If you’re applying for a credit card and hoping for a low interest rate, you should know that in general, the better your credit is, the better your chance of qualifying for the card.

Generally, borrowers who demonstrate good credit behaviors and have strong credit have a better chance of getting approved for a new credit card with a lower interest rate. One of the best ways to build and maintain your credit is to make on-time payments every month. It also helps to maintain low balances on any credit cards you may have.

Credit card issuers might also look at your income and debt levels.

The best way to avoid paying interest on your credit card is to pay off your statement balance in full by the due date every month. If you do that consistently, it won’t matter what your interest rate is. But if paying off your entire statement balance each month isn’t possible — or you already have credit card debt that you’re trying to pay down — opening a credit card with a low interest rate could help.

You’ve probably seen credit cards that advertise introductory 0% APRs for balance transfers and purchases. But once the promotion expires, the interest rates going forward can skyrocket.

The average credit card charges an interest rate of around 17%. If your credit card charges a lower APR than that, is it really considered a “good” interest rate?

Credit card interest rates tend to be on the higher side compared to other financial products, like mortgages, for example. So even a credit card with a lower-than-average APR can still be expensive if you carry a balance.

A 0% APR indicates that you won’t be charged interest.

If a credit card is advertising an introductory purchase or balance transfer APR, you might be able to get a temporary break on interest charges. But it’s important you take a close look at the fine print.

If a new card offers an introductory 0% APR for balance transfers, you can transfer the balance from one card to the 0% APR card — and you’ll pay no interest on that transferred balance until the promotion expires. Heads up that 0% APR balance transfer offers often charge a balance transfer fee – usually 3-5% of the amount you transfer.

If the card offers an introductory 0% APR for purchases, that means you won’t be charged interest on new purchases you make with the card during the promotional period, as long as you pay them off before the promotion expires.

These offers can help you pay off high-interest credit card debt more quickly. But be careful — 0% intro APRs don’t last forever. Be prepared to pay the regular APR once the intro period expires.

Interest is one way credit card companies make money. Beyond that, credit cards are more risky for lenders than many other financial products. This is why credit cards tend to have higher interest rates.

Mortgage rates tend to be lower because they’re backed by the home you buy. If you fail to repay your mortgage, the bank can foreclose on your home. This encourages you to pay — and if you don’t, it gives the bank some way to recoup its losses by reselling your home. In the same way, auto loans are backed by the car you buy.

But many credit cards don’t require any sort of collateral. And without collateral, some cardholders might be less likely to repay the money they borrow. A primary deterrence that credit card lenders can use to get their money back is to report your activity to the credit bureaus (dinging your credit) score or send your account to a debt collector.

That might motivate some people, but not everyone.

To make up for those anticipated losses, credit card companies charge higher interest rates.

It never hurts to ask.

Start by calling your credit card issuers and asking if they’d be willing to lower your interest rate, and don’t be discouraged if they say no at first. Try to figure out why they won’t do it right now, so you can address the issue and try again.

Time could be the solution. The longer you’ve had your credit card, the more willing the issuer may be to lower your interest rate. If it’s a new card, the answer could be as simple as waiting a few months and trying again.

It also helps to have good credit. Show the lender you deserve a lower interest rate by making on-time payments every month, and if possible, maintaining a low balance.

If you’re still not having much luck with your current issuers, you can look for a new credit card that’s offering an introductory 0% purchase APR for a short period of time. This could buy you time to pay off your debt before the new card starts charging you a regular variable interest rate.