Even with a 0% APR card, you'll still have to make monthly minimum payments — usually a small percentage of your balance. And if your payment is late, even by a single day, your card issuer could cancel the 0% offer and reset your card's interest rate to the ongoing APR.
A 0 percent APR credit card can be a great financial tool, but there are debt traps to be aware of when using one. Always make the minimum payments on your credit card to avoid consequences like late fees, damaged credit and penalty APRs.
A 0% APR Credit card still has a credit limit and a 0% APR credit card still reports to the credit bureau like any other credit card, so when you are at 100% of your credit limit, your credit score will drop tremendously. Even at 50% you will have a 80-100 point drop.
When your intro APR ends, your credit card's regular APR will kick in on any remaining and new balances. Knowing when your promotional period ends helps you pay off your balance beforehand and keeps you from being surprised by mounting interest on a residual balance.
What is 0% APR? A 0 percent APR or interest-free auto deal essentially means you borrow money for free. Your monthly payments reimburse the lender for the money it paid the auto dealer, but no extra money from your pocket goes into the lender's bank account.
If you pay late or otherwise violate the terms of your card agreement, you may have to pay a penalty APR. The purchase APR is the interest you pay on standard purchases when you carry a balance. If you use your credit card to get cash, you'll typically pay a separate, higher APR that doesn't have a grace period.
Key Takeaways
You usually need a very high credit score to qualify for zero interest loans. Zero interest car loans usually come with a higher price tag, expensive extras and strict repayment terms. If you miss even one payment, you lose your 0% interest rate and get charged late fees.
You repay the money you borrow and nothing more with a 0% APR car loan. When you get 0% financing, you typically won't receive additional manufacturer incentives, such as cash-back offers. Attractive 0% loans are reserved for car buyers with exceptionally good credit.
Experts suggest keeping credit utilization at less than 30 percent to maintain good credit, however, those with excellent credit keep it below 10 percent. Lower your credit utilization by paying off revolving debt, requesting a higher credit limit, performing a balance transfer or applying for a new credit card.
If you're disciplined to make on-time payments and pay off your balance before the intro period ends, then you will likely do well with a 0% APR credit card. However, if the 0% tempts you to overspend, you may face paying high interest charges if you're still carrying a balance after the intro period.
Your 0% interest rate is usually an introductory/promotional offer given to you for a limited time. Afterwards, any remaining introductory/promotional rate balance, will be charged at the card's standard rate.
0% APR auto loans are reserved for "well-qualified" buyers.
In most cases, "well-qualified" refers to borrowers with a credit score of 740 or higher. If a borrower isn't in this credit bracket and applies for the 0% APR offer, they could be taking a hit on their credit score that could have been avoided.
Companies that offer zero-interest loans tout these vehicles as no-lose opportunities for borrowers. A major purchase that might otherwise require a lump-sum payment can be spread out over 12 months to several years, with 0% interest, thereby creating a more palatable cash flow situation.
An APR is the interest rate you are charged for borrowing money. In the case of credit cards, you don't get charged interest if you pay off your balance on time and in full each billing cycle. Card issuers express this rate annually, but to find your monthly interest rate, simply divide by 12.
It's generally recommended that you have two to three credit card accounts at a time, in addition to other types of credit. Remember that your total available credit and your debt to credit ratio can impact your credit scores. If you have more than three credit cards, it may be hard to keep track of monthly payments.
Does 0% APR mean no payments? Just because there's no interest accruing on your balance doesn't mean there are no payments. At the very least, you're still responsible for making the minimum payment each billing cycle to keep the account in good standing.
However, a 0 percent intro APR card can hurt your credit if it causes you to carry a higher balance than usual or if you carry your balance beyond the introductory offer period.
Credit cards with 0% interest on purchases can be a good way to spread cost and build up your credit score. For example, you could use one to book flights, pay for a holiday or cover the cost of home improvements and then pay it back in monthly repayments.
A 0% APR for 15 months means you will not be charged interest on new purchases or balance transfers for the first 15 months, as long as you make at least the minimum monthly payments along the way. The card's regular interest rate will only apply to any balance remaining after 15 months.
Called the five Cs of credit, they include capacity, capital, conditions, character, and collateral. There is no regulatory standard that requires the use of the five Cs of credit, but the majority of lenders review most of this information prior to allowing a borrower to take on debt.
0% intro APR cards require good to excellent credit
This means you'll need a FICO credit score of at least 670 or a VantageScore credit score of at least 661. If you have very good or excellent credit, which means a FICO score of at least 740 or a VantageScore of at least 781, your chances of approval are even higher.
Pay off your balance on time and in full; this means the total amount on the due date (to avoid purchase APR, late payment APR/fees). If you can't pay off your balance in full, at least pay the minimum payment (the lowest amount required by your card issuer in order to not consider it a late payment).
Balance transfer fee. This fee will typically be 3% to 5% of the amount transferred, which translates to $30 to $50 per $1,000 transferred. The lower the fee, the better, but even with a fee on the high end, your interest savings might easily make up for the cost.
There are some differences around how the various data elements on a credit report factor into the score calculations. Although credit scoring models vary, generally, credit scores from 660 to 724 are considered good; 725 to 759 are considered very good; and 760 and up are considered excellent.