How To Use a Virtual Visa Card for Online and In-Store Transactions
Visa® is rapidly establishing itself as one of the most popular card networks in the U.S. Based on Statista’s 2022 transaction volume estimates for debit and credit cards, over 60% of card purchases were made using Visa cards in 2021.
Over the past few years, many card providers and banks have started issuing Visa virtual cards. While most users are comfortable using plastic or metal cards, some may not know how to use virtual cards. We have prepared this guide to discuss:
- What virtual Visa cards are used for
- How to use a virtual Visa card (in person or online)
- Where to get virtual Visa cards
What Is a Virtual Visa Card?
Most people are aware that many payment cards—credit, debit, prepaid, and gift cards—are branded by the Visa card network.
Visa®, like Mastercard® and American Express®, is a proprietary card processing network that doesn't actually issue the card. The payment card is typically issued by a bank, financial institution, or card company, and Visa facilitates the transactions between the issuer and the merchant or business.
A virtual Visa card is an electronically generated card that uses the Visa network. It contains the typical credentials associated with a payment card, such as:
- 16-digit card number
- Expiration date
- Security code (CVV/CVC)
A virtual card can be linked to the user’s bank account, credit card, or debit card as a funding source. Its main purpose is to shield your actual financial information when making online transactions. If a website encounters a security breach, the hackers may find your virtual card credentials—but not your source financial data.
Some card issuers also have options for a virtual Visa credit card with instant approval or a temporary Visa debit card that can be used while you wait for your plastic card to arrive; but these might not have all of the same features and functionalities.
What Can You Use a Virtual Visa Card For?
Virtual Visa cards can be single- or multi-use, making them suitable for:
- Paying for products and services online or at select physical locations
- Making bill payments
- Paying for recurring subscriptions or memberships
- Signing up for new subscription services
Where Can You Use a Virtual Visa Card?
A virtual Visa card can be used online and in person—although you may not be able to pay in person with a virtual card at every location. The following sections explain how to use the virtual card in both situations.
How To Use a Virtual Visa Card Online
Online purchases classify as remote or card-not-present (CNP) transactions.
Using a virtual credit or debit card online is similar to using a physical card—you enter your card credentials on the merchant’s website, and the payment processor verifies them to complete the transaction.
Here’s how to use your virtual Visa card online:
- Go to the checkout page and proceed to pay.
- Select the relevant payment option, typically Pay With a Debit or Credit Card (Keep in mind that most e-commerce websites don’t have a Pay With Virtual Card option as the process is not different from using a conventional card).
- Enter the card number, CVV code, and expiration date in the relevant fields.
- Provide your billing address (if prompted).
- Complete the purchase.
It can sometimes be tedious to manually input card numbers during online checkouts, so one virtual card provider—Privacy—offers you browser extensions that can expedite the online checkout process. Privacy’s Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari browser extensions auto-fill the card credentials for you, saving you from having to look for your wallet or memorize card numbers.
How To Use a Virtual Visa Card in Stores
You can use virtual Visa cards only in stores that allow contactless payments, given the card is compatible with digital wallets like Apple Pay or Samsung Pay. Note that this feature may not be available with every provider of virtual Visa cards. Some popular stores might also have limited acceptance of digital wallets as a payment method, making it more difficult to pay with a virtual Visa card in-store.
For example, if you want to use a virtual Visa card at Walmart, you’ll have to try adding it to the retailer’s Walmart Pay app. Target, on the other hand, accepts all major digital wallets for in-store purchases.
Paying with a virtual card in stores is a two-step process:
- Load the card onto a phone-based digital wallet
- Use the phone to complete the payment
Refer to the following table for more details:
Some stores may also offer users the option to manually enter their card credentials, making it easier to use digital cards in-store. In that case, you should share your virtual card credentials with the cashier to make the payment.
Can You Withdraw or Transfer Money From a Virtual Visa Card?
Because there is no physical card associated with a virtual Visa card, it is not possible to withdraw money from an ATM. If you can get a physical card for the underlying funding source, or you don’t have a card with that account at the moment and need cash quickly, there are alternative ways to get money off your Visa virtual card.
One option is to transfer the money from the account linked to your virtual card to another account with a physical card associated with it to withdraw cash at an ATM. Depending on your virtual card provider, you might be able to do that from their dashboard.
Another option is to use a peer-to-peer payment platform such as Venmo or PayPal to send the money from your virtual card to a friend or family member with a physical Visa card. They can withdraw the cash and then give it to you in person.
To add money to your virtual Visa card, you should transfer money to your linked bank account or payment card.
For additional options to add or transfer money to or from your virtual Visa card, It's best to check with your specific virtual card provider.
Finding Reliable Virtual Visa Card Providers
According to a 2022 report, the global market size for virtual cards was $11.7 billion, and it is expected to hit $65 billion by 2030. While these cards are gaining popularity as a secure and convenient payment method, not every provider will cater to your specific needs.
Virtual Visa cards are generally provided by:
- Banks and card companies—Many banks and card companies offer virtual cards to eligible customers as part of their financial services. You typically need to have an account or physical card at the bank to apply for a virtual card. In most cases, the virtual card can be requested through the internet or mobile banking channels.
- Independent card providers—Independent virtual card providers are usually bank-agnostic and allow you to request a virtual card regardless of the bank you have an account in.
Choosing an independent virtual card service is a great option if you’re looking for increased control and flexibility. You can sign up for Privacy if you want a secure, user-focused virtual card service.
Enjoy Seamless Shopping—Request a Virtual Visa Card With Privacy
Privacy is a BBB®-accredited company offering Visa and Mastercard virtual cards to U.S. residents (aged 18 and up). Forbes featured Privacy among the most customer-centric companies of 2022. The platform’s virtual cards can be used for:
- E-commerce transactions
- Bill and utility payments
- Subscriptions and recurring personal or business payments
Privacy has features that make using virtual cards for payments and budget monitoring efficient and seamless. Here are some of the numerous benefits you can enjoy with Privacy:
- Three types of Privacy Cards
- Spending limits
- Instant closing and pausing
- Transaction alerts
- 1Password integration
Privacy’s browser extension for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and Safari for iOS speeds up checkout time and enables you to complete quick and spontaneous purchases.
If you want to generate and manage virtual cards on the go, you can download Privacy’s Google Play or App Store app.
Three Types of Privacy Cards
Privacy offers customizable cards with robust security features. You can set up:
- Merchant-Locked Cards—They can be used multiple times but at one specific merchant. Merchant-Locked Cards “lock” to the first merchant they're used at, and any attempt to use them elsewhere will be declined. This provides additional protection in case a hacker breaches a vendor’s website and steals your virtual payment data.
- Category-Locked Cards—These cards work similarly to the Merchant-Locked Cards, but instead of “locking” to one merchant, they “lock” to a merchant category. If a vendor outside the predetermined category tries to charge you, Privacy will block the transaction.
- Single-Use Cards—You can choose to generate a Single-Use Card that closes shortly after the first transaction is made, rendering it useless to a potential hacker.
Spending Limits on Privacy Virtual Cards
You can set spending limits on Privacy Cards, ensuring no purchase can go over the designated limit. This feature allows you to take back control over the merchant and ensure you’re not paying more than you’ve agreed to. You can also share your Privacy Cards with trusted family members whom you’d like to alot a budget while remaining in full control of the card settings.
Instant Closing and Pausing of Privacy Cards
You can instantly close and pause/unpause Privacy Cards without affecting your real card or bank account. Use the feature when you:
- Suspect your card has been compromised
- Want to block an accidental subscription charge while canceling the service
While Privacy will decline the charges on a paused/closed card, you still need to contact the merchant to cancel the subscription.
Transaction Alerts
With Privacy, you can benefit from:
- Real-time email and push notifications for account activities
- A feature-rich dashboard for monitoring transactions
- A dedicated customer support team
1Password Integration
You can take advantage of the 1Password integration to keep your passwords and financial data in a secure vault and manage them from a centralized dashboard.
Setting Up a Secure Privacy Account—Process
Privacy is PCI-DSS-compliant and follows stringent security standards across desktop and mobile platforms. Here’s what the account setup process entails:
- Access the signup page
- Enter the mandated Know-Your-Customer (KYC) information
- Link your funding source (bank account or debit card)
- Request your first Privacy Card
As part of the Personal plan, you can generate up to 12 new Merchant-Locked or Single-Use Privacy Cards each month. The service also has monthly plans offering more virtual cards per month (up to 60), access to the Category Card type, and features such as cashback benefits, Priority support with Live Chat, Card Notes, Shared Cards, and fee-free international transactions.
Create an account and get started with Privacy’s Virtual Cards.
Other Virtual Card Resources to Help Find Your Fit
Find answers to questions about virtual card offerings from specific banks and financial service providers below.
