Get out of debt by using a top 0% balance transfer credit card. Here's a round-up of the longest interest-free deals on the market.
Getting a credit card to deal with your credit card debt sounds counterintuitive.
But that's exactly what a 0% balance transfer card is for: it gives you a set period – often more than two years – in which you don't get charged interest on your existing debt.
That means your debt isn't getting more expensive and, crucially, your repayments become more affordable.
A lot of cards offer balance transfers, but the specialised cards in this article have longer interest-free offers but do tend to charge slightly higher fees as a result.
Looking to clear debt cheaply? Find the right card for you now with Moneysupermarket
Consider the costs
The issue with 0% balance transfer credit cards is you'll have to pay a balance transfer fee upfront (unless you go down the fee-free route). This is a percentage of the debt you’re transferring to your new balance transfer card.
This varies from one lender to the next but could cost around 3% of the total debt you're switching.
It's vital that you factor this in when deciding which is the right balance transfer credit card for you.
0% balance transfer cards with long interest-free periods
This table is arranged by the length of the interest-free period, then the balance transfer fee.
|
Credit card |
0% period on balance transfers (months) |
Balance transfer fee |
Cost of transferring £1,000 balance |
Representative APR after the 0% period ends |
| Barclaycard Platinum Balance Transfer Card* | Up to 30 | 3.45% | £34.50 | 24.9% |
| HSBC Balance Transfer Credit Card | Up to 30 | 3.49% (minimum £5) | £34.90 | 24.9% |
| Tesco Balance Transfer Credit Card** | 29 | 2.95% | £29.50 | 24.9% |
| Virgin Money Balance Transfer Credit Card* | 29 | 3.45% | £34.50 | 24.9% |
|
Santander Everyday Long Term Balance Transfer Credit Card |
28 |
3.9% (minimum £5) |
£39 |
24.9% |
*0% on all balance transfers made within the first two months of account opening
**0% on all balance transfers made within the first three months of account opening
Barclaycard and HSBC currently offer the longest 0% balance transfer period of up to 30 months and come with a 24.9% interest rate thereafter. However, Barclaycard has a slightly lower fee of 3.45%.
It’s vital to stress that you might not get the full 0% interest-free period advertised or you could get a higher interest rate for some of the above cards.
Of course, this depends on your credit history, but you can find out what kind of credit cards you’re likely to successfully apply for (without hurting your credit score) by using an eligibility calculator. Find the best credit card for your financial needs now with Moneysupermarket
Factor in your credit rating
Sadly, some people won’t be able to get any of the cards we’ve highlighted in this article. That’s because credit card firms are only willing to give these cards to people with good credit ratings.
For this reason, it's vital you do a soft search for any card you're interested in to see your chance of getting it without damaging your credit rating.
If you want to improve your credit rating, follow the tips in this handy guide, or if you need to borrow right now, have a look at our round-up of the best credit cards for people with a poor credit history.
If you can't manage your debts, it's time to get help: find out how here.
Other options
If you want even longer to get back into the black, you could apply for a personal loan and use the money you’ve borrowed to pay off your credit card debt.
Of course, this isn't interest-free, and you risk getting yourself further into debt. Read our guide on getting out of debt for more tips.