What Happens When You Don't Use Your Credit Card

Your card stays open, but the issuer may close it for inactivity

If you stop using a credit card for several months, the card issuer can close the account without warning you first. Most issuers close accounts after 6 to 12 months of no activity, though the exact timeframe varies by bank. When they close it, the account shows up on your credit report as "closed by issuer" — which can lower your credit score because it reduces the total credit available to you.

You don't owe anything just for not using the card. There are no penalties for leaving it unused. But the inactivity itself creates a real cost: a lower credit score, which affects your ability to borrow money later at good rates.

Key Takeaways

• Credit card issuers typically close accounts after 6 to 12 months without any charges or purchases, and this closure appears on your credit report.
• A closed account reduces your available credit, which can lower your credit score even if you never missed a payment.
• Making one small purchase every few months — even a dollar or two — keeps the account active and prevents closure.
• Closing the account yourself is sometimes better than letting the issuer close it, especially if the card has an annual fee you want to stop paying.
• The impact on your credit score depends on how much credit you have open elsewhere and how much of it you are using.

Why credit scores drop when an account closes

Your credit score is built partly on credit utilization — the percentage of your total available credit that you are actually using. If you have $5,000 in available credit across all your cards and you carry a $1,000 balance, your utilization is 20 percent. When a card closes, that $5,000 disappears from the available total, so your utilization jumps to 25 percent even though you didn't charge anything new.

The score drop is usually temporary. It can be 5 to 10 points or more, depending on how much credit you have open and how much of it you are using. If you have several cards open and low utilization overall, the impact is smaller. If you have just one or two cards, the drop is more noticeable.

The closed account also stays on your credit report for up to 10 years, though its impact on your score fades over time. After a few years, it matters much less than recent activity.

How to keep a card open without using it much

The simplest way to prevent closure is to make at least one small purchase every few months — a coffee, a gas station fill-up, a streaming subscription. Charge it to the card and pay the full balance when the bill arrives. This counts as activity and tells the issuer the account is still in use.

You don't need to carry a balance or pay interest. One transaction every three to six months is usually enough. Some people set up an automatic payment for a small recurring charge, like a subscription they already pay for, just to keep the card active without thinking about it.

If the card has an annual fee and you don't want to pay it, you have two choices: call the issuer and ask them to waive the fee (they sometimes will), or close the account yourself. Closing it yourself is often better than letting them close it for inactivity, because you control the timing and the reason.

When to close a card yourself instead of letting it sit

Close the account yourself if it has an annual fee you don't want to pay, or if you have too many cards to manage. You can call the issuer's customer service number on the back of the card and ask them to close it. They may ask why, but you don't have to give a detailed reason.

Before you close it, pay off any remaining balance. After you close it, the account still appears on your credit report, but it shows as "closed by consumer" rather than "closed by issuer." Both hurt your score temporarily, but "closed by consumer" looks slightly better because it shows you made the choice.

If the card has a high credit limit and you don't have much other available credit, closing it will have a bigger impact on your score than letting it sit unused. In that case, it might be worth keeping it open and making one small charge every few months, even if you don't really need the card.

The difference between inactivity and delinquency

Not using a card is completely different from missing a payment. Inactivity — no charges, no activity — does not hurt your payment history. Delinquency — missing a payment — does, and the damage is much worse. A 30-day late payment stays on your report for seven years and can drop your score by 100 points or more.

If you have a card you don't use and you want to keep it open, you never have to worry about delinquency as long as you don't carry a balance. There is nothing to pay if there are no charges. The only risk is that the issuer closes it for inactivity.

What to do if your card was already closed

If an issuer has already closed your account for inactivity, you can't reopen it. You would need to apply for a new card from that issuer or a different one. However, the closed account stays on your credit report and continues to affect your score for a while.

The best response is to focus on the accounts you do have open: keep them active with occasional charges, pay your bills on time, and keep your utilization low. Over time, the closed account's impact on your score will fade, especially as you build newer positive activity.

If you apply for a new card from the same issuer, mention in your application that you had a previous account. Some issuers will reopen the old account instead of opening a new one, which can be better for your credit history.

How inactivity affects different types of credit cards

Rewards cards and cash-back cards are more likely to be closed for inactivity than basic cards, because issuers lose money when they issue rewards but get no transaction fees. Premium cards with annual fees are less likely to be closed because the fee alone keeps the account active in the issuer's system.

Store credit cards — cards you use only at one retailer — are also frequently closed for inactivity. If you have a store card you rarely use, check the terms or call the issuer to find out how long you can go without activity before they close it.

Secured credit cards, which require a cash deposit, are less likely to be closed for inactivity because the deposit itself keeps the account valuable to the issuer. However, the terms vary, so it is worth checking your card agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I go without using a credit card before it closes?

Most issuers close accounts after 6 to 12 months of no activity, but the exact timeframe depends on the bank. Some close after 6 months, others after a year or longer. Check your card agreement or call the issuer to find out their specific policy.

Will I lose my credit limit if I don't use the card?

Not immediately, but if the issuer closes the account for inactivity, you lose that credit limit. The available credit disappears from your credit report, which can raise your utilization percentage and lower your score.

Can I reopen a card that was closed for inactivity?

No, you cannot reopen a closed account. You would need to apply for a new card. However, if you apply for a new card from the same issuer, they may reopen your old account instead of creating a new one — ask them when you apply.

Does not using a credit card hurt my credit score?

Not using the card itself does not hurt your score. But if the issuer closes it for inactivity, the closure lowers your score by reducing your available credit. Making one small charge every few months prevents closure and keeps your score stable.

What if my card has an annual fee and I don't use it?

You can call and ask the issuer to waive the fee, and they sometimes will. If they won't, you can close the account yourself to stop paying the fee. Closing it yourself is often better than letting them close it for inactivity, because you control the timing.