Can you transfer a credit card balance if you've missed payments?

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A mix of rising credit card balances, record-high household debt and stubbornly high interest rates has led many borrowers to search for ways to regain control of their debt in today's tough economic landscape. For those carrying credit card balances month after month, a balance transfer card can look like an easy off-ramp, offering the chance to move expensive debt to a card with a lower or 0% introductory rate and potentially save hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars in interest.

The challenge is that balance transfers are often most helpful at the very moment they're hardest to qualify for. Many borrowers don't begin looking into these useful tools until after they've already fallen behind and have missed a payment or two, whether because of a job loss, higher living costs or an unexpected expense. By that point, though, those late payments may have started affecting their credit, and the same financial hurdles that make a balance transfer an attractive option may also make it difficult to qualify for.

That, in turn, raises an important question: If you've already fallen behind on your credit card payments, is a balance transfer really still an option? Below, we'll outline what to know about qualifying for a balance transfer if you've missed a few payments.

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Yes, it's generally possible to transfer a credit card balance after missing payments, but doing so generally becomes more difficult the longer you've been delinquent. Balance transfer cards are still credit cards, which means issuers evaluate applicants based on their creditworthiness. While each lender has its own approval standards, payment history is one of the most influential factors in your credit score. Even a single payment reported as 30 days late can lower your score, while multiple missed payments or more severe delinquencies can have a much larger impact.

That doesn't necessarily mean you'll be denied if you apply for one. If you've missed one payment in the past but otherwise have strong credit, stable income and manageable debt levels, you may still qualify for a balance transfer card. However, you could receive a lower credit limit than expected, making it difficult or impossible to transfer your full balance. You may also be offered a higher ongoing interest rate after the introductory period ends.

If your payments are significantly overdue, though — especially if your accounts a