Do Gift Cards Expire? Gift Card Expiration and Fees, Explained

Mostly, no — at least not as fast as people fear. Under US federal law, the money on a gift card generally can’t expire for years, and inactivity fees are tightly limited. But the rules have nuances, states can add stronger protections, and some card types are exempt. Here’s a plain-English overview.

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules vary by state and by card — always check the terms printed on your specific card.

The general US rule: funds last at least 5 years

The Credit CARD Act of 2009 (gift-card provisions effective August 22, 2010) sets a federal floor: the funds underlying a gift certificate, store gift card, or general-use prepaid card generally can’t expire for at least 5 years from the date the card was issued or the date money was last loaded onto it. Any expiration term also has to be disclosed before you buy.

When the card expires but the money doesn’t

A physical card can carry a printed expiration date that’s sooner than the 5-year funds rule — for example, the plastic shows a date but the balance behind it is still protected. In that situation the law generally entitles you to a replacement card at no cost while funds remain. If a card’s date is approaching, contact the issuer rather than assuming the money is gone.

Inactivity, dormancy, and service fees

These fees are restricted. A dormancy, inactivity, or service fee generally can’t be charged unless all three of these are true:

• There’s been no activity for at least 12 months;
• No more than one fee per month is charged; and
• The fees are clearly and conspicuously disclosed on the card.

So a card can lose value to fees over time if it sits unused long enough — which is a good reason not to let one languish in a drawer.

State laws can go further

The federal rules are a floor, not a ceiling. Some states add stronger protections — for example, tighter limits on expiration, or a requirement to cash out small remaining balances on request. These vary by state, so check the rules where you live for your specific card.

What’s usually exempt

Some cards generally fall outside these gift-card rules — for example, promotional or loyalty/reward cards given away (not sold), and certain cards not marketed to the general public. The terms on the card will say what applies.

Losing value to fees? Sell the card before that happens

If a card you won't use is sitting unused — especially one that could start racking up inactivity fees, or whose printed date is approaching — don't let the value erode. On FlipGift Escrow you can turn it into cash without ever sharing the card's number or PIN: you keep the card and redeem it yourself to fulfil a buyer's order, the money is held in escrow until delivery is confirmed, and you typically net 78–89% of face value.

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Per-brand expiration

Checking a specific brand? See do Amazon gift cards expire and other per-brand pages, or look up your balance first on our gift card balance pages.