What happens when my balance runs out?

When Your Balance Reaches Zero

Lava uses a prepaid wallet model, so what happens when your balance runs out depends on your configuration.

For AI Spend Users

When your wallet balance reaches zero, API requests through your spend keys will be rejected. Your AI tools will stop working until you add more funds.

To avoid interruptions:

• Enable autopay — Set a threshold and Lava will automatically reload your wallet when the balance drops below it
• Monitor your balance — Check your dashboard regularly or set up notifications
• Set conservative limits — Budget limits on spend keys help you predict when you'll need to top up

For Merchant Customers

When a customer's wallet balance reaches zero while using your service, behavior depends on the merchant's configuration:

• Block requests (default) — API requests are rejected with an insufficient balance error. The customer needs to add more funds.
• Allow limited overdraft — Some merchants may configure a small overdraft buffer to prevent mid-request failures

Balance Checking

Lava checks the wallet balance before forwarding any request to the AI provider. This means you're never charged for a request that Lava doesn't have funds to cover — no unexpected provider costs.

Notifications

You can set up low-balance alerts in your dashboard to get notified before your balance runs out.