Do Gift Cards Expire? A 50-state guide

You just found an old gift card. Your next question is likely: Do gift cards expire?

In this guide, we’ll explain the difference between gift cards and prepaid cards as well as the complexities of expiration dates for each state.

Gift Cards vs. Prepaid Cards

Before we get into the meat and potatoes, we need to understand the difference between gift cards (Closed-Loop Cards) and prepaid cards (Open-Loop).

Cards which have a payment processor’s logo on them (such as Visa or Mastercard) are not truly gift cards and are regulated differently.

Gift Cards (Closed-Loop Cards)

• Definition: Gift cards are typically issued by specific retailers or businesses and can only be used to make purchases at that business or affiliated locations.
  
  These are often called closed-loop cards because their use is restricted to a particular store or brand.
  
  
• Examples: Amazon gift cards, Starbucks gift cards, or Target gift cards.
  
  
• Usage: The funds on a gift card can only be spent at the issuing store or within its network. These cards usually don’t come with extra fees (except for potential dormancy or inactivity fees after long periods of non-use, depending on the state or issuer).
  
  
• Expiration and Fees: While federal law prohibits expiration for at least five years, some states have stricter regulations (like California, which does not allow expiration at all).
  
  Inactivity fees may apply after a certain period, but these fees must be clearly disclosed.

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Prepaid Gift Cards (Open-Loop Cards)

• Definition: Prepaid cards, also known as open-loop cards, are issued by major financial networks like Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express.
  
  These cards function similarly to debit cards and can be used anywhere that accepts the brand associated with the card, making them more versatile than closed-loop gift cards.
  
  
• Examples: Visa prepaid gift cards, Mastercard prepaid cards, or American Express prepaid gift cards.
  
  
• Usage: Unlike retailer-specific gift cards, prepaid gift cards can be used almost anywhere—whether it’s online, at a restaurant, or a retail store. These cards offer flexibility because they aren’t tied to a particular retailer or brand.
  
  
• Fees and Expiration: Prepaid gift cards may have fees associated with their use, such as activation fees, monthly maintenance fees, or ATM withdrawal fees.
  
  These fees are often disclosed at the time of purchase. Prepaid cards are also subject to expiration dates, typically anywhere from 3 months to 5 years.

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Do gift cards expire?

It is helpful to break the question up into two distinct questions: “Can gift cards expire?” and “Do gift cards expire?”.

Can Gift Cards Expire?

In many cases, yes

Whether a gift card can expire depends on various factors like the type of card, federal and state laws, and where it was issued.

The 2009 CARD Act (a federal law) ensures that gift cards cannot expire within five years of activation, but many states enforce stricter rules.

For instance, in some states, like California, gift cards cannot expire at all.

Do gift cards expire?

In most cases, no

National brands tend to follow the most restrictive state rules when it comes to gift card expiration.

Many of the largest states (such as Florida, California, and Illinois) disallow expiration on gift cards. It is usually easier for a company to have one uniform expiration experience rather than managing 50 different ones, so most national companies forego expirations altogether.

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Federal and State Laws on Expiration

The CARD Act protects consumers by setting a minimum expiration timeline of five years for gift cards while also limiting inactivity fees. However, many states have additional protections, banning expiration entirely in some cases.

This means that while the federal law sets a floor, individual states may offer even greater consumer protections.

Not every company is national though. Smaller companies in particular may not be concerned about the law in California if they don’t do business or sell gift cards there. Therefore, it is valuable to know the laws in your specific state.

State-by-State Comparison of Gift Card Expiration Laws

While federal laws like the CARD Act set minimum protections, each state may have its own specific regulations regarding gift card expiration, fees, and how unclaimed gift card balances are handled.

Below is a summary of gift card laws in every state. States which disallow expiration dates are marked with the grey infinity symbol.

Alabama

• Do Gift Cards Expire in Alabama?: No specific regulation on gift card expiration.
• Contact Info: Alabama Attorney General’s Office, (334) 242-7300, https://www.ago.state.al.us

Alaska

• Do Gift Cards Expire in Alaska?: Gift cards issued by a retail store cannot expire.
• Contact Info: Alaska Attorney General’s Office, (907) 465-3600, https://www.law.state.ak.us

Arizona

• Do Gift Cards Expire in Arizona?: Any expiration or fees must be clearly disclosed.
• Contact Info: Arizona Attorney General’s Office, (602) 542-4266, https://www.azag.gov

Arkansas

• Do Gift Cards Expire in Arkansas?: No gift card can expire earlier than two years from issuance, and expiration dates must be conspicuous.
• Fees: Fees are allowed only after two years, with conspicuous notice required.
• Contact Info: Arkansas Attorney General’s Office, (800) 482-8982, https://www.ag.arkansas.gov

California

• Do Gift Cards Expire in California?: Gift cards cannot expire under California law.
• Fees: No fees are allowed unless the card has been inactive for two years and the remaining balance is $5 or less. The fee can only be $1 per month.
• Other Protections: Gift cards are redeemable for cash if the balance is below $10.
• Contact Info: California Attorney General’s Office, (916) 445-9555, https://ag.ca.gov

Colorado

• Do Gift Cards Expire in Colorado?: No specific regulations regarding gift card expiration.
• Contact Info: Colorado Attorney General’s Office, (303) 866-4500, https://www.ago.state.co.us

Connecticut

• Do Gift Cards Expire in Connecticut?: Gift certificates cannot expire if sold after August 16, 2003.
• Contact Info: Connecticut Attorney General’s Office, (860) 808-5318, https://www.ct.gov/ag

Delaware

• Do Gift Cards Expire in Delaware?: No specific regulations regarding gift card expiration.
• Contact Info: Delaware Attorney General’s Office, (302) 577-8338, https://attorneygeneral.delaware.gov

Florida

• Do Gift Cards Expire in Florida?: Expiration dates and fees are prohibited on gift certificates.
• Contact Info: Florida Attorney General’s Office, (850) 414-3300, https://myfloridalegal.com

Georgia

• Do Gift Cards Expire in Georgia?: Any expiration or dormancy fee must be clearly disclosed.
• Contact Info: Georgia Attorney General’s Office, (404) 656-3300, https://ganet.org/ago

Hawaii

• Do gift cards expire in Hawaii?: Gift cards cannot expire within two years of issuance.
• Fees: No fees may be charged for using the card.
• Contact Info: Hawaii Attorney General’s Office, (808) 586-1500, https://www.hawaii.gov/ag

Illinois

• Do gift cards expire in Illinois?: Gift cards cannot expire or charge service fees.
• Contact Info: Illinois Attorney General’s Office, (312) 814-3000, https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov

Idaho

• Do gift cards expire in Idaho?: No specific regulations regarding gift card expiration.
• Contact Info: Idaho Attorney General’s Office, (208) 334-2400, https://www.ag.idaho.gov

Indiana

• Do gift cards expire in Indiana?: Gift certificates are exempt from unclaimed property laws and can have expiration dates.
• Contact Info: Indiana Attorney General’s Office, (317) 232-6201, https://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral

Iowa

• Do gift cards expire? in Iowa: Gift certificates can expire unless a contract states otherwise. The expiration date must be clearly stated.
• Fees: No fees may be deducted unless there is a valid contract in place.
• Contact Info: Iowa Attorney General’s Office, (515) 281-5164, https://www.IowaAttorneyGeneral.org

Kansas

• Do gift cards expire in Kansas?: Expiration dates must be at least five years from the purchase date. Cards without expiration dates are valid until redeemed.
• Fees: Fees may not be charged within the first 12 months of issuance.
• Contact Info: Kansas Attorney General’s Office, (785) 296-2215, https://www.ksag.org

Kentucky

• Do gift cards expire in Kentucky?: Gift certificates must be valid for at least one year. Cards without expiration dates are valid until redeemed.
• Fees: Fees may not be charged before the expiration date.
• Contact Info: Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, (502) 696-5300, https://ag.ky.gov

Louisiana

• Do gift cards expire in Louisiana?: Gift cards must be valid for at least five years. Cards without expiration dates are valid indefinitely.
• Fees: No fees are allowed except a one-time handling fee of $1 or less.
• Contact Info: Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, (225) 326-6000, https://www.ag.state.la.us

Maine

• Do gift cards expire in Maine?: No expiration period can be imposed on the owner’s right to redeem a gift card.
• Fees: No fees are allowed unless noted on the card.
• Contact Info: Maine Attorney General’s Office, (207) 626-8800, https://www.state.me.us/ag

Maryland

• Do gift cards expire in Maryland?: Gift cards must be valid for at least four years. Expiration dates must be clearly disclosed.
• Fees: No fees may be charged within the first four years of issuance.
• Contact Info: Maryland Attorney General’s Office, (410) 576-6300, https://www.oag.state.md.us

Massachusetts

• Do gift cards expire in Massachusetts?: Gift cards must be valid for at least seven years from the date of issuance. Cards without expiration dates are valid indefinitely.
• Fees: Dormancy and service fees are prohibited.
• Contact Info: Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, (617) 727-2200, https://www.mass.gov/ago

Michigan

• Do gift cards expire in Michigan?: No specific regulations regarding gift card expiration.
• Contact Info: Michigan Attorney General’s Office, (517) 373-1110, https://www.michigan.gov/ag

Minnesota

• Do gift cards expire in Minnesota?: Gift cards cannot have expiration dates or fees under Minnesota law.
• Contact Info: Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, (651) 296-3353, https://www.ag.state.mn.us

Mississippi

• Do gift cards expire in Mississippi?: No specific regulations regarding gift card expiration.
• Contact Info: Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, (601) 359-3680, https://www.ago.state.ms.us

Missouri

• Do gift cards expire in Missouri?: No specific regulations regarding gift card expiration.
• Contact Info: Missouri Attorney General’s Office, (573) 751-3321, https://www.ago.mo.gov

Montana

• Do gift cards expire in Montana?: Gift cards cannot expire. No fees may be charged.
• Contact Info: Montana Attorney General’s Office, (406) 444-2026, https://www.doj.mt.gov

Nebraska

• Do gift cards expire in Nebraska?: Expiration dates and all fees must be clearly disclosed on the gift card or certificate.
• Contact Info: Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, (402) 471-2682, https://www.ago.state.ne.us

Nevada

• Do gift cards expire in Nevada?: Expiration dates must be printed on the certificate. If not, the card must remain valid until redeemed.
• Fees: Fees are limited to $1 per month after 12 months of inactivity, with clear disclosure required.
• Contact Info: Nevada Attorney General’s Office, (775) 684-1100, https://ag.state.nv.us

New Hampshire

• Do gift cards expire in New Hampshire?: Gift cards worth less than $100 cannot expire.
• Fees: Service fees are prohibited.
• Contact Info: New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, (603) 271-3658, https://www.state.nh.us/nhdoj

New Jersey

• Do gift cards expire in New Jersey?: Expiration dates must be at least 24 months from the date of issuance.
• Fees: No dormancy fee may be charged within the first 24 months of inactivity, and fees must be clearly disclosed.
• Contact Info: New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, (609) 292-8740, https://www.state.nj.us/lps

New Mexico

• Do gift cards expire in New Mexico?: Cards must be valid for at least 60 months. Cards without clearly stated expiration dates are valid indefinitely.
• Fees: No fees may be charged.
• Contact Info: New Mexico Attorney General’s Office, (505) 827-6000, https://www.nmag.gov

New York

• Do gift cards expire in New York?: Expiration dates must be disclosed and must be at least 9 years. No fees may be charged before 13 months of inactivity.
• Fees: Fees must be disclosed and cannot be charged within the first year of inactivity.
• Contact Info: New York Attorney General’s Office, (518) 474-7330, https://www.oag.state.ny.us

North Carolina

• Do gift cards expire in North Carolina?: No specific regulations regarding gift card expiration.
• Fees: Maintenance fees may not be charged within one year of purchase. All fees must be disclosed.
• Contact Info: North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, (919) 716-6400, https://www.ncdoj.com

North Dakota

• Do gift cards expire in North Dakota?: Expiration dates must be at least six years from issuance.
• Fees: Service fees are prohibited.
• Contact Info: North Dakota Attorney General’s Office, (701) 328-2210, https://www.ag.state.nd.us

Ohio

• Do gift cards expire in Ohio?: Gift certificates must be valid for at least two years from issuance.
• Fees: Service fees may not be charged within two years of issuance.
• Contact Info: Ohio Attorney General’s Office, (614) 466-4320, https://www.ag.state.oh.us

Oklahoma

• Do gift cards expire in Oklahoma?: Expiration dates must be at least 60 months from the purchase date.
• Fees: Fees are prohibited unless the card’s value is $5 or less, with a fee of $1/month or less. No fee can be charged until 24 months of inactivity.
• Contact Info: Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, (405) 521-3921, https://www.oag.state.ok.us

Oregon

• Do gift cards expire in Oregon?: Expiration dates are prohibited unless the card is sold at a discount, with the expiration date clearly disclosed.
• Contact Info: Oregon Attorney General’s Office, (503) 378-4732, https://www.doj.state.or.us

Pennsylvania

• Do gift cards expire in Pennsylvania?: Gift certificates are presumed abandoned if unredeemed for two years after expiration or five years from issuance if no expiration is specified.
• Escheat: Certificates without expiration dates or fees are exempt from escheat (abandoned property) laws.
• Contact Info: Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, (717) 787-3391, https://www.attorneygeneral.gov

Rhode Island

• Do gift cards expire in Rhode Island?: Gift cards cannot expire or contain service fees.
• Contact Info: Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, (401) 274-4400, https://www.riag.state.ri.us

South Carolina

• Do gift cards expire in South Carolina?: No expiration date is allowed within one year of purchase unless clearly disclosed.
• Fees: Fees are prohibited unless clearly disclosed.
• Contact Info: South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, (803) 734-3970, https://www.scattorneygeneral.org

South Dakota

• Do gift cards expire in South Dakota?: No specific regulations regarding gift card expiration.
• Contact Info: South Dakota Attorney General’s Office, (605) 773-3215, https://www.state.sd.us/attorney/

Tennessee

• Do gift cards expire in Tennessee?: Gift cards must be valid for at least two years, and cards without expiration dates are valid until redeemed.
• Fees: No service fees are allowed within the first two years.
• Contact Info: Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, (615) 741-5860, https://www.attorneygeneral.state.tn.us

Texas

• Do gift cards expire in Texas?: Expiration dates must be disclosed clearly.
• Fees: Handling, access, and reasonable dormancy fees are allowed after the first year, with clear disclosure required.
• Contact Info: Texas Attorney General’s Office, (512) 463-2100, https://www.oag.state.tx.us

Utah

• Do gift cards expire in Utah?: No specific regulations regarding gift card expiration.
• Contact Info: Utah Attorney General’s Office, (801) 538-9600, https://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/

Vermont

• Do gift cards expire in Vermont?: Gift certificates must be valid for at least three years. Cards with no expiration date are presumed to have no expiration.
• Fees: Service fees are prohibited.
• Contact Info: Vermont Attorney General’s Office, (802) 828-3173, https://www.state.vt.us/atg

Virginia

• Do gift cards expire in Virginia?: Expiration dates must be clearly stated on the card or be accessible via phone or website.
• Fees: If a gift card loses value over time, the issuer must provide access to information about the decrease.
• Contact Info: Virginia Attorney General’s Office, (804) 786-2071, https://www.oag.state.va.us

Washington

• Do gift cards expire in Washington?: Expiration is prohibited unless no payment was made for the card (e.g., a promotional card).
• Fees: Dormancy fees are allowed if clearly disclosed, the remaining balance is $5 or less, and the fee is no more than $1/month after 24 months of inactivity.
• Contact Info: Washington Attorney General’s Office, (360) 753-6200, https://www.atg.wa.gov

West Virginia

• Do gift cards expire in West Virginia?: No specific regulations regarding gift card expiration.
• Contact Info: West Virginia Attorney General’s Office, (304) 558-2021, https://www.wvago.us

Wisconsin

• Do gift cards expire in Wisconsin?: No specific regulations regarding gift card expiration.
• Contact Info: Wisconsin Attorney General’s Office, (608) 266-1221, https://www.doj.state.wi.us

Wyoming

• Do gift cards expire in Wyoming?: No specific regulations regarding gift card expiration.
• Contact Info: Wyoming Attorney General’s Office, (307) 777-7841, https://attorneygeneral.state.wy.us

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Does my Card Expire? Ask These Questions:

If you’re trying to determine whether your gift card is still valid, here’s a list of questions to help:

1. Does it have a Visa/Mastercard/Discover/American Express logo?
   • Open-loop cards often have expiration dates and fees.
     
     
2. Is it a national brand?
   • National brands tend to adhere to the strictest state laws, such as California’s no-expiration policy.
     
     
3. Was it a branded card supplied by Toasty?
   • Cards available on the Toasty Choice Cards, for example, follow specific terms that ensure the recipient has ample time to use their gift. Branded gift cards do not expire.
     
     
4. Does it have a printed expiration date?
   • If yes, check if it’s compliant with the five-year minimum expiration law set by the Credit CARD Act.
     
     
5. Is there a fee listed for inactivity?
   • If the card charges inactivity fees after 12 months of non-use, make sure to use it soon to avoid losing balance.
     
     
6. Is it reloadable?
   • Reloadable cards generally don’t expire as long as they remain active, but fees may apply.
     
     
7. Was it given as part of a loyalty program, sweepstake, or fundraiser?
   • Many states regulate these cards differently.

By answering these questions, you’ll have a better idea of whether or not your gift card is still valid and if you need to use it sooner rather than later.

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The #1 Reason Cards Expire

The most common reason cards expire? Because the recipient doesn’t actually shop at the store the gift card is from.

Put another way: we have all been on the receiving end of a gift card to a place we don’t shop at… so how do you make sure your gifts don’t fall into the same pitfall?

Give them choice! The Toasty Choice card is a great option, because it allows your recipient to pick a brand they’ll actually use. With thousands of options to choose from in dozens of countries, there is guaranteed to be something for every taste!

Want to learn more? Sign-up or schedule a demo below: