Adding a credit or debit card to your Amazon account allows you to make purchases on Amazon.com quickly and easily. With a payment method saved in your account, you don’t have to enter your card information every time you place an order. Amazon offers a simple process for adding a card to your account either during checkout or through your Amazon account settings. This article will provide step-by-step instructions on how to add a card to your Amazon account using both methods. We will also cover additional details like supported card types and managing multiple cards. With an Amazon card saved to your account, you can enjoy fast and convenient checkout on all your Amazon purchases.
Adding a Card During Checkout
The easiest way to add a card to your Amazon account is during the checkout process. Here is how to add a card when placing an order:
- Place items in your Amazon cart and proceed to checkout.
- On the checkout page, select the payment method drop-down menu.
- Choose “Add a credit or debit card.”
- Enter your card number, expiration date, name on card, and billing address.
- Click “Add your card” to save it to your Amazon account.
- The card will now appear as a payment option during future checkouts.
This approach allows you to add a card and complete your purchase in one streamlined process. As soon as you add the card, Amazon saves it to your account so it’s available next time you shop.
Adding a Card in Account Settings
You can also add a card to your Amazon account through the “Manage Payment Options” settings page. Here’s how:
- Go to www.amazon.com and sign into your account.
- Hover over “Accounts & Lists” near the top right and select “Account” from the drop-down.
- Under “Payment options,” click “Add a credit or debit card.”
- Enter your card number, expiration date, name on card, and billing address.
- Click “Add your card.”
Following these steps will save a card to your Amazon account for future purchases. You can add multiple cards this way and manage them from your account settings.
Supported Card Types
Amazon accepts all major credit and debit card types. Here are the specific brands you can use to add a card to your Amazon account:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Discover
- Diners Club
- JCB
Both credit and debit cards are supported. You’ll need to enter the 16-digit card number, expiration date, CVV security code, name on card, and billing address. Make sure all details are entered correctly for a successful card addition.
Adding Multiple Cards
You are not limited to one card on your Amazon account. You can add several cards and manage them from your account settings. Follow these tips when adding multiple cards:
- Use the account settings area to add additional cards.
- Give each card a nickname like “Debit Card” or “Rewards Visa” to easily identify them.
- Mark one card as your default for easy one-click checkout.
- Edit card details or remove cards you no longer want to use.
With multiple cards, you can designate separate ones for Amazon purchases versus subscriptions and digital content. You can also set up backup cards in case your primary gets lost or stolen. Manage all cards conveniently through your Amazon account.
Changing Your Default Card
When you have multiple cards on your Amazon account, you may want to switch the default card used for checkouts. Here’s how to change it:
- Go to “Manage Payment Options” in your account settings.
- Locate the card you want to make the default.
- Click “Set as default.”
This card will now automatically populate during checkout. You can still choose another payment method manually, but your selected default card will always appear first. Change the default anytime as your needs change.
Editing Card Details
Sometimes you may need to update details for a card you’ve added to Amazon. Reasons might include:
- Card expired and was renewed with a later expiration date.
- Your billing address changed.
- You received a replacement card with a new number.
Editing card details is easy from your account. Just go to “Manage Payment Options” and click “Edit” next to the card to change. Update the necessary card details and billing information and click “Update” to save changes.
Removing a Card
To delete a saved card from your Amazon account:
- Go to “Manage Payment Options.”
- Click “Edit” next to the card you want to remove.
- Select “Remove card” and confirm deletion.
The card will be permanently deleted from your account. This can be useful if a card expires, is lost/stolen, or you want to remove unused cards. You can always add new ones later as needed.
Troubleshooting Card Issues
In some cases, you may encounter issues when trying to add or use a card on Amazon. Here are tips for troubleshooting:
Card is declined
If Amazon declines your card, potential reasons include:
- Insufficient funds
- Expired card
- Entered information doesn’t match bank records
- Bank fraud prevention hold
Check your card balance, expiration date, and account details entered. Call your bank to make sure they do not have a hold blocking the transaction.
Incorrect billing address
Make sure your Amazon account shows the correct billing address for each card. If the address doesn’t match your bank’s records, the card will be declined. Edit your saved card details with the current information.
Security code missing
For credit cards, enter the 3-digit code on the back. For debit cards, use the 4-digit PIN code. This security code is required when adding new cards.
Card not supported
Some prepaid cards and international card types may not work on Amazon. Use a major credit or debit card like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover.
Payment page errors
If you encounter errors on the Manage Payment Options page, try again on a desktop computer, clearing cookies/cache between attempts. Mobile browsers sometimes have issues with this page.
Using an Amazon Gift Card
In addition to credit/debit cards, you can also redeem an Amazon gift card on your account for purchases:
- Navigate to “Gift cards” under your account settings.
- Enter the gift card number and PIN or barcode.
- Click “Redeem” and the gift card balance will apply to your account.
- This balance will automatically apply at checkout for future orders.
When checking out, make sure “Use gift card balance” is selected in your payment method dropdown menu. Add multiple gift cards to your account balance for easy access at checkout.
Managing Amazon Household Accounts
If you share an Amazon Household account with family members, follow these guidelines for cards:
- Add cards to the Household owner account for access by all members.
- To restrict card usage, add cards only to the individual accounts.
- Manage all cards from the central Household account settings.
- Set default cards at the Household level or for each member.
Properly configuring card settings will ensure convenient checkout for the whole household while maintaining control over spending.
Using Amazon for Business Cards
For Amazon Business accounts:
- Add corporate cards to make purchases on behalf of your company.
- Add personal cards for individual transactions if permitted by your policy.
- The account admin can enable/disable card usage for other members.
- Configurable approval workflows control large purchases made with cards.
Correctly setting up cards for an Amazon Business account ensures spending aligns with your approval process and compliance policies.
Conclusion
Adding a credit, debit, or gift card to your Amazon account makes checking out incredibly easy. You can add cards during checkout or through account settings, setup automatic defaults, and manage multiple cards with ease. Keep your card details up-to-date in your Amazon account for smooth, convenient purchases every time you shop. With your payment method securely stored, you can check out faster than ever and fully enjoy the Amazon shopping experience.
