Understanding Your Use Year
Every DVC contract has a use year (February, March, April, June, August, September, October, or December) when your annual points are deposited into your account. Understanding your use year is crucial for effective point management and maximizing the value of your DVC ownership.
Your use year determines when your points become available and when they expire if not used. Choosing the right use year when purchasing a contract can significantly impact how well DVC fits your vacation schedule.
How Use Years Work
Use Year Calendar Example (February Use Year)
| Date | Event | Your Points |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2025 | Use year begins | 150 points deposited |
| June 1, 2025 | Banking deadline | Must bank unused points by now |
| Jan 31, 2026 | Use year ends | Unborrowed points expire |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Banked points expire | All banked points from 2025 expire |
Banking Points
Banking allows you to save unused points from one use year to the next, extending their life by up to 12 months:
Banking Rules
- Deadline: Must bank points at least 8 months before your use year ends
- Extension: Banked points remain valid through the following use year
- One-time only: You cannot bank already-banked points a second time
- No limit: You can bank all or some of your annual points
- Automatic expiration: Banked points expire at the end of the following use year
When to bank: Bank points when you know you will not use them this year but want to combine them with next year's points for a larger trip. Banking is especially useful for planning grand villa stays or extended vacations.
Borrowing Points
Borrowing lets you use next year's points in advance, giving you more flexibility for larger trips:
Borrowing Rules
- Maximum: Can borrow up to 100% of your annual allotment
- Timing: Borrowed points must be used before your next use year begins
- Deadline: Can borrow until your current year's banking deadline
- Restriction: Cannot borrow points that are already banked
- Impact: Borrowed points reduce next year's available points
Caution with borrowing: Over-borrowing can create a deficit that takes years to recover from. Only borrow when you have a specific reservation in mind and understand the impact on future years.
Strategic Point Planning
Master DVC owners use these strategies to maximize their points:
| Strategy | When to Use | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Book at 11 months | For home resort stays | Best room selection |
| Bank for major trips | Planning grand villas or extended stays | Pool 2 years of points |
| Target weekdays | When flexibility allows | Save 10-20% on points |
| Book Adventure Season | January-February travel | Lowest point costs |
| Combine bank + borrow | Once-in-a-lifetime trips | Access 2.5 years of points |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced DVC members make these mistakes:
- Missing the banking deadline: Set calendar reminders 2 weeks before your deadline
- Over-borrowing: Never borrow without a specific reservation
- Letting points expire: Monitor your account monthly during the back half of your use year
- Not planning ahead: Create a 3-year point plan to optimize your ownership
- Forgetting waitlist points: If a waitlist comes through, those points must be available
Mastering the banking and borrowing system is essential for getting maximum value from your DVC ownership. With careful planning and attention to deadlines, you can stretch your points further and enjoy better vacations.