Stripe decline codes, explained
What each decline code means for a subscription renewal, whether an automatic retry can fix it, and what to say to your customer when it can’t.
| Code | Meaning | Retry? |
|---|---|---|
| insufficient_funds | The card doesn't have enough balance or available credit to cover the charge. | Retry usually works |
| expired_card | The card's expiry date has passed. Stripe's card account updater often refreshes these automatically, but not every bank participates. | Needs a new card |
| card_declined | The bank declined the charge without giving a specific reason. | Retry sometimes works |
| do_not_honor | The issuing bank declined without explanation. It's one of the most common codes and usually reflects the bank's internal risk rules. | Retry sometimes works |
| generic_decline | The card was declined for an unknown reason. Stripe's own Radar rules can also produce this code. | Retry sometimes works |
| lost_card | The card has been reported lost and is permanently blocked. | Needs a new card |
| stolen_card | The card has been reported stolen and is permanently blocked. | Needs a new card |
| incorrect_cvc | The security code didn't match. On renewals this usually means the card was reissued with a new CVC. | Needs a new card |
| incorrect_number | The card number is invalid, usually because the card was replaced. | Needs a new card |
| card_velocity_exceeded | The customer has hit their card's spending or transaction-count limit. | Retry usually works |
| withdrawal_count_limit_exceeded | The customer has exceeded the number of transactions allowed on the card for the period. | Retry usually works |
| fraudulent | The bank or Stripe suspects the charge is fraudulent. | Needs a new card |
| pickup_card | The card can't be used; the bank wants it retrieved (often reported lost or stolen). | Needs a new card |
| restricted_card | The card can't be used for this kind of purchase, sometimes due to region or merchant-category restrictions. | Needs a new card |
| transaction_not_allowed | The bank doesn't allow this type of transaction on the card, such as online or recurring charges. | Needs a new card |
| card_not_supported | The card doesn't support this type of purchase, for example recurring payments. | Needs a new card |
| currency_not_supported | The card doesn't support the currency of the charge. | Needs a new card |
| authentication_required | The bank requires the customer to authenticate the payment (3D Secure / SCA), common in Europe and the UK. | Needs a new card |
| processing_error | A temporary error occurred while processing the card. | Retry usually works |
| issuer_not_available | The card issuer couldn't be reached. | Retry usually works |
| try_again_later | The bank declined for a temporary reason. | Retry usually works |
| invalid_account | The card or the account it's connected to is invalid, often because the account was closed. | Needs a new card |
| new_account_information_available | The card has new details available from the issuer, usually after a reissue. | Needs a new card |
| security_violation | The bank declined because of a security concern on the account. | Needs a new card |
| revocation_of_authorization | The customer told their bank to stop recurring payments to you. | Needs a new card |