Verizon gives you the option to upgrade your device once every 24 months, although you become eligible for upgrades after 20 months of service. If you’re willing to pay the full retail price for the new device, you can upgrade anytime. Also, you can choose to upgrade your device in-store or online.
Does Verizon Still Do Upgrades?
Verizon is still doing upgrades, and you become eligible for an upgrade after your 24-month contract is up. However, you can upgrade at 20 months through the Early Upgrade Program.
Furthermore, Verizon gives you these four months early so that you can research and plan which phone you’d like to upgrade to, if you’d like to upgrade at all.
Depending on your preference, Verizon allows you to upgrade your device by going to the Verizon store or online.
How Do I Know If My Phone Is Eligible For An Upgrade With Verizon?
To know if you’re eligible for an upgrade, simply go to the Verizon Upgrade page. Then, type in the device’s phone number you’d like to upgrade to see if it’s eligible.
Additionally, you can log in to your My Verizon account if you’re the account owner, click “Upgrade my Device,” and you can see if the device is eligible.
Do I Have To Pay Off My Phone Before Upgrading With Verizon?
No, you don’t have to pay off your phone before upgrading with Verizon. Instead, you can upgrade to a new device anytime you want, but you’d have to pay the full retail price for that particular device.
However, if you wait until your contract is up, you won’t have to pay for the price of the phone and only will be charged the upgrade fee, which is significantly smaller.
Additionally, you can upgrade to a device you’ve purchased outside of Verizon if that’s how you want to upgrade instead.
What Is The Verizon Upgrade Fee?
Verizon charges a fee of $35 to upgrade your device regardless of what device you own or will upgrade to. But Verizon will refund this fee if you return the phone within 30 days.
Why Does Verizon Charge An Upgrade Fee?
Verizon charges an upgrade fee because you’re changing to a different device on the Verizon network.
Furthermore, the upgrade fee pays for the services, support, and tools that Verizon will offer you as a customer, including:
- Ability to use Ship-to-Store services
- Online order two-day shipping
- Troubleshooting Verizon SIM cards
- Personalized tech support for 30 days (extended to 60 days for online purchases)
- Smart Setup service, which will assist you when it comes to transferring information, setting up your new device, backing up your phone information, and more
Do I Have To Trade-In My Phone To Upgrade With Verizon?
No, you don’t need to trade in your phone to upgrade on Verizon. Some people choose to keep their old phone just in case something happens to their new phone.
However, you can trade-in your old phone for a Verizon Wireless gift card, which will be the phone’s value after Verizon appraises it.
Also, visiting the Verizon Device Trade-In Program page allows you to see what your phone is worth, and if you’d like to trade it in, follow the instructions on the page to complete the process.
Additionally, you can use the Verizon gift card for any services or products at Verizon, like purchasing accessories or paying your phone bill.
Can You Upgrade Non-Smartphone Verizon Devices?
Verizon allows you to upgrade all your devices as long as they’re eligible, including smartwatches, tablets, and more.
However, if you’re going on a payment plan for the newly upgraded device, you’ll only be allowed to upgrade for the same product type, such as upgrading a tablet to a new one.
Still, you can upgrade to any device you want, from a tablet to a smartwatch, if you pay in full at the time of the upgrade.
To know more, you can also see our posts on how Verizon hotspots work, if Verizon works in Puerto Rico, and if Verizon is CDMA or GSM.
