Capital One credit line increase: How does it work?

Christy Rakoczy Bieber Written by:
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•4 min read
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Key Takeaway: Capital One can increase your credit line through an automatic review of your account, sometimes in as little as six months from account opening, or through your request. If you request a credit line increase, Capital One will evaluate your credit and other financial details before coming to a decision.

The terms “credit card limit” and “credit line” are used to describe how much you can charge on a card. If you have a $5,000 credit limit, you have access to a $5,000 credit line and can charge up to $5,000 maximum at any time.

As you pay down what you’ve charged, you can charge again and again as long as you keep your total card balance at $5,000 or less — although it’s generally better for your credit scores to avoid getting close to maxing out your credit card.

You often have to ask for a higher credit limit if you want more purchasing power. Then, the issuer will evaluate your credit, income and other financial details to decide whether to increase your credit limit.

But with some Capital One cards, you have a chance to get a credit line increase in as few as six months with on-time payments. Here’s how that works.

How does Capital One’s credit line increase program work?

For certain cards, Capital One indicates that it will automatically review your account for credit line increases after as few as six months.

But, Capital One also says it may decline credit line increases for a number of reasons, such as if credit reports show a late payment to another creditor.

If you get a higher limit, you’ll be able to charge up to the new amount. This can mean you have more of a safety net in case of an emergency expense or a bigger purchase that comes up.

Just be careful to spend only as much as you can afford. A higher credit limit can be tempting to use, but you might end up carrying a balance and paying interest on anything you charge and can’t pay off on time and in full.

Which Capital One cards offer a possible credit line increase?

These are the cards that Capital One says automatically consider you for a higher credit line in as little as six months.

How will a Capital One credit line increase affect my credit scores?

Along with getting more access to credit, a credit line increase might improve your credit scores. Your credit card utilization ratio is one of the factors that make up your credit scores, and it shows the amount of credit you’re using compared to your overall available credit. Your credit can benefit from lower credit card utilization because it indicates that you can manage your credit and aren’t overextending yourself.

Experts recommend keeping your ratio below 30%. Getting a higher credit line means you’ll have more credit available, which can help you keep your credit card utilization ratio lower as long as your spending stays the same.

What if your card doesn’t offer the opportunity for a credit line increase?

If your credit card doesn’t offer an opportunity for a credit line increase, you can call your creditor to ask for a higher credit limit — or you can sometimes make the request online.

You will usually be asked some questions to help the credit issuer make sure it’s really you. You may also have to provide info on things like your income, job, house payments and other expenses. How long you’ve had the card, if you’ve been making more than the minimum payments, and whether you’ve been paying on time could also be factors that your issuer will consider when deciding whether to approve or deny your request. The issuer also may check your credit, which could result in a hard credit inquiry on your reports.

One other thing to note: Sometimes credit card companies will give you a credit line increase without you even applying for it. This sometimes happens after you’ve been using your card reliably for a while. Don’t count on it, though. If you really want a credit line increase, it’ll probably be faster to ask than to wait around.

Bottom line: A Capital One credit line increase is a great cardholder perk

If you’re interested in building credit, a Capital One card that offers a chance for a credit line increase after you make your first five consecutive monthly payments on time might be an option.

You can apply for one of these cards knowing that if you make at least the minimum payments on time, a greater spending limit — and possibly an improved credit profile — may be yours within just a few months.