Make that big purchase
When you open a new 0% purchase credit card you’ll usually have a few months to buy something interest free. After that, you’ll be charged interest on what you buy
Super save with a 0% interest purchase credit card
MoneySuperMarket is a credit broker not a lender. You must be 18 or over and a UK resident.
Shopping around is always important, especially when it comes to credit cards. We help you compare deals from leading providers across the market so you can be confident to pick the best deal for your needs.
Updated May 2022
A 0% purchase credit card lets you make purchases on credit without being charged interest for a fixed period, such as three months, six months or even one year. This effectively allows you to spread the cost of a purchase over a period of time.
Transactions that don’t count as purchases include cash withdrawals, balances transferred from an online store account or transactions made abroad. You can still do these things with a 0% purchase credit card – but you will be charged a rate of interest stated in the terms and conditions.
Purchase credit cards work like other credit cards but don't charge interest for an agreed period, making it a cheap way to borrow money for a large purchase without accruing interest. But as with every line of credit there are a few things you should watch out for. Here’s how they work:
When you open a new 0% purchase credit card you’ll usually have a few months to buy something interest free. After that, you’ll be charged interest on what you buy
Once you’ve made your purchase the card provider won’t apply interest for a fixed period of time. This could last for a few months up to almost two years
You should do your best to pay off your balance within the 0% interest period – if you leave it too late your interest rate will shoot up and you could end up worse off
The interest-free period on market-leading 0% purchase cards tends to be at least a year and a half – and often quite a bit longer. But these are ‘representative’ deals, meaning they only have to be offered to at least 51% of applicants. The actual interest-free period you’ll get depends on your credit score.
Applying for a credit card can sometimes feel daunting, because it’s not always clear what deal you’ll get, or if you’ll be accepted. But when you’re pre-approved for a credit card you can relax, because you know the deal you see is the deal you’ll get. You’ll know where you stand, with the facts at your fingertips to help you make the right choice for you.
When you’re pre-approved, the interest rate, interest-free period and fee (if there is one) are all confirmed – the only thing not guaranteed is your credit limit.
You’ll see your unique, personalised chance of being approved for all credit cards, so you can easily compare all your options at a glance.
Knowing all this upfront puts you in the driving seat. You’re less likely to be turned down when you apply, so your credit score is protected.
With so many different 0% purchase credit cards on the market it can be difficult to find the one that suits you best. Think about the following factors when you’re on the hunt for a new purchase card:
The more time you have to pay off your balance, the larger the purchase you can make. Remember, it is only purchases that are interest-free during this period.
Once the interest-free period comes to an end the interest rate is likely to jump up. Try to pay off the balance before the higher rate kicks in or consider transferring your remaining balance to a new card.
As with all credit cards, the terms you get will depend on your credit score. The better your credit history, the more you can borrow. Our guide can give you some handy hints and tips to improve your credit rating.
Some credit cards charge for late repayments or exceeding your credit limit and others have usage fees. Check you’re happy with these fees. Also consider setting up a direct debit to avoid missing a monthly payment.
To be eligible for a 0% interest purchase credit card in the UK you’ll typically need to meet the following criteria...
Have a good to excellent credit score. This means your credit file will show to lenders that you have managed credit well in the past.
Be a permanent UK resident. Plus you’ll usually be asked to show proof of income through payslips or bank statements.
Be aged 18 or over in most cases (some cards may have a minimum age of 21) and have a UK bank account.
Your credit score is the single most important factor when it comes to getting a better deal on any credit card. It means if you’ve had problems with debt in the past, such as missed repayments, you may find it harder to get a 0% purchase credit card with ideal terms.
If you have a fair credit score you may find that you’re eligible for purchase credit cards with lower limits or shorter interest-free windows. However, you may not be eligible for any 0% interest card if your score is too low.
Luckily you can build up your credit score with a credit card for bad credit. These cards are designed to help people with patchy credit histories who want to improve their credit score.
Representative 34.9% APR
If you feel that a 0% purchase credit card could be right for you, the next step is to use the MoneySuperMarket Eligibility Checker to see what cards are available – and which are most likely to approve you
We'll ask you a handful of simple questions about you and your financial circumstances, and what you need from a credit card
We'll sift through dozens of credit cards offers from across the market, and show you the cards we think will suit you best
You'll be shown a range of credit cards, which you'll be able to sort according to APR, features and your chances of being approved
APR stands for annual percentage rate, and it represents the total cost of the loan – including the interest you’ll pay as well as any additional fees and charges.
0% interest purchase credit cards are only available to people over 18 years old, with a UK bank account, permanent UK address and a regular income.
If you miss a repayment on your 0% interest purchase credit card, you’ll likely lose your 0% interest rate – which means you’ll be put on your lender’s standard variable instead, which is usually much higher. You may also have to pay a fee or charge, depending on your lender.
If you want to increase your credit limit you can contact your lender and ask them to raise it, but you should only do this once you’ve used your card for a while and demonstrated that you can borrow and repay money sensibly.
Your lender may offer a credit limit increase if you’ve been with them for a long period of time, but you don’t always have to accept – you can ask them for a smaller increase, or reject it altogether.
Once you apply for a credit card, acceptance is usually automatic and quite quick, though you may be flagged for an enhanced approval, which can take a few extra days.
Once you’re accepted and agree on the contract it usually takes up to seven working days for your new credit card to arrive.
Every credit card comes with a minimum payment that you have to make on the balance each month. What that minimum is depends on the card issuer. Some lenders will insist on a small percentage of the total fee, while others will have a flat fee.
If you’re applying for a credit card, you might be able to find a better deal if you look through offers from different providers before taking one out. With MoneySuperMarket you’ll be able to search through multiple credit cards and compare them by a range of factors, including their interest rates and any benefits and rewards they come with.
All you need to do is answer a few questions about yourself and your financial situation, and our Eligibility Checker will show your chances of being accepted for different credit cards. This won’t affect your credit score, so you can run a check without any worries.
Once you know which card you want, you can normally apply by phone, online, or in person if the provider has a high street branch. However, when you do apply, the provider will usually run a hard credit check – which will show up on your credit report – to confirm whether they’ll give you the card. If you’re accepted they’ll tell you your credit limit and interest rate, and soon you’ll be ready to start using your credit card.
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So how do we make our money? In a nutshell, when you use us to buy a product, we get a reward from the company you’re buying from.
But you might have other questions. Do we provide access to all the companies operating in a given market? Do we have commercial relationships or ownership ties that might make us feature one company above another?
We commit to providing you with clear and informative answers on all points such as this, so we have gathered the relevant information on this page.