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When Should You Get a Credit Card?

7 min read

Last Updated: April 17, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

You could consider getting a new credit card if it can help you reach a specific goal, such as making a large purchase.
If you already have a credit card, see if a new card will complement your current one.
Try to see if you qualify for the new card you want before applying.

You may want to get a new credit card if you have a specific need that a card can meet, if the card offers enticing benefits, or if the new card will complement your current credit cards. If you’re new to managing credit, you may want to open your first credit card account to begin building credit history. No matter your situation, the following guide can help you determine whether it’s the right time to get a new credit card.

Why should you get a new credit card?

Understanding how you plan to use a credit card can help you pick the right credit card for your personal finance needs. For example, you may want a new card to help you:

Add to your credit history. Building credit history can help you qualify for the best credit cards and personal loans, lower interest rate offers, and higher credit limits. Good credit may make it easier to rent a home or get a job.
Earn rewards. Many credit cards offer cash back or miles rewards, and some cards offer bonus rewards in specific categories. A new rewards credit card may also complement an existing card, helping you earn rewards on purchases.
Earn a welcome offer. A credit card company may offer a bonus for people opening a new credit card account. Many credit card bonuses allow cardmembers to earn a higher bonus cash back for meeting a certain spending threshold within several months of account opening.
Make a large purchase. Some credit cards have promotional 0% APR offers. You can use the new card to make a large purchase and pay off the balance without paying interest during the promotional period.
Transfer and pay down credit card debt. Some balance transfer cards offer a low introductory APR on balances you transfer to the card. If you have credit card debt, you can see if transferring the balances can help you save money on interest and pay off the debt more quickly.
You get a referral. You may want to consider a credit card if you received a referral from a trusted friend or family member. Some credit card companies offer bonus rewards to cardmembers for referring friends. Discover^® Cardmembers, for example, can refer a friend and get a statement credit.¹

What to look for when getting your first credit card?

When you’re ready for your first credit card, you should look for a card with features you value—whether that’s an easy-to-use mobile banking app, rewards on your everyday purchases, or a welcome offer after account opening. However, it’s also important to make sure you qualify.

Each credit card company has its own requirements for qualification. But the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau^® explains that card companies can’t offer credit cards to anyone under age 21 unless they have enough independent income to cover their credit limit (if they’re at least 18).

If you're over 21 years old, you may be able to list on your application income you might reasonably be able to access, such as a spouse's income that's deposited into a joint bank account. However, the card issuer may still consider how your overall income compares to monthly debt and housing payments to determine if you qualify.

Before getting a credit card, you may want to learn how credit card interest works. You can think about a credit card interest charge as the cost of borrowing money. Any credit card balance you carry from month to month accrues interest based on your card’s interest rate. As you build a good credit score over time, you may qualify for cards with a lower interest rate. You can minimize your interest fees by paying your balance in full each month.

You may want to make sure your first credit card issuer reports your activity to at least one major credit bureau, so you can begin building credit history. Each credit bureau uses the information they receive from your lenders to create a credit report, which is the basis for your credit scores.

Do you need to start building your credit history?

Even if you meet the minimum eligibility requirements, you may not have many credit card options if you haven't established your credit history and don't have a credit score. However, there are still credit cards available for people who are new to credit: student cards and secured cards.

Did you know?

A secured card or a student credit card might not require a high income or credit history. A secured credit card like the Discover it^® Secured Credit Card helps you build your credit history with responsible use.² Typically, a secured card requires a deposit to secure your credit limit.

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Student credit cards are usually designed with features like a mobile banking app that make it easier to learn how to manage credit for the first time.

When shouldn’t you get a credit card?

The circumstances aren’t always ideal for applying for a new credit card. In the following situations, it might be a good idea to wait before applying for a card.

You’ve already applied for other cards. Applying for multiple credit cards in a short time frame triggers multiple hard credit checks, which may hurt your credit score. It’s best to wait between applications.
You’re applying for a mortgage or other loan. Applying for multiple types of credit within a short period—even if they aren’t all credit cards—can bring down your credit score. If you’re planning to apply for a mortgage or loan soon, delaying your credit card application may increase your odds of approval.
You’re worried about overspending. A credit card may make it easier to spend more money than you can afford to repay. If you build a credit card balance that’s higher than you can pay back within a month, you’ll begin accruing interest. This can lead to a challenging cycle of credit card debt. If this is a concern for you, you may want to build your personal finance skills before submitting a credit card application.
You lost your job or your income has gone down. If your income has recently gone down, you may have trouble paying your monthly credit card bill. A lower income also makes it more difficult to qualify for certain credit cards and credit limits. While it can be tempting to use a credit card to make ends meet when your budget is tight, this can backfire and lead to more debt.
Your credit isn’t great. If your credit score isn’t as high as you’d like, you may have trouble qualifying for some rewards credit cards or you might not receive the best credit card rates. Submitting a credit card application might also bring down your score. You can rebuild your credit score before applying for a new card by making all credit payments on time and paying down your balances.

When should you get a second credit card?

You might want an additional credit card if the new card has valuable benefits, will better fit your circumstances, or complements your current card (or cards).

If you have a rewards card that you use for everyday purchases, you might want a second card that has a lower interest rate for emergency expenses. Or your current card's rewards program might not suit you anymore, and a new card could better align with your spending and lifestyle.

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If your current credit cards have high fees, you might consider a new credit card without an annual fee. That way, you won’t increase your expenses.

You can compare credit card offerings to see which card you want. However, applying for a new credit card can lead to a hard credit inquiry, which may hurt your credit score even if you're not approved.

Some credit card issuers, including Discover, let you check to see if you're pre-approved for a card before you apply. Checking your pre-approval status won't impact your credit score³ and can help you avoid applying for cards that you likely won't be able to get.

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