Under the federal Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, store-issued gift certificates cannot expire for at least five years from the date of activation. Darden Restaurants, Olive Garden's parent company, goes a step further by eliminating expiration dates entirely on every standard retail card. A card purchased five years ago retains its exact stored purchasing power today.
Cardholders also avoid inactivity penalties. Some financial gift products, particularly bank-issued Visa or Mastercard debit cards, levy monthly maintenance fees after twelve consecutive months of inactivity. Standard restaurant stored-value cards issued by Olive Garden carry no administrative deductions, account maintenance fees, or activation penalties. The amount loaded at purchase stays intact until consumed through food and beverage orders.
This permanent validity applies solely to cards bought with traditional currency. It does not extend to secondary promotional vouchers or complimentary guest service credits issued by managers.
