Should I sign the back of my credit card?

Many credit card issuers no longer require you to sign the back of your card. But if there’s a space on your credit card for a signature, then it may still be a good idea to sign it.

Read on to learn about the importance of signatures on credit cards historically and why they matter today. You can also check out some modern-day tips for protecting yourself against fraud beyond signature verifications. 

What you’ll learn:

• Signatures on credit cards and debit cards used to be the main way to prevent card fraud.

• Although credit card signatures are no longer crucial for preventing fraud, it’s still recommended to sign your card if there’s a space for it.

• Some credit card issuers require you sign the back of the card for it to be considered valid and active.

• Businesses and independent merchants have the right to deny a transaction if the signature panel is left unsigned.

There was a time when signing your credit card was an important step in helping prevent credit card fraud. When you paid with your credit card, the merchant would compare your signature on the receipt with the one on your card. If they matched, the merchant would approve the transaction.

These days, credit card purchases are securely authenticated electronically. For many transactions—like those made online, with an EMV chip reader or by tapping your phone—merchants never even see your card at all. So when it comes to preventing fraud, signing your card isn’t as important as it used to be.

Even though signatures aren’t used the way they once were, it may still be a good idea to sign the back of your credit card if it has a signature panel. Here’s why:

• Some credit card issuers require a signature. Some card issuers might require a signature to indicate the card is active and that you accept the terms of the credit card agreement. Some cards even feature a message that says something like “Not valid unless signed” or “Not valid without an Authorized Signature.” You can check with your issuer or check your credit card agreement to see whether you need to sign your card.

• Merchants may refuse to accept an unsigned card. Since an unsigned card might be considered inactive and invalid, merchants do have the right to turn one down.

The practice of writing “See ID” in a credit card’s signature panel stems from the older security measure of matching signatures. People used to write “See ID” to prompt a merchant to compare the cardholder’s signature on the receipt with the one on the cardholder’s ID before authorizing the sale. In theory, this would reduce the chances of credit card fraud. 

But while this may have been more common at one point, writing “See ID” on your credit card isn’t typically recommended.

For starters, signatures aren’t always required for credit card purchases under a certain amount. Merchant agreements might even prohibit a retailer from requiring a cardholder to present their ID in order to approve a sale.

If your issuer requires you to sign your credit card, your card might still be considered inactive and invalid if you write “See ID” in place of your signature. You can check your credit card agreement or check with your issuer to see whether writing “See ID” is OK.

Some credit cards come with built-in security features and benefits designed to help protect against fraud. And those safeguards may go beyond basics like your personal identification number, or PIN, and card verification value number, or CVV number.

Capital One’s credit cards, for example, may have available features like instant purchase notifications, fraud alerts, $0 liability for unauthorized charges, card lock and Eno, your Capital One assistant.^{1, 2, 3} Eno can even create virtual card numbers to keep your actual card number under wraps when you check out online.⁴

Remember: When it comes to protection against fraud, signing your card isn’t as important as it used to be. So consider these credit card security tips:

• Don’t lend your card to anyone.

• If a transaction requires you to hand over your card, watch for any suspicious behavior.

• Save your receipts so you can compare them with your monthly statement.

• Shred your old statements and receipts when you’re ready to get rid of them. The same goes for your expired cards.

• Don’t give your account information over the phone unless you’re sure the caller is who they say they are. And if you’re not sure, ask to call them back—it can give you some time to check.

You should also be on the lookout for phishing scams that ask you to:

• Click links.

• Open attachments.

• Send money.

• Share personal information.

Here are the answers to some questions commonly asked about signing credit cards:

You can check with your credit card issuer to see if you’re required to sign your credit card. But it’s generally recommended to go ahead and sign it if there’s space on your card for a signature. That way, you’ll be covered if a merchant requires the signature for a purchase. 

Today, credit cards provide a number of security features for added protection. But regularly monitoring your credit is another way to protect yourself from credit card fraud by looking out for unauthorized changes to your credit reports or unexplained drops in your credit scores. One way to monitor your credit is with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free and available to everyone—even if you’re not a Capital One customer.⁵ You can also get free copies of your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.