If you’re planning a trip and don’t have a credit card, you may be wondering: What rental car companies accept debit cards? The answer is, it depends. While many rental car companies do accept debit cards, their policies can vary widely.
The disheartening report? As a form of rental assurance, debit cards are accepted by some but not all of these firms. To put it another way, you might need to produce a credit card before you are allowed to drive the vehicle off the lot.
If you are planning to hire a car in the future or have done so, you are probably aware that most car rental businesses demand a credit card be presented at the time of pick-up.
However, having a credit card in one’s name is not a given for everyone. What options do you have if this describes your situation?
Which Car Rental Companies Accept Debit Cards For Payment?
Here is the list of rental car companies that accept debit cards-
1) Dollar
If you want to ensure that your reservations are made more than 24 hours in advance, you could use a debit card from Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.
It is possible to guarantee the rental of luxurious, premium, or flexible cars with a debit card if the reservation is made less than 24 hours in advance, providing the following documentation is also presented:
- a driver’s license that is current in addition to one other kind of acceptable identification
- The rental period and destination are designed to correlate with a round-trip airplane or cruise ticket.
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Enterprise
In the United States of America and Puerto Rico, many Enterprise locations accept debit cards as payment. Outside of airports, debit cards are only accepted at a limited number of locations in Canada. In every area, some limits apply while leasing a car with a debit card.
Using a debit card to hire a car from Enterprise locations in the United States that are located away from airports is subject to more stringent limitations. These restrictions include the following items:
- There must be two recent bills for water, gas, internet, and cable to prove residency.
- A recent copy of the pay slip
- At the time of rental pick-up, you are responsible for paying the whole sum of the rental and a nominal deposit.
- Verification of insurance coverage (also available through Enterprise)
- Personal relationships (the full name and phone number of two people for confirmation of your identity)
- After the end of the rental period, if you are eligible for a refund, you should expect to receive it within the next 15 business days.
Budget
Although debit cards can be used to make payments for rentals of vehicles from Budget at any time, whether or not you can hire a vehicle with a debit card depends on where you are located.
When you use a debit card at certain Budget locations, the company may conduct a credit check on you with a national credit agency. You may be asked to produce a third form of identification in certain situations.
At an airline Budget Rent-a-Car facility, in addition to your debit card and a valid driver’s license, you need to provide one of the following documents to rent a car using a debit card:
- Name and return date printed on a round-trip airline ticket to and from the airport of rental with the name of the passenger, the name of the traveler’s origin and destination airports, and the return date printed on the plane ticket.
- A current U.S. military ID or passport currently valid for travel within the United States is required.
- Certificate of automobile insurance
- a recent copy of any of the following: a bank statement, a utility bill, or a cell phone or landline bill
If you want to rent a car from a location that is less expensive than those found at airports, you will need to provide at least one of the following documents:
- A current U.S. military ID or passport currently valid for travel within the United States is required.
- Card for auto insurance that is already in existence
- A copy of your most recent phone bill, landline bill, or utility statement must be from within sixty days.
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Hertz
The company does not accept debit cards as payment or assurance when making a reservation or picking up a vehicle.
When renting a vehicle, you must provide a current credit card in good standing. You can pay for the rental with a debit card at the Hertz location once the rental period has ended and the vehicle has been returned.
Avis
At the time of rental, Visa and MasterCard debit cards are accepted at most Avis locations in the United States. When renting a car from an Avis location in the United States, the facility will often perform a credit check on you.
When you return the vehicle, you always have the option of paying the remaining balance of your Avis vehicle rental with a debit card.
Alamo
The Visa, MasterCard, and Discover debit card logos are accepted at all Alamo Alamo locations in the United States. When renting a car using a debit card from Alamo at an airport location, you must have a return ticket in your possession.
National
When making car rental payments, National will take debit cards with Visa, MasterCard, or Discover logos.
In the United States, you may also use a debit card to secure your automobile rental reservation; however, this option is only available if you can produce evidence that you have arrived or deplaned at the rental location.
Sixt
Some Sixt rental sites accept Sixt Debit cards. Conditions at pick-up locations can vary widely depending on who you are and where you stand.
Local customers
- Debit cards are not accepted at the airport site where passengers are picked up from the airport.
- Debit cards are authorized at pick-up locations other than airports; however, category restrictions apply to automotive rentals. The client must provide an original, up-to-date utility bill bearing the same name and address as that printed on the customer’s driver’s license.
Non-local and international customers
- You can use a debit card; however, there are restrictions on the kind of vehicles you can purchase. Must give proof that they have returned (must coincide with the drop-off date and location)
- Please be aware that there is a difference between the restrictions that apply to non-local tenants and those that apply to foreign renters.
- Vehicles from any category are available for rent to overseas customers except for specialized vehicles. It will not be possible for tourists or anyone from out of town to rent autos in the premium, luxury, or additional categories.
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Why Is Renting A Car With A Debit Card Harder?
The above list of additional requirements looks very overwhelming, doesn’t it? However, why do rental companies make it harder to rent using a debit card than renting with a credit card?
When rental businesses decide to accept debit cards, they expose themselves to greater risk.
Even if the driver is not there, the car rental business can charge the customer for any optional extras such as parking citations, fines, and small damages because they have the credit card information. However, you will need your identification number (PIN) to make purchases using a debit card.
If the car rental company receives a parking ticket after you have returned the vehicle, it will be much more difficult for them to charge you for it because they cannot just use your credit card information.
As a result, it will be much more difficult for them to charge you for it.
It is important to remember that credit cards can also be used for a credit hold, generally referred to as a security deposit.
Despite this, the rental company may still require a deposit from you; but if you pay with a debit card, the money won’t be available for other expenses, such as traveling. You must keep this in mind at all times.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use my debit card to rent a car?
Depending on the car rental company that you go with, you might be able to use a debit card to make a reservation for a vehicle. In many circumstances, a debit card is the only accepted form of payment; a credit card is required to secure the rent and drive the vehicle off the lot.
2. Does Enterprise accept debit cards?
Although debit cards can be used to make payments at any Enterprise shop, only some Enterprise locations will take debit cards as a security deposit. Please contact the rental facility immediately if you have any questions regarding their procedures.
3. Does Hertz accept debit cards?
When it comes to payments, Hertz accepts debit cards. However, beginning in February 2021, a credit card will be designed to assure a booking and drive a car off the lot at all Hertz locations in the United States. This requirement will take effect nationwide.
4. Can I rent a car with a $300 credit limit?
You might be able to hire a car with a credit card that has a maximum of $300 or with a debit card that accepts Visa or Mastercard and has $300 available on it.
Despite what you may think, this is not always the case. When you hire a car from some companies, you’ll have to deposit more than $300.
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