Use a zero-dollar (zero-value) authorization to verify a card and store it for future use without charging the cardholder

Steps

1. Submit an authorization request with a $0.00 amount plus AVS and/or CVV data instead of running a nominal $1 ghost authorization.
2. Route the zero-value auth through your gateway's dedicated account-verification endpoint/flag if one exists, rather than a generic sale endpoint, so it's coded as a verification, not a sale.
3. Read back the issuer's approval/decline and AVS/CVV match results to decide whether to store the card on file.
4. Store the resulting payment token/card-on-file reference only after a successful verification response, and don't attempt to capture or settle the $0 authorization since there is nothing to capture.
5. Budget for the small per-transaction verification fee some networks assess on these calls, rather than assuming verification is entirely free.
6. Use this pattern for free-trial signups, hotel/car-rental pre-stay verification, and card-on-file storage instead of authorizing $1 and voiding it, which networks discourage.