You can delete a credit card from Amazon in your account settings, but the process and what happens next depends on whether it's your only payment method
To remove a credit card from Amazon, go to Your Account > Login & security > Manage payment methods, find the card you want to delete, and select Delete. Amazon will ask you to confirm. The card is then removed from your account and cannot be used for future purchases.
The catch: if that card is your only payment method on file, Amazon won't let you delete it until you add a replacement. You'll see a message saying you need at least one valid payment method before you can remove it. This is standard across retailers — they need a way to charge you if you have an active subscription or an order in progress.
Deleting a card from Amazon does not affect your credit score, does not cancel any subscriptions tied to that card, and does not contact your bank. It only removes the card number from Amazon's system. If you have an active Prime membership or any other recurring charge, you must add a new payment method first, or that subscription will fail at the next billing cycle.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete any credit card from your Amazon account through Login & security settings, but Amazon requires at least one payment method on file at all times.
- If the card you want to delete is your only payment method, you must add a new card before Amazon will let you remove the old one.
- Deleting a card from Amazon does not cancel subscriptions or alert your bank — it only removes the card number from your account.
- If you have an active Prime membership or recurring charges and you delete the card without adding a replacement, your next billing will fail.
Step-by-step process to delete a card
Start by signing into your Amazon account on a computer or the mobile app. On desktop, hover over Account & Lists in the top right and select Your Account. On the mobile app, tap the menu icon and select Your Account.
Once you're in Your Account, look for Login & security in the left sidebar (desktop) or scroll down to find it (mobile). Click or tap Login & security, then find the section labeled Manage payment methods or Payment options. This section lists every card, bank account, and digital wallet linked to your account.
Find the card you want to remove. Next to it, you'll see a Delete button or link. Click it. Amazon will ask you to confirm the deletion. Once you confirm, the card is removed when ready and will not appear in your payment method list.
What to do if Amazon won't let you delete the card
If you see a message saying you cannot delete the card, it means that card is your only payment method. Amazon requires at least one valid payment method on file before you can remove any card. To proceed, you must add a new payment method first.
To add a new card, stay in the Manage payment methods section and select Add a payment method or Add card. Enter the new card details and complete any verification Amazon requests. Once the new card is saved and marked as valid, you can return to the old card and delete it.
If you don't want to add another card and straightforward want to stop using Amazon, you can leave the card on file without using it. Deleting it is optional. However, if you have an active Prime membership or any recurring subscription, you must have a valid payment method available, or those charges will fail.
Difference between deleting a card and reporting it as lost or stolen
Deleting a card from Amazon is different from reporting it to your bank as lost or stolen. When you delete a card from Amazon, only Amazon removes it — your bank has no record of this action. The card itself remains active with your bank unless you contact them directly.
If your card was actually lost, stolen, or compromised, you should contact your bank or card issuer when ready. They can freeze or cancel the card, which prevents anyone from using it anywhere. Amazon deletion does not do this. Your bank may also issue you a replacement card with a new number.
Once your bank issues a new card with a new number, you can add that new card to Amazon and delete the old one. If your old card is still on file with Amazon and your bank cancels it, Amazon will straightforward mark it as invalid the next time a charge is attempted.
What happens to subscriptions when you delete a card
Deleting a card does not automatically cancel Prime, Kindle Unlimited, or any other Amazon subscription. The subscription remains active. However, when the next billing date arrives, Amazon will try to charge the card you deleted — and that charge will fail because the card no longer exists in your account.
When a charge fails, Amazon typically sends you an email asking you to update your payment method. You then have a grace period (usually a few days to a week, depending on the subscription) to add a new card. If you don't update it in time, Amazon will suspend the subscription until you provide a valid payment method.
To avoid this, add a new payment method before you delete the old card if you have any active subscriptions. This ensures your next billing cycle goes through without interruption. You can check your active subscriptions in Your Account > Memberships and subscriptions.
Removing a card linked to a saved address or default payment method
If the card you're deleting is set as your default payment method, Amazon will automatically switch to your next most recent card after deletion. You don't need to manually select a new default — Amazon handles this. However, if it's your only card, you must add a new one before deletion, as explained above.
Deleting a card does not delete the address associated with it. Addresses and payment methods are stored separately in Amazon's system. If you want to remove an address, you can do that in Your Account > Manage addresses. Removing an address does not affect your payment methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a card from Amazon hurt my credit score?
No. Deleting a card from Amazon is purely an account management action. Your bank and credit bureaus have no record of it. Your credit score is based on your payment history, credit utilization, and other factors — removing a card from a retailer's website does not affect any of those.
Can I delete a card if I have a pending order?
You can attempt to delete it, but if that card is the one charged for a pending order, Amazon may not allow the deletion until the order is complete. If you have multiple cards on file, you can delete any card that is not being used for an active order. If the pending order is the only reason the card is in use, wait for the order to ship and settle before deleting.
What if I delete a card and then want to use it again?
You can add the same card back to your account at any time by going to Manage payment methods and selecting Add a payment method. Enter the card details again and complete any verification. There is no penalty for re-adding a card you previously deleted.
Does Amazon notify my bank when I delete a card?
No. Deleting a card from Amazon is a transaction between you and Amazon only. Your bank receives no notification. If you want your bank to know the card is no longer in use, you would need to contact them directly or cancel the card through your bank's app or website.
Can I delete a card if it's expired?
Yes. Expired cards can be deleted the same way as active cards. However, if an expired card is your only payment method, you must add a new card before Amazon will let you remove it. Amazon typically marks expired cards as invalid automatically, but you can delete them manually to clean up your account.