For the standard Stripe test card 4242 4242 4242 4242, enter any three-digit CVV, such as 123, plus any future expiration date and any postal code. Stripe test mode does not validate the CVV against a real issuer, so the digits do not need to be correct. American Express test cards use a four-digit CID, for example 1234 on 3782 822463 10005.

stripe test card cvv example

Which CVV should you use on a Stripe test card?

Any three-digit value works on the standard Visa, Mastercard, and Discover test cards. Developers commonly type 123, 000, or 999 because the value is ignored. The field only needs to match the length expected for the card brand.

Stripe Test Card CVV Number Guide

  • Visa, Mastercard, Discover: 3 digits, any value
  • American Express: 4 digits, any value
  • Expiration date: any future date, such as 12/34
  • Postal code: any value, such as 12345

Stripe test card numbers and the CVV to enter

  • 4242 4242 4242 4242 (Visa), CVV 123, succeeds
  • 5555 5555 5555 4444 (Mastercard), CVV 123, succeeds
  • 3782 822463 10005 (Amex), CID 1234, succeeds
  • 6011 1111 1111 1117 (Discover), CVV 123, succeeds

Each of these approves the charge as long as the card number is valid in test mode and the expiry is in the future.

Stripe Test Card CVV Code: Any CVC Works in Test Mode

Which Stripe test cards fail a CVV or CVC check?

A small set of test cards returns a CVC-related result instead of an approval. These simulate that response regardless of which CVV you type, so the digits do not change the outcome.

stripe test card cvv sample

  • 4000 0000 0000 0127: decline with incorrect_cvc
  • 4000 0000 0000 0101: decline with a cvc_check failure
  • 4000 0000 0000 0259: charge succeeds but cvc_check reports failure
  • 4000 0000 0000 3055: cvc_check reports unsupported

Use these when you need to test how your checkout handles a failed or inconclusive verification result.

Other common Stripe test card responses

  • 4000 0000 0000 0002: generic decline
  • 4000 0000 0000 9995: insufficient funds
  • 4000 0000 0000 0069: expired card
  • 4000 0000 0000 0119: processing error
  • 4000 0000 0000 0341: attaches but fails on charge
  • 4000 0000 0000 3220: requires 3D Secure authentication

Does Stripe check the CVV on test cards?

No, not for the general test cards. Stripe returns a CVC result only when you use one of the dedicated CVC test numbers listed above. No real card account is created from any of these numbers.

Are Stripe test cards safe to use?

Yes, because the numbers are public and tied only to the sandbox, not to a real account. Never enter a live card number into a test environment, and never use a test number to attempt a real charge. Keeping test keys and live keys in separate environments prevents both mistakes.

In practice: type 123 for any three-digit CVV field, 1234 for Amex, and switch to a CVC-specific test card when you need to reproduce a failed verification.