How to delete a credit card from Amazon
To remove a credit card from your Amazon account, go to Account & Lists in the top right, select Your Account, then choose Login & security. Scroll down to Manage payment methods and click it. Find the card you want to remove, click the three dots next to it, and select Delete. Amazon will ask you to confirm — click Delete payment method again, and the card is gone.
The process takes less than a minute. You cannot delete a card if it is currently set as your default payment method, so you will need to change your default first if that card is the one you want to remove. Amazon keeps a record that the card was once on your account, but the card details themselves are deleted and cannot be used for future purchases.
Key Takeaways
- You must change your default payment method before you can delete the card currently set as default.
- The card details are permanently removed from Amazon's system once you confirm the deletion.
- You can delete a card even if you have past orders associated with it — those orders stay in your history.
- If you want to remove all payment methods from your account, you must keep at least one active payment method on file.
Why you might need to remove a card
You may want to delete a card because you closed the account, lost the card, or straightforward do not want that payment method stored anymore. Removing old cards reduces the risk if your Amazon account is ever compromised — a deleted card cannot be charged, even if someone gains access to your login.
Another reason is to clean up your account after switching to a new card. If you have multiple cards on file and no longer use one, removing it keeps your payment methods list organized and makes it faster to find the card you actually use.
What happens to orders after you delete a card
Deleting a card does not affect past orders or refunds. Amazon keeps a record of which card was used for each purchase, so your order history remains complete and searchable. If you need to return an item or dispute a charge, Amazon can still process that even though the card is no longer on your account.
Future purchases cannot use a deleted card. If you try to place an order and your default payment method is missing or expired, Amazon will prompt you to add a new one before checkout completes.
Changing your default payment method first
If the card you want to delete is set as your default, Amazon will not let you remove it until you choose a different card as default. To change your default, go to Your Account > Login & security > Manage payment methods. Find the card you want to use instead, click the three dots next to it, and select Set as default.
Once a different card is default, you can go back to the card you want to delete and remove it using the same three-dot menu. If you only have one card on your account, you will need to add a second payment method before you can delete the first one.
Adding a new payment method if needed
If you are deleting your only card and do not have a replacement ready, you can add a new one before you delete the old one. From Manage payment methods, click Add a payment method. You can add a credit card, debit card, or prepaid card by entering the card number, expiration date, and CVV.
Amazon also accepts other payment methods depending on your location, such as bank account transfers or gift cards. Once the new method is added and set as default, you can safely delete the old card.
Removing cards linked to Amazon Business or Prime
If you use Amazon Business, each business account has its own payment methods separate from your personal Amazon account. To remove a card from your business account, log in to Amazon Business, go to Account > Payment methods, and follow the same deletion steps.
Prime membership is tied to your personal account, not to a specific card. Deleting a card does not cancel Prime, and Prime will continue to renew using whatever payment method you set as default. If you want to change which card Prime charges, straightforward set a different card as default before the renewal date.
What to do if you cannot delete a card
If the delete option is greyed out or missing, the card is likely set as your default payment method. Change your default to a different card first, then try deleting again. If you see an error message, try logging out and back in, or use a different browser.
If the card still will not delete after trying these steps, contact Amazon Customer Service through Account & Lists > Your Account > Contact Us. Describe which card you want removed and what error message you see. Amazon can delete cards manually if there is a technical issue preventing you from doing it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a card if I have an active subscription or recurring charge?
No. If a card is linked to an active subscription (like Prime, Kindle Unlimited, or a Subscribe & Save order), you cannot delete it until you change that subscription to a different payment method or cancel it. Change the subscription's payment method first, then delete the card.
Will deleting a card affect my Amazon Prime membership?
No. Prime is tied to your account, not to a specific card. Deleting a card does not cancel Prime. Prime will renew using your default payment method on the renewal date. If you want to make sure a specific card is used, set it as default before the renewal date arrives.
Can I recover a deleted card if I made a mistake?
No, the card details are permanently removed from your account. You can add the same card again by entering the card number, expiration date, and CVV, but Amazon will treat it as a new payment method. Your order history is not affected.
What if I deleted a card and now cannot check out?
You deleted your default payment method. Go to Your Account > Login & security > Manage payment methods and add a new card or set a different existing card as default. You will then be able to complete your purchase.
Does Amazon keep any information after I delete a card?
Amazon keeps a record that the card was once on your account for fraud prevention and order history purposes, but the actual card number and details are deleted. The card cannot be used for new charges once it is removed.