What an authorized user is
An authorized user (AU) gets a card on someone else's account. You can make purchases, but the primary cardholder is legally responsible for the bill. You don't apply in the usual way; the primary cardholder adds you, typically online or by phone.
Because there's no credit check, this is one of the few credit-building steps open to someone with no history or a damaged report.
How it can raise your score
According to Experian, authorized user accounts appear on the AU's credit report and can affect their scores. When the account reports, you may benefit from:
- Payment history (35% of a FICO score), if the primary pays on time.
- Amounts owed (30%), if the card carries a low balance relative to its limit.
- Length of history (15%), if the account has been open for years.
How much weight scoring models give AU accounts isn't published in detail, so treat it as a helpful boost rather than a full substitute for your own accounts.
The risks, for both people
The benefit flows from the primary cardholder's habits, so their problems can flow to you too. If they miss payments or run the balance up, that can show on your reports. Experian says it does not put negative information such as late payments on an AU's Experian report, but other bureaus may.
For the primary cardholder, the risk is your spending. Some families add an AU without ever handing over the physical card, which still lets the account report.
Talk about ground rules before anything is added: who can use the card, for what, and what happens if a payment is missed.
If things go wrong, either side can end the arrangement. The primary cardholder can remove you, and you can ask the issuer to take you off the account. Doing that early is better than letting missed payments pile up on a shared account.
Also keep expectations realistic. An AU account can lift a thin file, but a lender reviewing your application may still want to see accounts you manage yourself.
Check reporting and age rules first
Issuers aren't required to report authorized users and can change their policies without notice. Many major issuers do report AU accounts to all three bureaus, but ask the issuer before you count on it.
| Issuer | Minimum AU age (Experian, May 2024) |
|---|---|
| American Express | 13 |
| U.S. Bank | 13 |
| Discover | 15 |
| Wells Fargo | 18 |
| Chase, Capital One, Citi, Bank of America | No stated minimum |
Most cards charge nothing to add an AU. Some premium cards charge $75 or more. Capital One charges no authorized-user fee. Card terms change, so check the issuer's site before you apply.
How to do it, step by step
- Pick the right account. Look for one with a long history, on-time payments and low utilization.
- Confirm reporting. Ask the issuer whether AUs are reported, and to which bureaus.
- Agree on rules. Decide whether you'll hold or use a card.
- Get added. The primary cardholder adds you with your name, date of birth and usually your Social Security number.
- Check your reports. After a billing cycle or two, look for the account at AnnualCreditReport.com, where weekly reports are free.
Build your own history too
An AU account helps, but lenders like to see accounts you're responsible for. Pair it with a card or loan in your own name, such as a secured credit card or a credit-builder loan. When you're ready, our guide to getting approved with bad credit covers prequalification. If you're coming back from a bankruptcy, see rebuilding credit after bankruptcy, and compare options in best cards for bad credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
It can if the primary cardholder misses payments or carries a high balance, since the account may show on your reports. Experian says it doesn't add negative items to an AU's Experian report, but other bureaus may. You can ask to be removed if the account turns bad.
No. The primary cardholder adds you, and your own credit is not reviewed. That's why it's an option for people with no history or poor credit.
It depends on the issuer's reporting cycle. Check your reports a billing cycle or two after being added; if it isn't there, ask the issuer whether it reports AUs.
Yes, and it's a good idea. Lenders weigh accounts you're responsible for, so a secured card or credit-builder loan in your name adds to what the AU account provides.
Will being an authorized user help my credit — Experian
Are authorized user accounts reported to all three bureaus — Experian
What is the minimum age for an authorized user — Experian
What's in your credit score — myFICO
Free weekly credit reports — FTC
Card terms, rates and fees change often and APRs are variable. Information was checked in October 2026; confirm current terms on the issuer's website before applying. MoneyVerge may be compensated by some card issuers; this does not affect our assessments.