Is there an activation fee for Verizon?

Posted on: 22 Aug 2024
Is there an activation fee for Verizon?

Verizon is a large telecommunications company and a provider of mobile phones and data services to many Americans. Once again, many users contemplating their transfer to Verizon often ask the question – is there an activation fee and does it cost a lot of money? This blog post will provide an overview of Verizon’s activation fees and policies so you will be ready for being a Verizon customer.

What is Verizon Activation Fee?

An activation fee is a type of charge that the consumer has to pay only once and this is when the person signs up for a new plan for a wireless service. Activation fees are common with almost all the popular service providers such as Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile among others and just like the name suggests, are fees charged to cover the costs incurred in the activation of your phone numbers or other devices on the company’s network.

At Verizon, the new customer activation fee is today $35 per the number of new smartphones or upgrades done. Therefore, if you switch and add just one phone, you will be charged $35. Add two more phones to it and it would be $70.

The basic phone activation cost of $35 also applies to new lines of service. Nonetheless, fees depend on whether one is porting or upgrading a phone on an existing line. There may also be activation or upgrade fees for new tablets, Jetpacks (mobile Wi-Fi hotspots), and other connected smart devices.

Is There Any Possibility of Not Paying Verizon’s Activation Fee?

The activation fee is normal for a majority of new Verizon users who sign a new account, get a new 4G or 5G smartphone, or add a new line of service using postpaid services. However, Verizon does waive activation fees in some special cases.

  • Verizon Military Appreciation – Verizon offers free activation to any active or veteran U.S. Military service member. You will need to provide your military status for validation.
  • Business ShareEverything and Business Unlimited customers may need to inquire from their Verizon business sales rep whether activation fees have been waived.
  • In the same way, some of the loyalty or buyback programs of Verizon may also include activation fee-exempt offers.
  • However, it will be free of this fee occasionally during the change of seasons or holiday periods. However, aside from the promotion or special circumstances, the regular fees that customers should be prepared to pay would be $35 for each extra device to be activated.


What payment methods does Verizon accept for fees?

If you do owe any activation or upgrade fees to Verizon, you can pay them using various convenient payment methods.

  • Master or Visa
  • Electronic check payment
  • Verizon eGift Card
  • Currency (at Verizon retail stores only)

The only thing you should remember is that you will often have to pay activation or upgrade fees when ordering a new plan. iPhone and some other exclusive high-end Android phones can only be purchased on a pre-order basis with fixed payment methods upon activation.

Do You Have to Pay Additional Sales Taxes to Activate These Fees?

In addition to this $35 device activation fee, you will also be required to pay state and local sales tax if any. The average sales tax applied to cell phone plans and fees varies from between 7% for some states to over 10% for others.

There are additional state surcharges and fees for some states, such as Hawaii, Indiana, Florida, and Illinois, so your total fee may vary. If you are uncertain, there are always options when interacting with Verizon employees or using the Tax & Fee Estimate feature.

Finally, in conclusion, it is important to note that Verizon’s activation fees are a tad solemn at $35 Nonetheless, these fees are standard across the wireless industry. It is understandable to pay a $35 one-time activation fee than going through the process that Verizon has to undergo when provisioning each new device to the network. Especially for the cases of multidevice families or users with high usage of data, the total fees are lares problematic compared to the long-term charges of service.

Is Verizon’s activation fee the deal breaker? For most consumers who require stronger LTE signals, the latest gadgets, and the best 5G connection, the short activation costs should not deter one from changing. As always, make sure to compare all the fees and the price of the plan offered by each carrier during your research to identify the most suitable one.

Ready to experience blazing-fast internet? Call us today at +1 844-967-4555 and discover the power of Verizon Fios Home Internet! Don’t miss out—get connected now!


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