Voucher cards, also known as gift cards or gift certificates, are prepaid cards that can be used as an alternative to cash at specific stores or establishments. The expiration date and policies vary depending on the retailer, law, and type of card. Here’s a quick look at how long voucher cards typically last and what factors determine their validity period.
Do voucher cards expire?
Yes, most voucher cards have an expiration date and cease to be valid after that date. According to the CARD Act, gift cards in the United States must have a minimum validity period of 5 years. However, this federal regulation only applies to cards issued after August 22, 2010. State laws may also impact expiration rules. Even with regulations in place, expiration dates can vary greatly depending on the retailer.
When do voucher cards expire?
Expiration periods range from just a couple months to several years after the activation or purchase date:
- 6 months – Some restaurant or store-specific cards may expire 6 months after purchase.
- 1 year – Hotel or airline gift cards commonly expire 1 year after activation.
- 2-5 years – Most major retailer gift cards like Amazon or Walmart last 2-5 years.
- No expiration – A few merchants issue permanent cards with no expiration date.
The expiration date is generally printed on the back of the card or listed in the fine print. Unused funds are forfeited after that date in most cases.
What happens when a voucher card expires?
Here’s what typically happens when the expiration date passes:
- The card is no longer valid for purchases – It will be declined if you try to use it.
- Unused funds are forfeited – The money left on the card goes back to the retailer.
- Expired cards cannot be replaced – Retailers won’t reissue or refund expired cards.
- Fees apply – Dormancy, inactivity, or maintenance fees may be taken out if you don’t use the card before it expires.
Make sure to carefully check gift card balances and expiration dates to avoid losing any remaining value.
Can expired voucher cards be extended?
In most cases, no, expired cards cannot be extended or reactivated unless prohibited by state law. However, the following exceptions may apply in some cases:
- Retailer grace period – Some merchants offer a 30 to 90 day grace period after expiration.
- Card exchange – A few retailers will let you exchange an expired card for a new one.
- State laws – Some states prohibit expiration dates or require card replacements.
If your card has expired, check with the retailer first before assuming the remaining balance is gone for good.
How can you avoid voucher cards expiring?
To get the most out of gift cards and avoid losing any value, follow these tips:
- Use it quickly – Redeem your card as soon as possible to lower chances of it expiring.
- Check the balance – Log in online periodically to ensure your funds are still there.
- Note the expiration – Mark your calendar when unused cards expire.
- Spend it down – Use up all or most of the card rather than saving.
- Consolidate cards – Combine multiple cards into one if allowed.
Do some voucher cards not expire?
Yes, a small number of gift cards do not have expiration dates, including:
- Visa, Mastercard, or American Express – Branded gift cards don’t expire due to credit card network rules.
- Home improvement – Some cards at Lowe’s, Home Depot, etc. never expire.
- Gaming – PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo eShop cards remain valid.
- Music – iTunes and Spotify gift cards typically don’t have expiration dates.
Even without an expiration date, it’s still a good idea to redeem these types of cards sooner rather than later.
Do expired voucher cards still build up fees?
Yes, even after voucher cards expire, inactivity fees, dormancy fees, or other service charges may still gradually deplete the remaining balance. These fees enable retailers to continue earning money on unused expired cards.
Typical post-expiration fees include:
- $2 per month inactivity fee after 12 to 24 months.
- $3 to $5 dormancy fee every 6 to 12 months.
- $2 to $10 service fee deducted annually or quarterly.
Always check the retailer’s gift card policy to understand if and when ongoing fees may apply.
Can you get a refund on an expired voucher card?
Unfortunately, no. Retailers are generally not required to provide refunds on expired gift cards, even if the card has remaining funds. As soon as a card expires, those unused funds are considered forfeited to the merchant.
There are very few exceptions where a retailer may voluntarily offer a refund, such as:
- Returns within 30 days – Some may refund if card is unredeemed.
- Proof of purchase – Showing receipt may get back original amount.
- Exchange for merchandise – Trading for equal value of goods.
However, policies vary greatly by merchant, and most will not refund gift balances after expiration.
Can you exchange expired voucher cards?
Most retailers do not allow exchanging expired gift cards for new ones. The card is considered void and unusable past the printed expiration date. However, there are some cases where exchanging an expired card may be possible:
- Within grace period – Some merchants permit exchanges 30-90 days past expiration.
- With activation receipt – Showing proof of purchase may allow an exchange.
- For merchandise – Trading for equal value of goods if stores allow.
- If required by law – A few states prohibit expirations and require replacements.
Unless prohibited by state law, exchanging an expired card is generally at the retailer’s discretion. Check with the merchant first before assuming it can’t be exchanged.
How are voucher cards different from coupons?
There are a few key differences between voucher cards and coupons:
Voucher Cards | Coupons |
---|---|
Stored monetary value – Can be used like cash for part or all of a purchase. | Discount value – Provides a certain dollar or percentage discount off an item. |
Purchased item – Must pay to acquire the card and its prepaid funds. | Free item – Coupons are given away for free, no upfront cost. |
Redemption – Can buy almost anything at merchant. | Redemption – Typically applies to specific products only. |
Expiration – Gift cards expire after set time period. | Expiration – Coupons expire after set time period. |
While they share some similarities, gift cards function as prepaid cash cards while coupons provide discounts off purchases.
Do voucher cards expire if you add to them?
Typically, no – adding funds to a gift card balance will not impact or extend the card’s expiration date. The expiration is tied to the original activation date rather than the last reload date. However, policies can vary by retailer, and some may reset expiration with added funds.
There are a few potential scenarios when adding money to a voucher card:
- Balance extends expiration – Rare, but some retailers do this.
- Original expiration stays – Most common scenario even after reloads.
- Fees restart – Inactivity fees may restart with new funds.
Unless the merchant has specific policies around expirations and reloads, assume that the original expiration continues to apply.
Do voucher cards expire faster if you partially use them?
No, spending part of a gift card balance typically does not impact the expiration date. The card will expire according to the original term length regardless of partial redemptions. Examples:
- 5 year expiration, used once in 2 years – Still expires in 5 years.
- 1 year expiration, used monthly – Expires 1 year from activation.
- 6 month expiration, $10 spent – Remainder expires in 6 months.
The expiration clock usually continues ticking from purchase even with partial spends along the way.
Can you reuse an expired voucher card?
In most cases, no – expired gift cards are permanently invalid and cannot be reused, even if they still have money left on them. The stored funds are forfeited back to the retailer after the printed expiration date. Attempting to spend the remaining balance will result in a declined card.
There are very rare exceptions where an expired card potentially could be reused:
- Retailer allows grace period – Some give 30-90 days after expiration to use.
- State laws prohibit expiry – Required to honor cards in a few states.
- Retailer policy changes – Merchant voluntarily decides to accept.
Barring a voluntary policy change, legally mandated grace period, or state law overriding expirations, reused expired cards will be declined.
Can you get a new voucher card after expiration?
Typically no, most retailers will not reissue an expired gift card or provide a new one. Once a card has passed its expiration date, the funds are considered forfeited to the merchant. However, there are some limited scenarios where you may get a replacement card after expiration:
- Within grace period – Some retailers allow 30-90 days after expiry.
- With receipt – Proof of purchase may warrant reissuance.
- If required by law – State law mandates replacements in some areas.
- For merchandise exchange – Equal value product swap if allowed.
Unless prohibited by state statute, replacing an expired card is very rare – check with the retailer first.
Can you transfer balance from an expired voucher card?
Typically no, expired gift card balances cannot be transferred to a new card or redeemed for cash. The funds are surrendered to the retailer when the card expires. But in limited cases, transferring funds from an expired card may be possible:
- Within grace period – Some merchants allow 30-90 days post-expiration.
- With activation receipt – May permit balance transfer with proof.
- If law requires – Mandated in some states to replace expired cards.
- For equal value purchase – If allowed to exchange for merchandise.
Unless required by state law, most retailers will not transfer balances from expired cards. Check policies first before assuming funds are gone.
Do gift cards expire in Canada?
Yes, gift cards sold by retailers in Canada do have expiration dates and limits on their use, but consumer protections also apply. Some key Canadian rules include:
- 2-5 year minimum expiry – Cards must be valid for 2-5 years in most provinces.
- No fees – Dormancy fees are not permitted on gift cards in Canada.
- Refunds – Opportunity to receive remaining balance if unused.
- Law overrides – Provincial statutes prohibit expiry in some cases.
Purchasing, redeeming, and expiration rules can vary between provinces. Check provincial consumer protection laws for details.
Do gift cards expire in the UK?
Yes, gift vouchers and cards in the United Kingdom can have expiration dates. However, consumer rights laws also provide some protections:
- 2-5 year minimum – Cards must be valid for 2-5 years under UK law.
- Refunds – Right to ask for refund of unused funds in some cases.
- No revelations – Expiry end dates cannot be revealed until purchased.
- Law overrides – Expiration prohibited entirely in Northern Ireland.
Expiration policies on UK gift cards depend on the retailer, but consumer laws provide safeguards against very short expiry periods in most cases.
Conclusion
Voucher cards eventually expire, with the timeframe depending on the retailer and applicable consumer laws. While most gift cards remain valid for anywhere from a few months to several years, a small portion have no expiration dates. To avoid losing any funds, the best practice is to redeem gift cards as soon as possible. Carefully check any remaining balance and be aware of the expiration date. In most cases, expired gift cards cannot be reused, extended, or refunded, but state statutes and retailer policies can sometimes provide exceptions.