# How many digits is your PIN? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 27, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483 "2006-05-27T20:29:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/1 "2006-05-27T20:29:28Z")
In one of my e-mailed conversations with my travel agent (I’m in Canada, she’s in Philadelphia; why? I’m going on a tour for the disabled and it’s D-MN hard finding such tours), she mentioned that I could take along my ATM card to Ireland as long as I remembered my 4 digit PIN. Well, as it happens my PIN is 6 digits. I had heard that there were problems some places overseas with \>4 digit PINs and so I was planning on bringing some Euros and Pounds with me anyway (for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland). She said American ATM PINs are 4 digits as well. Is that really always the case? I’ve never had a need to use my ATM card south of the border, but does that mean that I can’t even use it in the US unless I can manage to get a shorter PIN? ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/2 "2006-05-27T20:32:04Z")
My ATM PIN is 4 digits. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/3 "2006-05-27T20:35:01Z")
Most ATMs in Ireland and the UK have got wise to this: if they sense an international card, they allow you to keep inputting PIN digits until you hit “Enter”. No guarantee that it’ll work, but it should do. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/4 "2006-05-27T21:13:21Z")
In China, they are 6 digits. Instead of a random # given to you initially, they default is always either 000000 or 888888. Most Chinese I know never even change it from that. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/5 "2006-05-27T21:54:12Z")
I was told to have a 4-digit PIN for my trip to Europe last year. My PIN was 5 digits before that, but now that I’ve changed it I see no point in changing it back. Most banks let you change your PIN anytime, though, so what’s the problem? Some of the ATMs around here even have “change your PIN” as one of the options you can select after putting in your card, so you don’t even need to wait in line at the bank. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/6 "2006-05-27T22:54:07Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > Most banks let you change your PIN anytime, though, so what’s the problem? Some of the ATMs around here even have “change your PIN” as one of the options you can select after putting in your card, so you don’t even need to wait in line at the bank. I know I can have it changed, and I know my card will either get eaten or otherwise disabled if anyone steals my card and tries too many times to guess my PIN, but nonetheless I’m really averse to short passwords and PINs anywhere I don’t **have** to have them. Since I’ve already ordered foreign cash to take with me, I think I’ll leave my PIN as it is for now. I was just quite surprised that banks south of the border seemed to require 4 digit PINs (according to my travel agent). ---
**Author:** ![sundog66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@sundog66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sundog66)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/7 "2006-05-27T22:58:49Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > She said American ATM PINs are 4 digits as well. Is that really always the case? No, my American ATM PIN is 7 digits. I think I had the choice of anything between 4 and 8 digits. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/8 "2006-05-27T23:14:33Z")
Ours were 4 digits years ago when we first got them here in the U.S. (CT). When my wife had to get a new card, we were told they now have to be 6 digits, but I still have my 4 digit pin. Hers is just 00 plus what it used to be. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/9 "2006-05-28T00:07:38Z")
My current PIN is 4 digits. All the ones I’ve ever had for banks/building societies/credit unions in Australia have had only 4 digits. ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/10 "2006-05-28T01:37:02Z")
Bit of a hijack, but may be useful for travellers to the UK. Will a US or Canadian card (or any foreign card for that matter) work with “Chip & PIN” point of sale machines in the UK? Is there a US or Canadian version of “Chip & PIN”? ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/11 "2006-05-28T01:43:38Z")
I’m from Sask., and I was required to choose a 4-digit pin and everyone I know has a 4-digit pin, and I’ve never had any trouble on the Alberta side with my debit card. Hmmmm. What bank do you use? I use the Bank of Nova Scotia. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/12 "2006-05-28T01:55:27Z")
> [@Szlater](#): > > Is there a US or Canadian version of “Chip & PIN”? Chip & PIN? We have debit machines in the stores, where your card is swiped when you buy something, you punch in your PIN, and the money comes straight from your account. Is that what you mean? ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/13 "2006-05-28T02:22:06Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > Chip & PIN? We have debit machines in the stores, where your card is swiped when you buy something, you punch in your PIN, and the money comes straight from your account. Is that what you mean? Sounds like it. Except it applies to credit cards too. Each card has a microchip in it in addition to the magnetic stripe. When you pay for something you stick the card in a reader (which reads the chip) and type in your PIN. [Here’s the website](http://www.chipandpin.com/). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/14 "2006-05-28T02:31:51Z")
Mine is 5 digits, and I’ve had no trouble using it in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Otanx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Otanx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otanx)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/15 "2006-05-28T03:55:48Z")
I have an 8 digit PIN from a US Bank, and have never had problems using it in the US, or here in Korea. -Otanx ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Macphisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Ms\_Macphisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Macphisto)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/16 "2006-05-28T06:43:37Z")
> [@Szlater](#): > > Bit of a hijack, but may be useful for travellers to the UK. > > Will a US or Canadian card (or any foreign card for that matter) work with “Chip & PIN” point of sale machines in the UK? > > Is there a US or Canadian version of “Chip & PIN”? I was in the UK last week, and my credit card with a magnetic stripe worked just fine. There were a couple of places where the cashier had to go hunting for a pen so I could sign the credit slip, but otherwise no problems. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/17 "2006-05-28T08:36:53Z")
> [@Szlater](#): > > Bit of a hijack, but may be useful for travellers to the UK. > > Will a US or Canadian card (or any foreign card for that matter) work with “Chip & PIN” point of sale machines in the UK? Depends if it’s credit or debit. Credit cards with a chip will usually work, but debit cards are on a country-only system. I can’t use my Irish chip & pin in the UK, and I can’t use my UK chip & pin in Ireland. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/18 "2006-05-28T09:37:26Z")
I used to have an 11 digit pin but it didn’t work in Tokyo, so when I got back to California I had it changed to a 4 digit pin. My 11 digit pin did work in Vancouver though. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/19 "2006-05-28T10:13:37Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > it’s D-MN hard finding such tours Yes, I quickly figured out what you meant but I initially read this as “it’s Democrat- Minnesota hard finding such tours” Probably the strangest mis-read I’ve ever mis-read. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483/20 "2006-05-28T13:25:29Z")
I guess I predate the wide use of PIN’s. I had _no idea_ that we even had the option for greater than four digits in the United States. The default PIN’s from credit card companies always seem to arrive at four digits. Of course I use the same PIN from my first debit dating back years, so I’m not apt to change it now. Heck, even for my cars’ keypad entry I use the same four digit PIN preceded by two zeros just to fill in the digits. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-digits-is-your-pin/358483.md?page=2)