Should you send a credit card travel notice?

There was a time when credit card issuers and banks requested travel notices so they’d know when you’d be using your card while you were away from home. But that’s generally a thing of the past.

However, it’s still helpful to double-check that your contact information is up to date in case you need to be reached while traveling. 

Key takeaways

• A travel notice can help your credit card issuer or bank know when any transactions are made while traveling.  
• You may not need to notify your bank or credit card issuer of your travel plans, thanks to improvements in fraud detection technology and security. 
• You don’t need to alert Capital One of your travel plans, and your credit card is covered for unauthorized purchases if your card is lost or stolen.¹ 
• It’s a good idea to make sure your contact information is up to date in case your bank or credit card issuer needs to reach you during your trip. You might want to also have your credit card’s contact information saved so you can easily refer to it if you need it.

A credit card travel notice is a way for you to alert your credit card company about your upcoming travel plans. An advance notice tells your credit card company to expect charges from another city, state or country. But it’s not as common as it used to be to set a travel alert before you use your credit card abroad or somewhere different. 

Many credit card companies, including Capital One, no longer request travel notices. They’re generally not necessary these days due to improvements in fraud detection technology and the added security of EMV chips and contactless cards. But if you need to contact your credit card issuer, you might want to make sure you have the contact information saved somewhere so you can easily refer to it.

If your bank or card issuer requires you to set a travel notice, you might do it online, over the phone or through an app. Check with your bank or card issuer to learn how it handles travel notices.

There’s no need to tell Capital One about your travel plans—even if you’re traveling abroad. Just make sure the contact information associated with your account is up to date. That way, Capital One can contact you if there are any issues with your card.

If you’re a Capital One cardholder and your card is lost or stolen, you can instantly lock your credit card to prevent it from being used for purchases.² And if you find it, you can unlock it just as easily to use your card again. The card lock feature is simple to use and takes just a few taps on the Capital One Mobile app.³

You’re also covered by Capital One’s $0 liability for unauthorized charges policy. If your card is lost or stolen, you won’t be responsible for charges you did not authorize.¹

Want even more peace of mind? Add your mobile phone number to your account to automatically get alerts if Capital One notices potential suspicious activity. Capital One will message you from the same number every time so you can be confident it’s Capital One texting you.⁴

These are just some of Capital One’s credit card security features.

Your credit card company or bank may not need to be notified before you take a trip. That’s because of improvements in fraud detection technology and security. If you choose to set a travel alert, you can usually do it over the phone, online or in your bank’s or credit card issuer’s mobile app. But it’s a good idea to check with your bank or card issuer to see if it’s necessary to set a travel notice. 

Are you looking for a card with travel benefits, security features and no travel notices required? A Capital One travel credit card could be right for you. Compare Capital One’s travel rewards cards today.