Use a credit card to pay for Google Ads

Postpay payments: You pay after your ads run
Prepayments: You pay before your ads run

In this article we will cover how to use your credit card, based on the payment setting you've selected for your account.

Postpay payments

To use a credit card with this payment setting, just add it to your Google Ads account and make it your primary payment method. Select one of the links below to see steps for the following:

Add a new credit card to your account

Note: When adding a new card, you might see a temporary pre-authorization hold on your account. There is no action required from you, and the hold will automatically drop within a week.

Go to Settings within the Billing menu .
Under the “Payment methods” section, select Add a payment method.
Select Add credit or debit card.
Fill out your card information.
To make this your primary payment method, select the corresponding Actions dropdown menu then select Set as primary payment method.
- Note: If you don't assign this payment method, it won't be used.
Select Save.

Edit information for an existing credit card in your account

Go to Settings within the Billing menu .
Under the “Payment methods” section, find the existing credit card you’d like to update.
Select the corresponding Actions dropdown menu, then select Edit details.
Enter your new information, then select Save.

Prepayments

To use a credit card with this payment setting, see the steps below:

Make a payment with a new credit card

Go to Summary within the Billing menu .
Select the Make a payment button.
Select Add a payment method.
Select Add credit or debit card.
Enter your card information and the amount you'd like to make a payment for.
Select Make payment to review and finish your payment.

Make a payment with a credit card that exists in your account

Go to Summary within the Billing menu .
Select the existing payment method.
Enter the amount you'd like to make a payment for, then select the Make payment button to review and finish your payment.

Payment authorization

When you make a payment, we first authorize your credit card for the amount of the charge. This means that our system checks with your credit card provider to make sure that your card has enough credit available to cover your payment. After that, your balance will update and your ads will typically start running again if they had stopped.

It might take up to 24 hours before a payment processes fully.

Payment authorization might show up on your credit card statement, but it's not an actual charge. It'll be automatically removed.

Get started

To make changes to your payment methods, you must have Admin or Edit Payment profile permission.

If your card issuer or bank is in the European Economic Area (EEA), you may need to complete an additional authentication process. For example, you may receive a one-time code on your phone to verify the ownership of your card. Your card issuer or bank may require this extra verification when you make a payment, add a new credit or debit card, or at the card issuer or bank’s discretion.

Google complies with the new security requirements imposed on banks and payment processors by the Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) in the EEA. If you have any questions, contact your card issuer or bank directly.

How Google Ads charges appear on your statement

The way that Google Ads charges appear on your credit card or bank statement can vary depending on the credit card you're using. Typically, here's what you can expect to find if you're using the following payment methods:

Visa or MasterCard

If you've been charged by Google Ads and you're using Visa or MasterCard to pay, you might notice any of the following charges on your statement:

GOOGLE ADS. CC@GOOGLE.COM
GOOGLE*GOOG[10-digit Google Ads Customer ID]
GOOGLE*SVCS[10-digit Google Ads Customer ID]
GOOGLE*ADWS[10-digit Google Ads Customer ID]

If you notice more than one customer ID on your statement, it might mean that you have more than one Google Ads account associated with that payment method.

American Express

If you've been charged by Google Ads and you're using American Express to pay, you might find any of the following on your statement:

GOOGLE LTD. CC@GOOGLE.COM GOOGLE ADS ADVERTISING
GOOGLE INC. CC@GOOGLE.COM GOOGLE ADS ADVERTISING
GOOGLE*SVCS[10-digit Google Ads Customer ID]
GOOGLE*ADWS[10-digit Google Ads Customer ID]

If you notice more than one customer ID on your statement, it might mean that you have more than one Google Ads account associated with that payment method.

Bank account (direct debit)

If you've been charged by Google Ads and you're using direct debit to pay, you might notice any of the following on your statement:

Goog_[10-digit Google Ads Customer ID]
Google_[10-digit Google Ads Customer ID]
Google[10-digit Google Ads Customer ID]
GOOGLE[10-digit Google Ads Customer ID]
GOOOGLE_A[10-digit Google Ads Customer ID]
GOOGLE_[10-digit Google Ads Customer ID]
GOOGLE ADS[10-digit Google Ads Customer ID]

Next steps

What to do if your credit card payment is declined
What you can do about unauthorized charges
Removing or changing your credit card
Review your billing summary to understand your Google Ads charges. These charges are based on ad interactions such as clicks.

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