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You cannot sell or hand over ownership of a SIM card. What carriers transfer is responsibility for a mobile line and its billing: the named account holder changes, and the line usually stays with the same carrier. At AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, that happens through the carrier’s own transfer process. The steps differ by carrier and account type, so start with the carrier’s current instructions rather than a generic checklist.
What the transfer moves, and what it does not
The phrase “SIM card ownership” describes three different tasks. Only the first one is covered here.
| Task | What changes | Covered here? |
|---|---|---|
| Give an existing line to another person, staying with the same carrier | The account holder responsible for the line and its billing | Yes |
| Move your number to a different carrier | The company providing service to the number | No |
| Move a SIM into a different phone | The device using the line; the named account holder does not change | No |
Do you need a new SIM card?
Usually not. The transfer is handled on the carrier’s account system, and the carrier procedures reviewed for this guide do not require a replacement SIM. You only need a new SIM if you are also changing the phone or the carrier’s SIM is damaged or incompatible with the new device, which is a separate issue.
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All three carriers require both sides of the account to take part, but they split the work differently. Use this table to see who starts the transfer and what gates it. The steps for each carrier follow below.
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| Carrier and account | Who starts it | Who must act to finish | Main eligibility gates |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T consumer wireless | The sending account user, online at att.com/tobr | The recipient, through a link and verification code in an AT&T message | Account active, not past due, and not prepaid; Wireless Account Lock turned off; the recipient may need a satisfactory credit evaluation and an advance payment |
| T-Mobile consumer or postpaid | Either account owner, by contacting T-Mobile | Both the existing and the new account owner | The number must have been active on the current account for 90 days; the recipient may need credit approval or a deposit |
| Verizon personal | The sending Account Owner or Account Manager, in My Verizon | The receiving Account Owner or Account Manager, who accepts and selects an eligible plan | The receiving account has a soft credit check; both accounts must be current; the receiving side has 15 days to accept |
These rules were checked against carrier support pages on October 7, 2026. Plan terms and account rules change, so confirm them on the carrier’s page before you start.
Before you start
Gather these items first. Most failed or stalled transfers come from a gate that was not checked up front.
- The carrier, account type (consumer, postpaid, business, or prepaid), and the line or lines you plan to move.
- Whether the account is current. Past-due balances and some account states block the transfer.
- Any device installment plans (EIPs) and accessory installment plans attached to the line, along with their balances.
- Any account security lock, such as AT&T’s Wireless Account Lock, which must be off before an AT&T online transfer.
- Which plan, discounts, and promotions the recipient will keep, because these may change.
- The recipient’s identity details, credit status, and a payment method for any deposit or advance charge.
Carrier-by-carrier steps
AT&T consumer wireless
AT&T’s transfer information and its recipient instructions are on its support pages, linked below. The sender starts the process, and the recipient must accept it.
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- Confirm the sending account meets AT&T’s requirements: active, not past due, not prepaid, and Wireless Account Lock disabled. Pay off or transfer any device installment plans, and pay off accessory installment plans.
- Sign in as the sending account user and start the transfer at att.com/tobr. Note the email address you enter, because the recipient will receive the message at that address.
- The recipient opens AT&T’s message, selects the link, and enters the verification code.
- The recipient reviews the plan, pricing, device-installment terms, and charges. If AT&T requires it, the recipient completes a credit evaluation and makes the advance payment.
- The recipient accepts. Keep the confirmation and check the effective date and the plan on the first bill.
Carrier references: AT&T transfer requirements and consequences and AT&T acceptance steps and recipient billing details.
T-Mobile consumer and postpaid
T-Mobile handles this as a change of account ownership that requires both parties to authorize it by phone. T-Mobile Support states: “Both the new account owner and the existing account owner must call T-Mobile to authorize the change of account ownership.” The page was not signed by a named individual and did not show a publication date.
- Confirm the number has been active on the current account for 90 days. T-Mobile’s rule is tied to the number, not to the date the account was opened.
- The existing account owner and the new account owner each call T-Mobile and authorize the change.
- If the recipient needs credit approval or a deposit, complete it before the change is finalized.
- If an EIP balance is moving with the number, complete the move within 60 days after the number’s ownership transfers. Confirm the balance before you agree to anything.
Carrier reference: T-Mobile change of account or line ownership. This is the consumer and postpaid route; it is separate from T-Mobile’s business form process.
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Verizon personal
Verizon uses a request inside My Verizon. The sender starts it, and the receiving account must accept within the window Verizon sets.
- The sending Account Owner or Account Manager signs in to My Verizon and starts a Transfer Your Service request.
- The receiving Account Owner or Account Manager accepts within 15 days and selects an eligible plan. Business transfers have 30 days to accept.
- Verizon reviews the receiving account’s credit standing and any device-payment agreements. Both accounts must be current.
- Check the next bill. Both accounts can receive prorated adjustments.
Carrier reference: Verizon transfer steps and requirements. A newly opened personal account must have 30 days of activity before it can transfer a line out; a business account needs 5 days.
What shows up on the first bill
Billing is where most surprises happen, so check it before you confirm the change.
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- AT&T: The recipient’s first bill can include a full month billed in advance plus partial-month service. AT&T warns that plans, features, pricing, and offers may change.
- Verizon: The recipient may see a full month billed in advance. Both accounts can receive prorated adjustments.
- T-Mobile: The original account holder stays responsible for charges until the accepting party completes the change. Installment charges that do not transfer can remain with the original holder.
- Installment plans: Verizon requires the installment balance to be paid, kept on an eligible line, or transferred if the recipient qualifies. AT&T requires device installment plans to be paid off or transferred before the transfer.
Save what the transfer may not carry
Do this before you confirm, because some data and perks do not move with the line.
- Voicemail: AT&T says voicemail on a transferred line is lost. T-Mobile warns the voicemail box may be deleted with old messages. Verizon says voicemail messages are not saved. Download or record any messages that matter.
- Promotions and discounts: T-Mobile says promotions do not transfer. Verizon says some discounts and promotions may not transfer.
- Subscriptions and perks: Verizon says specified perks and subscriptions are lost on transfer. Check your carrier’s perk and rewards terms.
Do not assume an offer or benefit will follow the line to the new account holder.
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When the standard route may not apply
The carrier pages above describe consumer and personal accounts. Business lines, prepaid plans, estate changes, domestic violence situations, and accounts that mix services may follow a different route or have their own exceptions. If your situation is one of these, contact the carrier directly before starting an online transfer. The information here covers only AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon in the United States, and does not describe rules for other countries or carriers.
Bottom line
Use your carrier’s transfer process to change who is responsible for a line. Confirm the account gates, settle installment balances, save voicemail, and read the first bill before you accept the new arrangement.
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