Verizon‘s unlimited data plans have gone through quite an evolution over the years. The coveted grandfathered unlimited data plans of yesteryear offered truly unlimited, unthrottled data—a precious commodity in today‘s world of capped data and tiered pricing. If you‘re one of the lucky individuals still clinging to one of these legacy unlimited plans, you may be wondering: can I sell my Verizon unlimited data plan? How much is it worth? And what‘s the process for transferring it to someone else?
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll dive into everything you need to know about selling a Verizon unlimited data plan, from determining whether it‘s still allowed, to estimating its value, to navigating the process of transferring service to a new account owner. We‘ll also explore some of the risks and considerations for buyers, as well as alternatives for acquiring unlimited data. By the end, you‘ll have all the information you need to make an informed decision about whether selling your unlimited plan is right for you.
A Brief History of Verizon Unlimited Data Plans
To understand the value and demand for grandfathered Verizon unlimited data plans, it‘s helpful to look at how the company‘s offerings have changed over time. Here are some of the key milestones:
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2011: Verizon stops offering new unlimited data plans to customers, in favor of tiered data packages. However, existing unlimited plan customers are grandfathered in and allowed to keep their plans.
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2012: Verizon implements a "network optimization" policy that throttles the top 5% of unlimited 3G data users and the top 5% of unlimited 4G LTE data users.
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2014: Verizon announces that grandfathered unlimited plans can no longer be transferred to new account owners or devices. Some customers report still being able to transfer plans by contacting the Assumption of Liability (AOL) department.
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2015-2018: Verizon raises the price of grandfathered unlimited plans by $20 per month.
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2017: Verizon reintroduces a new "unlimited" data plan, called Verizon Unlimited. However, it‘s not truly unlimited, as video streaming is capped at 720p and the plan allows for throttling in times of network congestion.
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2018-present: Verizon expands its current unlimited offerings with three tiers: Start Unlimited (lowest price, most limitations), Play More Unlimited/Do More Unlimited (middle tiers with some premium data and perks), and Get More Unlimited (most expensive with largest pool of premium data and extra features). All throttle data speeds after hitting a certain threshold.
As this timeline shows, newer Verizon "unlimited" plans pale in comparison to the old, grandfathered unlimited data plans in terms of the amount of high-speed, unthrottled data they provide. That scarcity is part of what drives the continued demand for legacy plans on the secondary market.
Can You Still Sell a Verizon Unlimited Data Plan?
Unfortunately for those hoping to offload their unlimited plan for a hefty sum, Verizon‘s official policy is that legacy unlimited data plans can no longer be transferred or sold to new account owners. This policy has been in place since 2014.
However, some users on internet forums and Reddit threads claim they‘ve still been able to transfer their plans by contacting the Verizon Assumption of Liability (AOL) department and having both parties (buyer and seller) agree to the transfer. It seems this may have been a loophole that some were able to take advantage of on a case-by-case basis, but it‘s not an officially supported method and may no longer work, based on the most recent reports.
The bottom line is that selling a legacy Verizon unlimited data plan is something of a gray area at best, and prohibited at worst, based on Verizon‘s stated rules. It‘s not a reliable or low-risk way to offload your unlimited plan. And even if you do find a buyer willing to attempt a transfer via the AOL department, there‘s no guarantee Verizon will allow it.
That said, looking at historical sold eBay listings shows a brisk market for Verizon unlimited plans in the past, with final sale prices often exceeding $500 or even $1,000 for a single line. So there certainly seems to still be demand, likely from those who use enormous amounts of mobile data and are willing to pay a premium to avoid throttling and overage charges.
How to Determine the Value of Your Verizon Unlimited Data Plan
So let‘s say you understand the risks but still want to explore selling your Verizon unlimited data plan. How much could you realistically expect to get for it? The answer depends on a few key factors:
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Grandfathered status: Is your plan one of the original, pre-2011 truly unlimited data plans, or one of the newer unlimited plans offered in recent years? The former will command a significantly higher price than the latter. You can determine which plan you have by looking at your bill or contacting Verizon.
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Line details: Is your unlimited data plan a single line, or part of a multi-line family plan? Is it contracted or month-to-month? Being part of a family plan or having a contract left on the line will decrease its value. Potential buyers prefer single lines with no strings attached.
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Current market prices: As described above, historically there was a very active resale market for Verizon unlimited plans, but that seems to have slowed down in recent years as Verizon has cracked down on transfers. To get a sense of current pricing, you can look for sold listings on eBay or ask around on Reddit or HowardForums. But take any prices you see with a big grain of salt, as the market is much less active and reliable than it used to be.
Based on a survey of recent sales, a grandfathered unlimited data plan with a clean, contract-free single line could theoretically sell for $300 to $500 or more. Plans that are still unlimited but have throttling, or multi-line plans, would likely command lower prices. But again, even if you find a buyer willing to pay a high price, there‘s no guarantee the transfer will actually go through with Verizon.
The Process for Transferring a Verizon Unlimited Data Plan
If you understand the risks and still want to try selling your Verizon unlimited data plan, the process would theoretically work like this:
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Find a buyer, likely through a site like eBay or online forums focused on cell phone plans. Agree on a price and payment method.
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Contact Verizon‘s Assumption of Liability department either by phone or at an official Verizon store. Explain that you want to transfer financial liability for the line to the new account owner.
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The new account owner will need to provide their information to Verizon and pass a credit check. If you have a remaining device balance or early termination fee on the line, that will also need to be paid off or transferred to the new account owner.
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If Verizon allows the transfer, they will complete the process and the new account owner will take over financial responsibility for the line and inherit the unlimited data plan.
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The original account owner will no longer have access to the line. They should make sure to back up any important data, contacts, photos, etc. before completing the transfer.
Again, this is all theoretical since Verizon‘s official policy is that legacy unlimited plans can no longer be transferred. There‘s no guarantee that Verizon will actually allow the transfer to go through, and they could flag or shut down suspected transfers even after the fact. So sellers should be prepared to potentially have to return any money collected from the buyer if the transfer fails.
Downsides and Risks for Unlimited Data Plan Buyers
Even if a seller can find someone willing to pay top dollar for their grandfathered Verizon unlimited data plan, buyers should be aware of the potential downsides and risks, including:
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No guarantees: As mentioned, Verizon could deny the transfer at any time or shut down the line after the fact. The buyer may end up paying hundreds of dollars for a plan they never actually get to use.
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Potential scams: The seller could take the money and run, never actually initiating the transfer process with Verizon. Or they could transfer the line but then report the phone as stolen, leaving the buyer with a useless plan. Using a secure payment method with buyer protections (like PayPal Goods & Services) can help reduce this risk.
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Locked phones: If the seller transfers their physical device along with the plan, the buyer will need to make sure the device is carrier unlocked. Otherwise they may not be able to use it with the newly transferred line.
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Degraded service: Verizon has the right to terminate or change the terms of any line of service at any time. Even if the unlimited data plan transfer goes through, Verizon could decide to throttle speeds, restrict certain types of usage, or otherwise limit the utility of the plan in the future. There are no permanent guarantees.
Overall, buyers should think long and hard about whether the potential benefit of a legacy unlimited data plan is worth the high cost and numerous risks involved with trying to acquire one on the secondary market. In many cases, it may be better to look at alternative options.
Alternatives to Buying a Used Verizon Unlimited Data Plan
If you‘re someone who‘s interested in acquiring a Verizon unlimited data plan, there are a few potential alternatives to buying one secondhand that may be less risky and expensive:
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Switch to a current Verizon unlimited plan: While Verizon‘s current crop of "unlimited" plans aren‘t truly unlimited, the top-tier Get More Unlimited plan does offer 50 GB of premium 4G/5G data per month before throttling, which is more than enough for most users‘ needs. You‘ll pay a retail price and have access to Verizon‘s full array of support and features.
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Consider other carriers: If you‘re not tied to the Verizon network, other major carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile offer their own unlimited data plans that may be less expensive or have more favorable terms than Verizon‘s current offerings.
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Look into prepaid and MVNO options: Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) like Visible, Total Wireless, and Straight Talk offer service on Verizon‘s network at lower prices than going directly through Verizon. These plans may have speed caps or limits on video streaming quality, but the tradeoff is significantly lower monthly prices.
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Use Wi-Fi whenever possible: If your goal is to pay less for data, relying on Wi-Fi as much as possible can help you get by with a lower-tiered limited data plan. Apps like Google Maps and Spotify now let you download content for offline use when you‘re on Wi-Fi, reducing your mobile data needs.
At the end of the day, trying to acquire a grandfathered Verizon unlimited data plan secondhand is a high-cost, high-risk proposition that isn‘t feasible for most users. While the idea of having a truly unlimited, unthrottled data connection is certainly appealing, the unfortunate reality is that those plans are relics of a bygone era in mobile service.
The Future of Verizon Unlimited Data Plans
Looking ahead, it seems unlikely that we‘ll see a return to the glory days of truly unlimited data on Verizon (or any other major carrier) anytime soon. Carriers have become adept at using throttling, deprioritization, and other network management techniques to prevent individual heavy data users from bogging down the network at the expense of other customers.
The rollout of 5G may eventually prompt another shift in unlimited data plan offerings and pricing, but thus far Verizon has kept 5G access limited to its current crop of "unlimited" plans with throttling after certain usage thresholds. It remains to be seen whether any carrier will attempt to differentiate itself by offering a truly unlimited 5G data plan in the future.
For now, those hanging onto grandfathered Verizon unlimited data plans are best off refraining from selling, especially given the risks and diminishing returns involved with transferring service. And for those who missed the boat on legacy unlimited data, the best option is likely to choose the current Verizon unlimited plan that best fits your needs and budget, or explore the alternatives discussed above.
While the era of unfettered mobile data consumption on Verizon‘s network may be over, that doesn‘t mean you can‘t still get a plan that meets your needs. It just may require a bit more research and careful consideration of your options in today‘s more complicated wireless service landscape.
