Car rental without a credit card

If you choose to hire a vehicle without a credit card, you must select a company that requires you to rent a car with a debit card, have a legitimate driver's license, plan for credit checks and prepare for holdings or deposits.

When it comes to renting a car, getting a credit card makes life a lot smoother, but not having one doesn't rule out a car rental game. Few businesses allow debit cards, meaning you don't really need a credit card to get your hands on a rental car.

There are a few things to consider when you pick up a rental car without a credit card. There are also a few things you can consider when you pick up a rental car with a credit card. If you're looking to use a credit card or a debit card for your car rental, it may be useful to know what payment choices you're going to need to get on the path. We will walk you through all the useful info below:

Car rental with a debit card

You can rent a car with a debit card as the key form of payment to a variety of car rental providers, including big-name firms. Just note that it might take a little longer, so they might like to run a credit check, you might need to have extra evidence of identity, and certain car classes might not be open to you if you're renting with a debit card.

Car rentals that accepts debit cards

The following is a list of only a few car rental providers that accept debit cards (correct as of September 2018):

Alamo

Alamo accepts payment by debit card if the car carries the VISA, MasterCard or Discover Card logo. You will also be asked to demonstrate your proof of departure from the place where you are renting, such as plane, train or cruise ship ticket.

Sixt

Sixt can approve a debit card at its discretion if the tenant can provide two forms of official identification, have sufficient funds and display a plane ticket (for out-of-state tenants) or two recent energy bills (for in-state tenants). Restrictions also refer to vehicle types for those using a debit card, and the car rental period can not exceed 28 days.

Avis

In certain locations, Avis accepts bank debit cards with the Visa or MasterCard logo if you are at least 25 years of age. In most cases, debit card rentals will conduct a credit check to assess their crediworthiness at the time of the reservation.

Tips for renting a car with a debit card

• Only some debit cards are approved by the car rental agencies, so check which ones you can use with the agency.

• If you are using a debit card, have additional proof, since you may be asked to provide more than one way to show your identity to the department. This may be evidence of insurance, an airline ticket, or a new utility bill. Any additional ID you carry should fit your driver's license name.

• The car rental company will even check your credit score if you pay with a debit card and if you have a bad rating, you will not be eligible to take the car. This could make the car rental process a little longer.

• Often having a debit card means you're limited to hiring a lower car tier, so if you're looking to drive a luxurious car or a luxury SUV, you may need a credit card.

• If the car rental company accepts debit cards, you can also check if you need a credit card for the deposit. When you accept a debit card for a deposit, make sure that you have funds in your account to cover the amount of the deposit.

Tips for renting a car with a credit card

• It's often cheaper to hire a car using a credit card, mostly because you will have more options of car rental providers, many of which will not allow debit card payments.

• Another bonus of having a credit card is that your deposit is being blocked rather than taken away from you.

• The credit card shall be in the name of primary driver of the rented vecihle.

• You will also be required to have extra proof of identity, but the procedure is expected to be easier than if you try to use a debit card.

While most car rental companies choose to rent their cars with credit card, though some may accept debit cards, most car rental companies do not accept prepaid cards, Visa Electron cards, Maestro cards, cash or checks.

Finally,before you start looking around for your rental, it's a smart thing to know what kind of card you have so that you know which businesses can consider your payment form.

The details given in this guide was correct at the time of publishing, but could be updated at any time. Please check the terms of your car rental company for the latest details.