Yes, SIM cards can wear out and go bad due to usage and handling by the customer. The more times you take your SIM out of your device, the faster it wears out. Generally, as long as the copper plating on the SIM is not lost, the SIM card is still usable.

How do I know if my SIM card needs to be replaced?

If you find out that the phone goes to the 'Airplane Mode' on its own, then you need to replace the SIM card. If the SIM card is damaged, your phone will not recognize the SIM card. In that case, you might see that there is no network on your phone.

How often should you replace your SIM card?

The lifetime of the SIM card is based on the manufacturing quality, design and usage pattern. However, people generally use the same card for up to 8 years. Despite this, faults can occur and the SIM can become defective at any time during that timespan.