9 tips for renting a car with a debit card
Hoping to use a debit card to rent a car? It`s usually possible, but infrequently effortless. Rental car companies choose that their customers use a credit card.
As Thrifty Rental Car explains on its site: «Renting a car to someone with no credit card is risky for rental car companies. Not having a credit card is a crimson flag that you may be a credit risk.»
Debit cards also present a conundrum for rental car companies. What if the debit card renter comebacks an empty tank, but there isn`t enough cash left in the bank account to pay for it? Or the car comes back dinged up, but the renter`s insurance policy doesn`t cover it and, once again, the bank account has dipped too low?
But rental car companies want to keep customers glad and borrowing vehicles. So it is often possible to rent a vehicle using a debit card – just expect more hassles and more time at the rental car counter. What obstacles, if any, that you will face attempting to rent a car with a debit card vary from company to company, and even location to location. Read on for a list of nine obstacles you may encounter, and a breakdown of policies by rental car agencies.
1. You`ll need to have available cash.
You need to have money in the bank to rent with a debit card. Expect the rental car company to lock up the entire rental amount in advance, plus put a hold on your account for up to $350. Barring any issues, the extra money will be released back to you at the end of the rental, but the process can take up to three weeks.
Two. You may face a credit check.
Three. Carry extras forms of identification.
If you can suggest a credit card as well, that will always be acceptable. Otherwise, in addition to a driver`s license, you may be required to produce a 2nd or even, if you`re dealing with Rent-a-Wreck, a third form of identification. An acceptable form of ID could be a passport, or a utility bill with the same address as the one on your driver`s license.
Four. You`ll have to buy or display proof of insurance.
Many rental car companies will ask debit card users to produce evidence of insurance. Expect this in particular to slow the process down, because the rental car agent will then call the number on the policy and make sure you have the level of coverage the rental car company requires to rent the car. If not, the agent may insist you purchase sufficient coverage from the rental car company, or decline to rent you a car.
Five. Display evidence of come back travel.
This varies widely from company to company, and even from location to location. Enterprise, Alamo and National (which are all wielded by Enterprise Holdings) have pretty lithe policies for nonairport locations. But if you want to use a debit card to rent from them at, say, Los Angeles International Airport, you`d need to produce a come back travel ticket with your name on it. This could be an airline, cruise or train ticket. The same holds true for Budget`s Newark, Fresh Jersey, airport location, tho’ many other Budget locations do not make this request.
6. Expect vehicle exclusions.
Talk about feeling like a second-class citizen . In addition to the hoops a debit customer must hop through, there may also be classes of cars you cannot rent. A Mercedes sedan, a Chevy Suburban, a convertible by any automaker – these are all cars that are not rentable with a debit card at many rental agencies or locations. The main distinction here is size and/or luxury.
7. Age exclusions may apply.
Budget and Avis will not permit anyone under twenty five years old to secure a rental car with a debit card. Too youthful? Too bad. Thrifty has the same policy for off-airport locations. Other companies may require more proof of identification for the junior set.
Generally speaking, rental car agencies are glad to take your money in whatever form you suggest. Hertz and Thrifty will let you pay cash upfront if you truly plan ahead by applying at least thirty days in advance for one of their Cash ID cards, and paying a $15 surcharge for the card.
9 tips for renting a car with a debit card
9 tips for renting a car with a debit card
Hoping to use a debit card to rent a car? It`s usually possible, but uncommonly effortless. Rental car companies choose that their customers use a credit card.
As Thrifty Rental Car explains on its site: «Renting a car to someone with no credit card is risky for rental car companies. Not having a credit card is a crimson flag that you may be a credit risk.»
Debit cards also present a conundrum for rental car companies. What if the debit card renter comes back an empty tank, but there isn`t enough cash left in the bank account to pay for it? Or the car comes back dinged up, but the renter`s insurance policy doesn`t cover it and, once again, the bank account has dipped too low?
But rental car companies want to keep customers blessed and borrowing vehicles. So it is often possible to rent a vehicle using a debit card – just expect more hassles and more time at the rental car counter. What obstacles, if any, that you will face attempting to rent a car with a debit card vary from company to company, and even location to location. Read on for a list of nine obstacles you may encounter, and a breakdown of policies by rental car agencies.
1. You`ll need to have available cash.
You need to have money in the bank to rent with a debit card. Expect the rental car company to lock up the entire rental amount in advance, plus put a hold on your account for up to $350. Barring any issues, the extra money will be released back to you at the end of the rental, but the process can take up to three weeks.
Two. You may face a credit check.
Three. Carry extras forms of identification.
If you can suggest a credit card as well, that will always be acceptable. Otherwise, in addition to a driver`s license, you may be required to produce a 2nd or even, if you`re dealing with Rent-a-Wreck, a third form of identification. An acceptable form of ID could be a passport, or a utility bill with the same address as the one on your driver`s license.
Four. You`ll have to buy or showcase proof of insurance.
Many rental car companies will ask debit card users to produce evidence of insurance. Expect this in particular to slow the process down, because the rental car agent will then call the number on the policy and make sure you have the level of coverage the rental car company requires to rent the car. If not, the agent may insist you purchase sufficient coverage from the rental car company, or decline to rent you a car.
Five. Display evidence of come back travel.
This varies widely from company to company, and even from location to location. Enterprise, Alamo and National (which are all wielded by Enterprise Holdings) have pretty supple policies for nonairport locations. But if you want to use a debit card to rent from them at, say, Los Angeles International Airport, you`d need to produce a comeback travel ticket with your name on it. This could be an airline, cruise or train ticket. The same holds true for Budget`s Newark, Fresh Jersey, airport location, tho’ many other Budget locations do not make this request.
6. Expect vehicle exclusions.
Talk about feeling like a second-class citizen . In addition to the hoops a debit customer must hop through, there may also be classes of cars you cannot rent. A Mercedes sedan, a Chevy Suburban, a convertible by any automaker – these are all cars that are not rentable with a debit card at many rental agencies or locations. The main distinction here is size and/or luxury.
7. Age exclusions may apply.
Budget and Avis will not permit anyone under twenty five years old to secure a rental car with a debit card. Too youthfull? Too bad. Thrifty has the same policy for off-airport locations. Other companies may require more proof of identification for the junior set.
Generally speaking, rental car agencies are glad to take your money in whatever form you suggest. Hertz and Thrifty will let you pay cash upfront if you indeed plan ahead by applying at least thirty days in advance for one of their Cash ID cards, and paying a $15 surcharge for the card.
9 tips for renting a car with a debit card
9 tips for renting a car with a debit card
Hoping to use a debit card to rent a car? It`s usually possible, but uncommonly effortless. Rental car companies choose that their customers use a credit card.
As Thrifty Rental Car explains on its site: «Renting a car to someone with no credit card is risky for rental car companies. Not having a credit card is a crimson flag that you may be a credit risk.»
Debit cards also present a conundrum for rental car companies. What if the debit card renter comes back an empty tank, but there isn`t enough cash left in the bank account to pay for it? Or the car comes back dinged up, but the renter`s insurance policy doesn`t cover it and, once again, the bank account has dipped too low?
But rental car companies want to keep customers glad and borrowing vehicles. So it is often possible to rent a vehicle using a debit card – just expect more hassles and more time at the rental car counter. What obstacles, if any, that you will face attempting to rent a car with a debit card vary from company to company, and even location to location. Read on for a list of nine obstacles you may encounter, and a breakdown of policies by rental car agencies.
1. You`ll need to have available cash.
You need to have money in the bank to rent with a debit card. Expect the rental car company to lock up the entire rental amount in advance, plus put a hold on your account for up to $350. Barring any issues, the extra money will be released back to you at the end of the rental, but the process can take up to three weeks.
Two. You may face a credit check.
Trio. Carry extras forms of identification.
If you can suggest a credit card as well, that will always be acceptable. Otherwise, in addition to a driver`s license, you may be required to produce a 2nd or even, if you`re dealing with Rent-a-Wreck, a third form of identification. An acceptable form of ID could be a passport, or a utility bill with the same address as the one on your driver`s license.
Four. You`ll have to buy or display proof of insurance.
Many rental car companies will ask debit card users to produce evidence of insurance. Expect this in particular to slow the process down, because the rental car agent will then call the number on the policy and make sure you have the level of coverage the rental car company requires to rent the car. If not, the agent may insist you purchase sufficient coverage from the rental car company, or decline to rent you a car.
Five. Demonstrate evidence of come back travel.
This varies widely from company to company, and even from location to location. Enterprise, Alamo and National (which are all wielded by Enterprise Holdings) have pretty supple policies for nonairport locations. But if you want to use a debit card to rent from them at, say, Los Angeles International Airport, you`d need to produce a comeback travel ticket with your name on it. This could be an airline, cruise or train ticket. The same holds true for Budget`s Newark, Fresh Jersey, airport location, tho’ many other Budget locations do not make this request.
6. Expect vehicle exclusions.
Talk about feeling like a second-class citizen . In addition to the hoops a debit customer must leap through, there may also be classes of cars you cannot rent. A Mercedes sedan, a Chevy Suburban, a convertible by any automaker – these are all cars that are not rentable with a debit card at many rental agencies or locations. The main distinction here is size and/or luxury.
7. Age exclusions may apply.
Budget and Avis will not permit anyone under twenty five years old to secure a rental car with a debit card. Too youthful? Too bad. Thrifty has the same policy for off-airport locations. Other companies may require more proof of identification for the junior set.
Generally speaking, rental car agencies are glad to take your money in whatever form you suggest. Hertz and Thrifty will let you pay cash upfront if you truly plan ahead by applying at least thirty days in advance for one of their Cash ID cards, and paying a $15 surcharge for the card.
9 tips for renting a car with a debit card
9 tips for renting a car with a debit card
Hoping to use a debit card to rent a car? It`s usually possible, but uncommonly effortless. Rental car companies choose that their customers use a credit card.
As Thrifty Rental Car explains on its site: «Renting a car to someone with no credit card is risky for rental car companies. Not having a credit card is a crimson flag that you may be a credit risk.»
Debit cards also present a conundrum for rental car companies. What if the debit card renter comebacks an empty tank, but there isn`t enough cash left in the bank account to pay for it? Or the car comes back dinged up, but the renter`s insurance policy doesn`t cover it and, once again, the bank account has dipped too low?
But rental car companies want to keep customers glad and borrowing vehicles. So it is often possible to rent a vehicle using a debit card – just expect more hassles and more time at the rental car counter. What obstacles, if any, that you will face attempting to rent a car with a debit card vary from company to company, and even location to location. Read on for a list of nine obstacles you may encounter, and a breakdown of policies by rental car agencies.
1. You`ll need to have available cash.
You need to have money in the bank to rent with a debit card. Expect the rental car company to lock up the entire rental amount in advance, plus put a hold on your account for up to $350. Barring any issues, the extra money will be released back to you at the end of the rental, but the process can take up to three weeks.
Two. You may face a credit check.
Three. Carry extras forms of identification.
If you can suggest a credit card as well, that will always be acceptable. Otherwise, in addition to a driver`s license, you may be required to produce a 2nd or even, if you`re dealing with Rent-a-Wreck, a third form of identification. An acceptable form of ID could be a passport, or a utility bill with the same address as the one on your driver`s license.
Four. You`ll have to buy or demonstrate proof of insurance.
Many rental car companies will ask debit card users to produce evidence of insurance. Expect this in particular to slow the process down, because the rental car agent will then call the number on the policy and make sure you have the level of coverage the rental car company requires to rent the car. If not, the agent may insist you purchase sufficient coverage from the rental car company, or decline to rent you a car.
Five. Display evidence of come back travel.
This varies widely from company to company, and even from location to location. Enterprise, Alamo and National (which are all wielded by Enterprise Holdings) have pretty pliable policies for nonairport locations. But if you want to use a debit card to rent from them at, say, Los Angeles International Airport, you`d need to produce a comeback travel ticket with your name on it. This could be an airline, cruise or train ticket. The same holds true for Budget`s Newark, Fresh Jersey, airport location, however many other Budget locations do not make this request.
6. Expect vehicle exclusions.
Talk about feeling like a second-class citizen . In addition to the hoops a debit customer must leap through, there may also be classes of cars you cannot rent. A Mercedes sedan, a Chevy Suburban, a convertible by any automaker – these are all cars that are not rentable with a debit card at many rental agencies or locations. The main distinction here is size and/or luxury.
7. Age exclusions may apply.
Budget and Avis will not permit anyone under twenty five years old to secure a rental car with a debit card. Too youthfull? Too bad. Thrifty has the same policy for off-airport locations. Other companies may require more proof of identification for the junior set.
Generally speaking, rental car agencies are blessed to take your money in whatever form you suggest. Hertz and Thrifty will let you pay cash upfront if you truly plan ahead by applying at least thirty days in advance for one of their Cash ID cards, and paying a $15 surcharge for the card.