openai error: insufficient_quota on completions with a new key

TL;DR

OpenAI returns insufficient_quota when the key has no credit: new keys need billing set up, or the quota is exhausted. Add billing or check usage limits.

Error

insufficient_quota on completions with a new key

Steps

1. Check the account's billing and usage in the dashboard Expected: you see zero credit or exhausted quota.
2. Add a payment method or top up credit Expected: the account is funded.
3. Wait for the quota to reset if it is a rate-based limit Expected: or upgrade the tier.
4. Retry the completion Expected: it succeeds.

When to use

• insufficient_quota on a new key
• The account has no billing

When not to use

• Billing is fine (then check per-key or org limits)
• The error is ratelimitexceeded (different: slow down, not billing)

Tool compatibility

• OpenAI billing and quotas
• LLM integrations

Variant phrasings

openai insufficient_quota new key

New keys need billing set up. Fund the account.

insufficient_quota completions

Same: quota, not your code.

Why it happens

Agents assume a fresh key just works. OpenAI requires billing before any paid call, and the error surprises everyone once.

Edge cases

• Free trial credit expires; check the expiry
• Org-level limits can block even funded keys

Provenance

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_hKWbmoM5QRCcZZFYLw4wcw