Is 24% a high interest rate?

Asked by: Catherine Rodriguez III  |  Last update: August 16, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (21 votes)

Generally, an APR below 21% is relatively low. Anything over 24% is more expensive. If you pay off your credit card balance in full every month, the APR won't be as important as you won't be paying interest. But if you forget and the APR is high, the interest charges will quickly rack up.

Is 24% a high APR?

A high APR for a credit card is one that's above the national average. Currently, the average APR is around 25%, so an APR that exceeds that is considered high.

Is a 25% interest rate legal?

In California, absent an exception which we discuss in depth below, the maximum allowable interest rate for consumer loans is 10% per year. For non-consumer loans, the interest rate can bear the maximum of whichever is greater between either: i) 10% per annum; or ii) the “federal discount rate” plus 5%.

Is 24% interest on a car bad?

A 24.99% APR is not good for mortgages, student loans, or auto loans, as it's far higher than what most borrowers should expect to pay and what most lenders will even offer. A 24.99% APR is reasonable for personal loans and credit cards, however, particularly for people with below-average credit.

Is a 24 APR good or bad?

Yes, a 24% APR (Annual Percentage Rate) on purchases is considered high for a credit card. As of my last knowledge update in August 2023, average credit card interest rates typically ranged from about 15% to 20%, depending on the individual's creditworthiness and the specific card.

I Have a 24% Interest Rate On My Car Loan!

38 related questions found

Why is my APR so high with good credit?

Even people with good credit scores make mistakes, and a bank may charge a penalty APR on your credit card without placing a negative mark on your credit report. Penalty APRs typically increase credit card interest rates significantly due to a late, returned or missed payment.

How much is 26.99 APR on $3000?

How much is 26.99 APR on $3,000? An APR of 26.99% on a $3,000 balance would cost $67.26 in monthly interest charges.

How much interest is too high?

Although there is no strict definition for high-interest debt, many experts classify it as anything above the average interest rates for mortgages and student loans. These typically range between 2% and 7%, meaning that interest rates of 8% and above are considered high.

What is an unreasonable interest rate?

The term usury refers to the act of charging an interest rate over the statutorily mandated minimum. California law restricts non-exempt lenders to charging the greater of ten percent annual percentage rate, or five percent plus the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's discount rate on money used for personal or ...

What is the highest interest rate on a car loan by law?

There is no set federal maximum, although some states do set caps. According to data from Experian, average rates range from 5.38 percent to 21.57 percent, depending on credit and vehicle type. And these are just averages — individual lenders may charge max rates of 30 percent or more.

What is the highest interest rate?

Best online high-yield savings account rates
  • BrioDirect — 4.75% APY.
  • Popular Direct — 4.60% APY.
  • LendingClub Bank — 4.50% APY.
  • Bask Bank — 4.50% APY.
  • Bread Savings — 4.50% APY.
  • EverBank — 4.40% APY.
  • CIBC Bank USA — 4.38% APY.
  • CIT Bank — 4.35% APY.

What does 24% APR on a credit card mean?

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. APR gives you an estimate of how much your credit card borrowing will cost over a year – as a percentage of the money borrowed. The higher it is, the more expensive it'll be for you to borrow. The lower it is, the cheaper it'll be for you to borrow.

What APR is too high for a car?

Car Loan APRs by Credit Score

Excellent (750 - 850): 2.96 percent for new, 3.68 percent for used. Good (700 - 749): 4.03 percent for new, 5.53 percent for used. Fair (650 - 699): 6.75 percent for new, 10.33 percent for used. Poor (450 - 649): 12.84 percent for new, 20.43 percent for used.

What is a good credit score?

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.

Is 24% interest bad?

A 24% APR on a credit card is higher than the average interest rate for new credit card offers. A 24% APR means that the credit card's balance will increase by approximately 24% over the course of a year if the cardholder carries a balance the whole time.

What is an extremely high interest rate?

A high-interest loan has an annual percentage rate above 36%, the highest APR that most consumer advocates consider affordable. High-interest loans are offered by online and storefront lenders that promise fast funding and easy applications, sometimes without checking your credit.

What is the highest interest rate you can legally charge?

There's no federal regulation on the maximum interest rate that your issuer can charge you, though each state has its own approach to limiting interest rates.

How much is a $25,000 car loan a month?

Example: A six year fixed-rate loan for a $25,000 new car, with 20% down, requires a $20,000 loan. Based on a simple interest rate of 3.4% and a loan fee of $200, this loan would have 72 monthly payments of $310.54 each and an annual percentage rate (APR) of 3.74%.

Why is a major downside of a 72-month loan?

Because of the high interest rates and risk of going upside down, most experts agree that a 72-month loan isn't an ideal choice. Experts recommend that borrowers take out a shorter loan. And for an optimal interest rate, a loan term fewer than 60 months is a better way to go.

How much is a $20,000 car payment per month?

Payments would be around $377 per month. According to the results, it will take you 60 months, an interest rate of 5% of $2,645, to fully pay your $20,000 car loan. However, the monthly cost of a $20,000 car loan will depend on your repayment period and the annual percentage rate (APR).

Is APR of 24% high?

Generally, an APR below 21% is relatively low. Anything over 24% is more expensive. If you pay off your credit card balance in full every month, the APR won't be as important as you won't be paying interest. But if you forget and the APR is high, the interest charges will quickly rack up.

How is 24 APR calculated?

For example, if you have 24% APR on a credit card and owe $1,000, you would divide 24% by 365, and get 0.066% as a daily rate, or about 66 cents per day. To see how much you'd pay per month on a $1,000 balance, multiply the daily rate by the number of days in your billing cycle.