Phone trade-in FAQs

Bring in your old device, including a cell phone, smartwatch or tablet, and Verizon will appraise the value of your device and give you a credit on your account (or virtual gift card) good toward a new device or other products and services available through Verizon. Here are some answers to the most common questions about the device trade-in process.

Almost anything Verizon sells. You don't have to put your credit toward a new phone. You can put it toward a tablet—even a smartwatch. If you'd like, you can apply it toward your bill, or save it for a future purchase, including accessories and gaming products. Verizon will pay for shipping to return the trade-in.

No. If your device has an active loan balance that is billed on your Verizon bill, it must be paid off before submitting to the Trade-in Program.

If you turn in your phone, tablet or smartwatch at a Verizon store, you can get an instant appraisal and a credit while you wait. If you choose to trade-in online, expect your gift card (for guest users) at least two weeks from the time Verizon receives your device, or your credit (for My Verizon users) within 1-3 bill cycles after appraisal. Overall, the entire process generally takes 4 to 6 weeks.

Also see our support hub.

The better condition your phone is in, the better return you will get on your trade-in. A phone in "Great" condition may have a few light scratches and scuffs. A "Very Good" device will be slightly more scratched up. A device in "Good" condition will have more substantial scratches, scuffs or dents on the phone case and may also have minor scratches on the screen.

Verizon won't accept devices that are damaged or not working, although you should always first check with a Verizon store sales associate for an evaluation. If you qualify, you can jump straight to the good stuff and continue shopping with a credit on your order.

Otherwise, you can visit Verizon's Device Trade-In page and enter info about your device and its condition to get a preliminary offer—you'll be notified of the final value of a credit after Verizon receives your device. Then, if signed into My Verizon, you'll receive a credit on your account. Guest users will receive a virtual gift card by email.

To learn more about the process, check out this step-by-step how-to guide.

There are three options for sending your phone back to Verizon. One, after initiating your trade-in through My Verizon, you can request a shipping kit from us which we will send to your home to send back your phone in. You can also use your own packaging, and there will be instructions on how to properly pack your phone.

Alternatively, you can choose to bring your phone into your local Verizon store.

Before you ship the device to us:

• Transfer your content either to the cloud or your computer.
• Turn off Find My Device (Android) or Find My App (iOS).
• Restore your device to factory default settings.
• Keep or destroy removable or portable memory cards or modules (i.e., memory card, SIM card).

Android: The steps will vary depending on the brand of device you have (i.e., Samsung, Google, etc.), but generally it's done in the Settings app. Please consult the directions for your specific device.

Apple: After you have backed up your data and disconnected your device from the cloud, go back to Settings and tap General > Transfer or Reset [device] > Erase All Content and Settings. You may have to put in your AppleID and password when disconnecting specific apps.

Also see our support hub.