you agree to be added.

Teen Checking Accounts: Learning to Spend Without Credit

A teen checking account is a bank account designed for people under 18. It comes with a debit card, online banking, and sometimes parental controls. You can deposit money, withdraw it, and spend it — but you are spending money you already have, not borrowing.

This teaches you real spending habits: budgeting, tracking purchases, understanding fees, and seeing where your money goes. Many teen accounts are free and have no minimum balance. Some banks offer them starting at age 13; others start at 15 or 16. Check with your bank or credit union about their age requirement.

The limitation: a checking account does not build credit because it is not a credit product. The bank is not lending you money, so there is no payment history to report to credit bureaus. A teen checking account is valuable for learning money management, but it will not give you a credit score. You need a credit product — a credit card or a loan — to build credit history.

What Happens When You Turn 18

At 18, you become legally able to sign a credit contract. You can apply for a credit card in your own name. But most card companies will deny your application if you have no credit history and no income they can verify.

A secured credit card is built for this situation. Instead of proving income, you put down a cash deposit — usually between $200 and $2,500 — and that deposit becomes your credit limit. You use the card like a regular credit card, make monthly payments, and after 6 to 18 months of on-time payments, the issuer converts it to a regular card and returns your deposit.

Secured cards do report to credit bureaus, so every on-time payment builds your credit score. This is why they are the standard first step for people building credit from zero. Capital One, Discover, and many credit unions offer secured cards.

If you were an authorized user before 18, you may have a credit score already, which makes a regular card easier to get. But even with a score, your first card in your own name might have a low limit and a higher interest rate than cards for people with longer credit histories.

Income and Why It Matters

Credit card companies ask about income because they want to know you can pay the bill. At 13, you may have money from a job, allowance, or gifts, but most card companies do not count these as verifiable income for someone under 18.

At 18, you can list income from a job, self-employment, or even financial aid or student loans. The company will ask for proof — usually a recent pay stub or tax return. If you have no income at 18, a secured card is still an option because the deposit replaces the income requirement.

Building Credit Early: Why It Matters Later

Starting as an authorized user at 13 or 14 gives you a head start. By the time you are 18 and applying for your first card in your own name, you may already have two to four years of payment history. This makes you a lower-risk borrower, which means better interest rates and higher credit limits.

A strong credit score at 20 or 21 affects more than just credit cards. It influences whether you can rent an apartment, get a car loan, or may have access to for a mortgage later. It can even affect job applications in some fields. Starting early is not about getting into debt — it is about proving you can handle money responsibly before you need to borrow large amounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a credit card if I have a job at 13?

No. Federal law requires you to be 18, regardless of income. A job helps you may have access to once you turn 18, but it does not lower the age requirement now. Being an authorized user is your only option to start building credit before 18.

Will being an authorized user hurt my credit if my parent misses a payment?

Yes. The account's full history — including late payments — appears on your credit report. If your parent's payment is 30 days late, it damages both their score and yours. Talk with your parent about their payment habits before you agree to be added.

Do teen checking accounts help me get a credit card later?

Not directly. A checking account does not build credit because no credit is involved. But it does show a bank that you can manage money responsibly, which may help when you apply for a card at 18. More importantly, it teaches you habits that make credit safer to use.

What if my parent will not add me as an authorized user?

Open a teen checking account to learn money management. At 18, apply for a secured credit card. You will not have a head start on credit history, but secured cards are designed for people in exactly this situation. Consistent on-time payments will build your score from there.

Can I use a prepaid card to build credit?

No. Prepaid cards are not credit products — you load money onto them and spend what you loaded. They do not report to credit bureaus and do not build credit history. They are useful for learning to budget, but for credit building, you need an authorized user account or a secured card at 18.