Avoiding APR is not the same as avoiding interest. In some cases, you may be able to avoid paying the APR. Paying off your credit card balance in full will allow you to avoid paying the APR and other fees that might be associated with keeping a balance. With loans, you will need to make larger payments than what is required as your monthly payment to avoid paying some or all APR. Paying the loan back in full can also help you to avoid APR, but this isn't always possible. Avoiding APR fees comes more into play when talking about credit cards. Some credit cards may also have several APRs including separate ones for cash advances and balance transfers. They may also increase your APR to a penalty APR if you don't make your payments on time. Paying the balance in full and paying as much as you can during the credit card's grace period is the easiest way to avoid APR. The interest rate should then be zero, no matter how high or low your APR might be. However, paying the balance in full is not always easy and sometimes is impossible depending on your financial situation. Try to make more than the minimum monthly payment when possible so you can avoid paying too much APR fees. After having your credit card for a while and making on-time monthly payments, you can consider requesting a lower APR. Some companies are willing to work with loyal customers and people who have been working with them for a long time.