If you have existing debt, you already know how much of a burden it can be on your personal finances. Credit card debt, in particular, may present an especially long-lasting challenge — after all, average credit card interest rates are upwards of 22%.

For some cardholders, balance transfer credit cards offer a quicker, attainable solution for debt payoff.

Balance transfers help you repay debt using an introductory 0% APR (annual percentage rate) offer. For several months after you make the transfer, your full payment will go toward your existing debt, not mounting interest charges.

Before you get started, here’s what you need to know about using a balance transfer credit card to reduce the cost and time it takes to become debt-free.

How to lower your debt with a balance transfer card

A balance transfer credit card’s 0% APR introductory period is the key to this debt payoff tool. After you open your card and transfer an existing balance, you’ll have the entire period to make payments without accruing interest at your card’s ongoing variable APR.

Have a plan before you make the transfer, and you can use this time to start chipping away at the balance you owe. Any amount left over when the intro period ends will start to accrue interest. Use the 0% APR offer wisely so you don’t take on more debt when your regular APR kicks in.

Because a balance transfer often requires you to open a new credit card account, you should also prepare to undergo a hard credit check to qualify for the card before you can begin. Many balance transfer credit cards require good-to-excellent credit. Check your credit score to see how likely you are to qualify before you submit your application, or see if you prequalify.

Choosing a balance transfer credit card

To start the balance transfer process, you’ll need to choose the right card.

There is one common restriction for balance transfers to keep in mind before making your decision. Many banks will not approve balance transfers from credit cards or loans they issued. In other words, you probably won’t be able to transfer a balance from your Chase Freedom Unlimited® account to a Chase Slate Edge℠ card, or from a U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card to the U.S. Bank Platinum Visa® Card.

Beyond that, there are two primary details you should study to find the right balance transfer credit card to lower your debt:

0% APR introductory period

The introductory 0% APR period may be the most important factor in choosing the best credit card for your balance transfer. Today, these offers range from around 12 months up to 21 months.

Your overall debt balance and the amount you’re able to dedicate to monthly payments can both help you choose your balance transfer card.

If you have a relatively small debt balance, you may opt for a shorter introductory APR offer in exchange for other ongoing benefits and card features you’ll use long-term. For example, say you have a $2,000 balance on an existing card. You’re considering moving it to a card with a 0% APR for 15 months on balance transfers and ongoing cash-back rewards. The less than $150 monthly payment required to pay off your balance in full over that intro period is within your budget. You choose this card so you can enjoy the introductory offer and the rewards after your debt is paid.

But if your balance is high, it could be worth choosing the card with a longer intro period but fewer ongoing perks to give yourself as much time as possible to lower your debt.

Let’s say you’re considering the same 15-month 0% APR balance transfer card, but you carry a much higher $8,000 debt. To pay it off in full over the intro period, you’ll now need to pay over $500 each month — outside of your budget. Instead, you find a card offering 21 months with 0% APR on balance transfers. You can choose that instead and only need under $400 to pay your balance in full by the end of the intro period.

Balance transfer fee

Balance transfer fees can add to your overall cost, depending on the balance transfer card you choose. While it is possible to find a balance transfer card without a fee, they’re uncommon today. In most cases, you’ll pay around 3% to 5% of your overall balance.

In other words, if you have $5,000 in debt to pay off using a balance transfer card with a 3% fee, you’ll add $150 to your overall balance when you make the transfer.

Fees are never a welcome addition, but keep that cost in perspective when you’re doing a balance transfer. For most credit card balances, a 3% to 5% fee is only going to add up to a few hundred dollars at most to your total debt payoff. In comparison to the potential thousands you could pay in interest charges without the balance transfer, it’s likely not a bad tradeoff.

4 steps to using your balance transfer card

Transferring your debt balance does require some upfront work beyond applying for the card. Follow these steps to start lowering your debt using a balance transfer.

1. Initiate your transfer

To take full advantage of the intro period, you’ll want to initiate your balance transfer sooner rather than later. Some balance transfer cards allow you to do this when you apply. For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit card application lets you add up to three existing accounts to transfer balances from upon approval. If you choose to start the process this way, you’ll usually have a grace period (10 days in this case) after your card is mailed to you to change or cancel your transfer request.

If you don’t make your transfer request when you apply, you’ll need to contact your balance transfer card issuer after account opening. Call the number on the back of your card or look for more information within your online account.

Be prepared to wait a few days for approval. For example, the Citi Simplicity® Card allows you to transfer balances after you receive your new card in the mail. If you’re approved for a transfer, it could take up to 14 days to process the balance transfer. You’ll also have the option to change or cancel your request during this time.

2. Know the balance transfer terms

When you’re making your balance transfer request, go ahead and calculate what fee you can expect based on the amount you want to transfer. Then you can avoid any surprises on your statement after the transfer is approved.

Look at your card’s terms to calculate whether you’re able to transfer all of your existing debt, too. For example, say you have a $9,000 balance to transfer and you’re approved for a $9,000 credit line — but your card carries a 5% balance transfer fee. The fee itself will add $450 to your total balance, so you’ll need to account for that when you request your transfer.

Finally, take note of any restrictions your issuer may have on when you make your transfer request. If you have decided to wait until a few months after approval, the terms of your balance transfer may have changed, or the fee may have gone up. You can find any restrictions that may apply on your card within the card agreement.

3. Wait for approval

You’ll probably have to wait a few weeks for your balance transfer to process. Don’t forget to keep paying your bills on your original card during this time. Make at least minimum payments toward your balance before any upcoming due dates to avoid late payments — which could be reported to the credit bureaus and negatively impact your credit score.

When you’re approved for the balance transfer, your new issuer will typically send a payment for the transferred balance to your old issuer. You’ll have that amount added to your balance transfer card balance, and your credit limit will be reduced.

Make sure to double-check that the old balance is paid and the transfer went through before you make any changes to your payments on your existing account.

4. Start making payments

After approval, the countdown on your introductory APR begins. At this stage, you should already have a plan in place for using your balance transfer card to lower your debt balance.

For one, think about whether your goal is to pay down the balance in full by the time the intro period ends. If that’s not possible within your budget, you may want to determine a fixed monthly payment you can afford, or just commit to paying down as much as possible over the intro period. No matter what, always make your payments on time so you can keep your credit in good standing and avoid any additional fees — or even losing your 0% APR offer.

Remember, a balance transfer is only a tool; lowering your debt is ultimately up to you. Commit to budgeting for your payments and reducing your debt as much as possible while you’re not earning interest, and you can start to make big strides toward becoming debt-free over this period.

Is a balance transfer the best way to lower your debt?

For many people, a balance transfer credit card can offer a cost-effective path to debt payoff.

It may not be the solution for everyone, though. If you have a very high debt balance that exceeds the credit limit you’re approved for, be prepared for the chance that you won’t be able to transfer your balance in full. In this case, you might want to consider consolidating your debt with a personal loan — these loans have fixed interest rates that may be much lower than your credit card APR.

Additionally, if you have issues with overspending that led to your debt, you may not want to take on a new credit card account. Make sure you can commit to paying down your debt without adding new purchases to your balance, so you don’t end the promotional period with a higher balance than you started.

Many cardholders with high-interest debt balances can get a lot of benefit from a balance transfer credit card, though. Have a repayment plan in place, choose the right 0% APR period and fee structure, and make a timely transfer request. Then, you can use your balance transfer card to make progress toward payoff — or even eliminate your balance completely — without letting high interest set you back.

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers.