What card validation test v7 is
Card validation test v7 is a test suite for payment card validation logic. It checks a payment system's handling of card numbers, expiry dates, and CVV codes. Version 7 adds cases for partial authorization and network tokenization. The suite runs in sandbox environments. It does not process real card data.
What the test checks
- Luhn algorithm compliance for primary account numbers (PANs).
- PAN length rules: 13 to 19 digits.
- Expiry date validation: past dates must fail.
- CVV format: 3 digits for Visa, Mastercard, and Discover; 4 digits for American Express.
- CVV presence: required for card-not-present transactions.
- BIN range checks against issuer identification numbers.
How to run the test
- Use a sandbox account from your payment processor.
- Load the test card numbers from the processor's documentation. Common test PANs include 4111111111111111 (Visa) and 5555555555554444 (Mastercard).
- Run each case from the v7 test list. The list includes valid PANs, invalid PANs, expired dates, and wrong CVV lengths.
- Log the response for each case. A pass means the system returns the expected approval or decline code.
Common failures
Systems often fail on two cases. First, they accept a PAN that fails the Luhn check. Second, they accept a 3-digit CVV for American Express. Both failures indicate a missing validation rule. Fix the rule and rerun the suite.
Limits
Card validation test v7 does not test 3-D Secure or fraud scoring. It only tests format and basic logic. Real card data must never be used in test environments. PCI DSS requires test data to be fictional.
Card Validation Test V4: Format, Authorization, and Negative Test Layers