Why Not Using Your Credit Card Can Actually Hurt Your Credit Score

Not using your credit card does lower your score, but the damage is usually small and temporary

A credit card sitting in a drawer unused won't destroy your credit score overnight. But it can nudge it down over time, and the longer it stays unused, the more your score may drop. The reason is straightforward: credit scoring models reward you for using credit responsibly and showing you can manage different types of debt. When you stop using a card entirely, you lose that signal.

The score drop from inactivity is typically modest — often 5 to 15 points depending on your overall credit profile. But if your score is already borderline for something you're trying to do (like getting a mortgage), even a small drop matters. The good news is that the damage reverses quickly once you use the card again.

Key Takeaways

• Credit scoring models reward active, responsible card use, so a card you never touch signals less information about your creditworthiness.
• Inactivity can lower your score by a small amount, but the drop is usually temporary and reverses when you use the card again.
• Some card issuers close inactive accounts after 6 to 12 months of no use, which can hurt your score more than inactivity alone by reducing your available credit.
• Using your card for one small purchase every few months is enough to keep it active and prevent score damage from inactivity.
• The impact of inactivity matters most if your credit profile is thin or your score is already low; people with strong credit histories see less damage.

How credit scoring models treat unused cards

Credit scoring models like FICO and VantageScore look at several factors when calculating your score. One of them is payment history — whether you pay on time. Another is credit utilization — how much of your available credit you're using. A third is the mix of credit types you have: credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, and so on.

When you don't use a card, you're not building any new payment history on it. The model can't see recent evidence that you're responsible with that particular account. At the same time, your available credit stays high (because you're not using any of it), which is actually good for your utilization ratio. But the lack of recent activity is a negative signal — it suggests the account might be abandoned or that you're not actively managing it.

The scoring model essentially has less recent information to work with. It's not that the model penalizes you for having money available; it's that it rewards you less for an account that's dormant.

The real risk: card issuers closing inactive accounts

The bigger threat than a small score dip is that your card issuer may close the account for inactivity. Most card companies will close an account after 6 to 12 months of no use, though the exact timeline varies by issuer. When they close it, they notify the credit bureaus, and that closed account appears on your credit report.

A closed account hurts your score more than inactivity alone because it reduces your total available credit. If you had a $5,000 limit on that card and you were using $1,000 across all your cards, your utilization was 20 percent. Once the card closes, your available credit drops to $4,000, and that same $1,000 now represents 25 percent utilization. Higher utilization = lower score.

The closed account also stays on your report for years, continuing to affect your score even after it's gone. So preventing the closure in the first place is worth the small effort of occasional use.

How much your score actually drops from inactivity

The score impact depends on your starting point. If you have a strong credit history with multiple active accounts, a long payment history, and low utilization, one unused card will barely move your score — maybe 5 points or less. The model has plenty of other positive signals to work with.

If your credit profile is thinner — you have fewer accounts, a shorter history, or higher utilization overall — the same unused card can drop your score by 10 to 15 points. And if your score is already low, the relative impact is larger because you're starting from a weaker position.

The drop is also not permanent. As soon as you use the card again and make a payment, you're back to building active payment history. Most people see their score recover within a billing cycle or two.

When inactivity matters most for your score

If you're planning to apply for a mortgage, car loan, or another form of credit in the next few months, an unused card is worth paying attention to. Lenders pull your credit score at a specific moment, and a 10-point drop could be the difference between approval and denial if you're on the edge of a rate tier or approval threshold.

If you're not applying for anything soon and your credit is already solid, an unused card is a lower priority. The score will recover once you use it, and the damage is usually small enough that it won't affect your daily financial life.

The exception is if you have very few credit accounts. If you only have two credit cards and one goes unused, that's a bigger percentage of your total credit activity. Using both cards occasionally matters more in that situation.

How to keep a card active without spending money

You don't need to use a card heavily to prevent inactivity damage. One small purchase every few months is enough. Many people set up a recurring subscription — a streaming service, a small monthly donation, or a gym membership — and charge it to the card they want to keep active. Then they pay it off in full when the bill comes.

The key is that the card needs to show activity on your credit report. A single transaction every 3 to 6 months is usually enough to keep most issuers from closing the account and to show the credit bureaus that the account is still in use.

If you're worried about forgetting, set a phone reminder for every few months to charge something small to the card. Or use a card management app that tracks which cards you haven't used recently. The effort is minimal, and it protects both your score and your available credit.

What happens if your card issuer closes the account

If your card gets closed for inactivity before you realize it, you'll typically receive a notice in the mail. At that point, the damage is already done — the account is closed and reported to the credit bureaus. You can't reopen it; you'd have to apply for a new card with that issuer or a different one.

The closed account will stay on your credit report for about 10 years, though its impact on your score weakens over time. After a few years, it matters much less. But in the short term, especially if you need credit soon, a closed account is more damaging than simply using the card occasionally to keep it open.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I leave a credit card unused before it hurts my score?

Most card issuers won't close an account for 6 to 12 months of inactivity, so you have a window. But your score can start to dip after just a few months of no use, depending on your overall credit profile. Using the card once every 3 to 6 months is a safe habit to prevent both score damage and account closure.

Does paying off a credit card in full hurt my score if I don't use it again?

Paying off a card in full is good for your score because it lowers your utilization. But if you then stop using the card entirely, you lose the benefit of active payment history over time. The score impact is small, but using the card occasionally keeps the positive effects going.

Will my score recover if I start using an inactive card again?

Yes. Once you use the card and make a payment, you're back to building active payment history. Most people see their score recover within one or two billing cycles. The recovery is usually faster than the initial drop.

Is it better to close a credit card I don't use or leave it open?

Leave it open and use it occasionally. Closing it reduces your available credit, which raises your utilization ratio and hurts your score more than inactivity alone. An open, unused card is better for your score than a closed one.

Can I keep multiple credit cards active without spending a lot of money?

Yes. Rotate small purchases across your cards — a coffee on one, a gas fill-up on another, a subscription on a third. Or set up one small recurring charge per card. This keeps all of them active and open without requiring significant spending.