Coming soon:A true single-use card that closes itself automatically after one payment. Until then, use the setup below to get the same control today.
How to set up a single use card today
Instead of giving the card a high limit, put the dollar value of the purchase on the card. The card can only spend what you put on it, so it behaves like a single use card.1
Order the card
- For a vendor or bill payment, order a Vendor card. See How to Create Vendor Cards
- For an employee purchase — travel, a conference or a one-time supply run — order a Team Member virtual card. See Creating Virtual Cards
2
Set the expirationChoose the shortest expiration that covers the purchase. See Expiration terms below.
3
Fund the card with the exact amountUnder Funding, select Add funds to card and enter the exact purchase amount. Leave the recurring funding frequency off, and leave Use Auto Card Funding off so the card can’t pull more from your business balance.
4
Lock the card to the merchant (Vendor cards only, recommended)Check the vendor locking box and select the merchant. The card will only work with that merchant, which prevents unauthorized charges and makes reconciliation easier
5
Send an invitation to the merchant (Vendor cards only)This step applies to Vendor cards. Team Member cards can’t be sent to a merchant — the Cardholder uses the card details themselves.From the Card details page, hover the card image and click Send to vendor to email a secure invitation. The merchant follows the link to collect the card number, expiration date and CVV, then charges the card to settle your bill. The link expires as soon as it’s opened, or after 30 days. See How to send card to vendor
6
Close the card when the payment clearsOnce the transaction settles, close the card so it can’t be used again. See How to Close a Card
Note:Sending a card to a vendor requires an administrator with Funding of Cards and View Card Usage permissions and multi-factor authentication enabled.
Expiration terms
PEX expiration terms are flexible. On the card order form you can choose:- 1 month
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 1 year
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5 years — the longest term available
Note:Custom card expiration depends on your plan. If the Card expiration dropdown isn’t on your order form, contact adminsupport@pexcard.com
When to use a single use card
- Bill payments. Pay one vendor invoice without handing out a reusable company card number. See Bill Pay: Create & Send a Bill Payment
- Team member travel. Fund a flight, a hotel or a client dinner for an employee on the road
- Events and conferences. Cover registrations, booth fees or catering for a single event, with a card that expires soon after
- One-off suppliers. Buy from a merchant you don’t expect to use again
Recurring spend instead?
If the same charge repeats every month — software and SaaS subscriptions, insurance premiums, ad spend, utilities — create a vendor card with recurring funding rather than a single use card. Set a funding frequency (or auto card funding with a time-based spend limit) and a longer expiration term so the card keeps paying the bill.- How to Create Vendor Cards — funding options and vendor locking
- Using a Vendor Card for Subscriptions (Step by Step for Google Workspace) — a worked subscription example
- Using Auto Card Funding Instead of Manual Card Funding
- Scheduled Card Funding
Single use card FAQs
Does the card close itself after one payment?
Does the card close itself after one payment?
- Not yet. Fund the card with the exact purchase amount so nothing is left to spend, then close the card once the transaction settles. Automatic closure after one payment is coming
What happens if the merchant charges more than the amount on the card?
What happens if the merchant charges more than the amount on the card?
- The transaction is declined for insufficient funds. If the final amount can vary — a hotel incidental hold, for example — add a small buffer, or set a time-based spend limit instead. See What are the reasons for card declines?
Do these cards count against my plan's card count?
Do these cards count against my plan's card count?
- Vendor cards are free and don’t count toward your allotted card accounts. Team Member cards do count
Can a team member add the card to a digital wallet?
Can a team member add the card to a digital wallet?
- Team Member virtual cards can be added to a digital wallet, so they work for in-store purchases while traveling. Vendor cards are online-only. See Adding a PEX Card to a Digital Wallet
Can I reuse the card for the next payment?
Can I reuse the card for the next payment?
- Yes. Fund it again with the next exact amount and send it to the merchant, or leave recurring funding on if the charge repeats