THE NO JOB LIFESTYLEWhy minors usually cannot get credit
Contracts signed by people under 18 are generally not enforceable, so lenders usually will not lend to them. Most card issuers require applicants to be at least 18, and under the CARD Act those under 21 must show independent income or have a cosigner. So your first step is usually through a parent or guardian.
Teens should generally have no credit file at all. If you find one and did not expect it, that can be a warning sign, as described below.
How authorized user status works
A parent or guardian adds you to their credit card account. You may get your own card, or they might simply add your name without giving you the card. Issuers set their own minimum ages, and some have none, while others start at 13 or 15 or do not report until 18. Ask the issuer if it reports authorized users under 18 to the bureaus.
- Pick a good account: older card, low balance and a clean payment record.
- Know the risk: if the parent pays late or runs a high balance, that can show up on your file too.
- You can leave later: you can be removed if the account starts to hurt you.
You do not owe the debt, though charges you make are still real money for the account holder, so agree on spending rules up front.
Other ways to prepare at 17
- Open a checking and savings account with a parent. These do not build credit, but they build money habits and a bank relationship.
- Use a teen debit card to practice budgeting.
- Save about $200 for a secured card deposit when you turn 18.
- Learn the basics: on-time payments and low balances matter most.
We think the best thing a teen can do is start good habits before there is any debt. Understanding how interest works now could save you a lot later.
Check for identity theft
Children's credit files are a target because no one checks them for years. A parent can ask each bureau whether a file exists for a minor. If one does and it shows accounts you did not open, the parent can dispute them and use the identity theft recovery steps at IdentityTheft.gov. Federal law also lets parents place a free security freeze for children under 16. At 16 or older, you can usually request one yourself.
What to do when you turn 18
Pull your free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, then open one student or secured card. Our guide on building credit at 18 walks through these steps in more detail.
Questions people ask
Can a 17 year old get a credit card?
Usually not in their own name. Issuers generally require you to be 18. Authorized user status on a parent's account is the common way to start early.
What age can you become an authorized user?
It depends on the issuer. Some have no minimum, and others set one, often around 13 to 16. Call the issuer to confirm, and ask how it reports minors.
Does a parent's bad credit affect a teen?
Their other accounts do not appear on your file. Only the account you are added to can show up, so choose one with a clean record.