How to get off a Verizon family plan & switch to a new carrier

Let me guess: you work full-time, pay your own rent, maybe you even have a car loan… but you’re reluctant to get off your Verizon family phone plan. We know how it goes. Whether you think you’re saving your parents money by keeping your line active or you’ve just been with Verizon for so long that you’re worried switching to your own plan will be a pain, you’re not alone: 50% of people say they’ll start their own family before they leave their family phone plan.

The good news is, switching to your own plan doesn’t have to be costly or difficult at all. So, if you’re tired of sharing a plan with your siblings or you don’t want mom to keep asking who the new number you’ve been texting belongs to, keep reading for steps on how to get off a Verizon family plan.

Before leaving a Verizon family plan

Before we fully dive into getting your own plan, here are a few things to consider before you bail on your Verizon family plan:

• Determine what you do (and don’t) need in your own phone plan
  • Do you use mobile hotspot a lot? Make sure your new plan includes it. Are you on Wi-Fi more often than not? You can probably save more on a lower data plan. Knowing how much data you need is always a good thing when you want to make a switch (because not everyone needs unlimited).
  • You should also know what you don’t need. Many wireless carriers like to “throw in” extras that they claim are on them (tale as old as time). But what might sound like a great deal can actually end up costing you more in the end. Keep this in mind as you shop for a new carrier.
    
• Make sure you and your phone are compatible with your new carrier
  • Based on what you need and don’t need in a plan, research what wireless plans out there make the most sense (and cents). Check your potential new carrier’s coverage map to ensure you’ll get service everywhere you need it most. And when you find your perfect fit, make sure your phone is unlocked and compatible with their network.

• Tell the primary account holder about your plans
  • Whether it’s your ex-roommate, mom, dad or maybe even grandma (congrats on leaving the family plan before your parents, if that’s the case), it’s time to hit them up in the group chat or IRL and let them know you’re venturing out on your own. This will give them enough time to plan for any changes to the family plan that might occur (like pricing) when a family member (like you) leaves. 

Note: For most carriers, If you are the designated primary account holder on your family plan, you’ll need to appoint a new primary before you switch. Otherwise, all other accounts on the family plan will be automatically canceled when you leave. Just make sure to review the family plan terms and rules before canceling to avoid any unintended consequences.

How to leave a Verizon family plan for a new carrier

Once you’ve found a new carrier for your own phone plan, it’s time to get the ball rolling on officially saying goodbye to your Verizon family plan.

• Pay any outstanding charges
  • If your phone is unlocked, there’s a good chance it’s already paid off. Make sure any other bills are taken care of and, if you’re going to incur an early termination fee (or ETF for short), be ready to pay that as well. Depending on timing, it may be better to wait, but in most instances, the savings you get by switching to Mint should more than make up for any ETF.
• Get your account number & number transfer PIN
  • If you’re bringing your phone number to your new carrier, you’ll need your account number, which can be found in your My Verizon account or on the first page of your monthly bill.
  • You’ll also need your number transfer PIN. You can also obtain it yourself in your My Verizon account under My Profile by clicking Generate PIN or by dialing #PORT from your Verizon phone
• Make sure Number Lock is disabled 
  • Number Lock is a security feature that keeps people from transferring your number without permission. It needs to be turned off before you can port to your new carrier. Number Lock can be found under Settings in your My Verizon account. Just toggle it off next to your phone number and click Save Changes

Reasons for leaving a Verizon family plan

Maybe you’re not fully convinced. Maybe you’re like that 50% of people that said they’ll become parents before they leave their parents’ plan (or the 29% that said they’d become grandparents before leaving). But there are plenty of reasons to leave a Verizon family plan, including…

• Independence: Want a little more privacy when it comes to how you use your phone? Or maybe the group chat gets a little testy when the wireless bill rolls around? Leaving the Verizon family plan is a great way to strike out on your own.
  
• Flexibility: Instead of being lumped into whatever plan Verizon thinks the whole family needs, you can choose the best plan for you. And with flexible data options, you can switch as often as you need to depending on your data needs. You also get to choose how many months at a time you buy to get that buy in bulk wireless savings. And… no contracts.
  
• Bragging rights: Once you’ve been on your new plan for a few months, hit up everyone still on the Verizon plan and show them how much you’ve saved (you can even use our savings calculator to really flex). As real-life Mint Mobile customer Michael G. says: “My favorite thing about being on Mint is I pay way less than all my family and friends, and I have the same quality of service.”

Mint Mobile is the perfect solution for your new plan

Now that we showed you how to get off your Verizon family plan, you gotta read our pitch—them’s the rules. Anyone looking to ditch their family’s phone plan and venture out on their own should look at Mint Mobile. We have flexible data plans, so you only pay for the data you need. Plus our service comes in bulk—the more months you buy, the more you save.

To get started, simply select a new customer offer that best fits your needs. It’s a 3-month plan at our lowest rate, so it allows you to determine exactly how much data you need going forward. Also, while we may have the best phone plans for one person, we have Mint Family, too. You can create your own family plan here and get our best rates starting with just two lines, so bring your partner, your roommate or your sibling who’s also planning to bail on your Verizon family plan. Who knows, your parents may end up begging to join your Mint Family too. 

Not sure which of our plans best suits your needs? Tap that button below and use your plan match quiz to find your wireless soulmate.