How do you activate a Vanilla Visa gift card?

As of 2015, the only way to activate a Vanilla Visa gift card is with a cashier at the time of purchase, explains the Vanilla Gift Card website. The cashier scans the card to initiate activation. The card company also advises customers to sign the back of the card.

A Vanilla Visa gift card holder should write down the card number for use in case of loss or theft, recommends Vanilla Gift Card. On its website, the company provides a toll-free number that cardholders can use to report a lost or stolen gift card. Cardholders who provide the number of the missing card along with identifying information receive a replacement card if a balance remains on the card.