You can hire a car without a credit card, but it’s harder, and you need to check the conditions in advance. A deposit isn’t a payment. The amount is only blocked for a while, and it stays yours once you bring the car back in good condition. If you can, I’d get at least a basic credit card: it makes travelling much easier.
- Deposit
- It isn’t a payment; the amount is only blocked, and if you return the car in good condition it’s released within 7 to 14 days
- Typical deposit
- Small car about €200 to €500, mid-size €500 to €800, SUV €800 to €1,200
- Watch out for
- An inflated deposit; if they want €3,000 for a Fiat Panda, something’s wrong, so look for another company
- With a debit card
- Big companies such as Hertz or Avis set stricter conditions; small local ones tend to be more relaxed, but with older cars
- Full cover
- Bought from the rental company, it can lower the deposit and open the door to a debit card, but per day it can cost more than the hire itself
- My tip
- Always photograph the car when you pick it up and when you return it, so you can prove its condition
Contents5 chaptersHideShow
- 01How to hire a car without a credit card or deposit
- Why car hire companies ask for a deposit
- 02What’s a normal car hire deposit abroad?
- A credit card makes you look more creditworthy
- 03Can you hire a car with just a debit card and no deposit?
- Tips for hiring a car without a credit card or deposit
- 04How to find car hire companies that don’t require a credit card
- Car hire without a credit card is possible, but harder
- 05Car hire without a credit card or deposit: frequently asked questions
- Can you hire a car without a credit card?
- Can you hire a car with no deposit at all?
- How much is a car hire deposit abroad?
- When will I get my car hire deposit back?
- Why do car hire companies want a credit card rather than a debit card?
Car hire without a deposit? It’s possible, but in practice it’s often a different story. Rental companies want a credit card, they block hundreds or even thousands of euros as security, and a debit card won’t help. Here you’ll find out how to hire a car without a credit card, what counts as a fair deposit and how to find rental companies that accept debit cards.
How to hire a car without a credit card or deposit
For more tips on finding the cheapest car and what to watch out for with insurance, see my article on holiday car hire.
Why car hire companies ask for a deposit
A deposit, or security deposit, is an amount of money the rental company blocks on your card. It isn’t a payment, just a temporarily blocked amount. The money is still yours, but you can’t use it until you return the car in good condition.
A car hire deposit isn’t there to make your life difficult. It’s the rental company’s guarantee. If you damage the car, get a fine that’s billed to you later or bring the car back without refuelling, the company knows it can cover the cost out of your money.
I explain why rental companies want a credit card rather than a debit card in my article on why you need a credit card to hire a car.
Put simply, if you break something or don’t meet the rental company’s conditions, they can take the cost out of your deposit. Every company sets its own conditions, though, so read them carefully in advance. If all goes well, you get the deposit back within 7 to 14 days of returning the car. In other words, the deposit is the rental company’s insurance policy. I hired a car this way when I visited the Azores, too.
Looking for a car without a credit card or a deposit is a bit like playing the lottery. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t, and you often only find out at the rental desk, when it’s too late to back out. ‘No credit card’ deals frequently come with expensive local insurance, a hidden deposit on your debit card or other catches you can’t see in advance.
What’s a normal car hire deposit abroad?
The size of the deposit depends on the type and value of the car, the driver’s age, the country and the length of the hire. The type of insurance matters too: with full cover the deposit may be lower. Still, there are some standard ranges at the international rental companies.
- Small economy car: €200 to €500
- Mid-size car: €500 to €800
- Larger car or SUV: €800 to €1,200
- Luxury or sports car: €1,500 to €3,000 (or more)
- Vans and lorries: €1,000 to €2,000
It always varies. The deposit is usually tied to the excess on the car’s insurance, so check it in the rental terms before you book. If they want a €3,000 deposit for a Fiat Panda, something’s wrong, and you’re better off finding another rental company.
A credit card makes you look more creditworthy
Why do rental companies want a credit card and not a debit card? It’s the most common question. Why isn’t a debit card enough when I have plenty of money on it? The reason is both technical and financial.
A credit card lets the rental company temporarily block a deposit as security in case something goes wrong during the hire. The money stays on the card, but you can’t spend it. If you had a debit card with €50 on it and caused €500 worth of damage, the rental company wouldn’t be able to charge the amount it needs. With a credit card, payments go through even when they exceed the balance in your account. That gives rental companies more peace of mind.
A credit card also gives you a slight edge in the rental company’s eyes. It’s proof of your creditworthiness, and they know you’re not a financial risk.
Can you hire a car with just a debit card and no deposit?
These days you can hire a car without a credit card. Car hire with a debit card is possible, but the conditions are stricter, and again they depend on the rental company you find. With a debit card you may face age restrictions, a higher deposit, a smaller choice of cars, extra ID, proof of a return flight or a bank statement, among other things. This mostly applies to international rental companies such as Enterprise, Hertz, Avis or Budget.
Smaller local rental companies, the kind you can barely find on a map, may be more relaxed, and sometimes they don’t really mind either way: you don’t need a credit card or a deposit. They’re also more flexible, with lower prices and a more personal touch. Often they’ll even take cash, if that suits you better. The downside is that they may have fewer cars to choose from, and those cars are often older.
- Tip from Milan If you buy full cover directly from the rental company, they may accept a debit card and ask for a lower deposit, or hardly any at all. The debit card often has to be in the main driver’s name, and ideally that should also be the person making the booking. The catch is that this cover can cost more per day than the car hire itself.
Tips for hiring a car without a credit card or deposit
How to find car hire companies that don’t require a credit card
All this sounds like a dream for anyone who doesn’t have a credit card and doesn’t want to pay a high deposit. But you need to know where to look, because a company like that won’t be the first result a search engine shows you. Type ‘car rental [city] no credit card/deposit’ into Google and read the reviews. Facebook groups or the place you’re staying may turn something up, too. Hotel staff often know the local rental companies.
- Tip from Milan Always take photos of the car when you pick it up and when you return it. That way you can prove what condition it was in when you collected it and when you brought it back.
Car hire without a credit card is possible, but harder
Hiring a car without a credit card or deposit isn’t impossible, but it takes more preparation and flexibility, and it may cost you more. Deposits exist for a good reason: they protect rental companies against losses. And rental companies prefer credit cards because they give them more financial security.
If you can, I recommend getting a credit card, even the most basic one. It will make travelling much easier. But if you don’t have one, there are still ways to hire a car without it, and that’s what this article has been about.
Car hire without a credit card or deposit: frequently asked questions
Can you hire a car without a credit card?
Yes, hiring a car without a credit card is possible, but it’s usually harder. With a debit card, big rental companies often ask for a higher deposit, full cover, extra documents or proof of a return flight. Smaller local companies tend to be more relaxed.
Can you hire a car with no deposit at all?
Yes, some car hire companies don’t ask for a deposit. That’s mostly the case with smaller local firms, or when you buy full cover directly from the rental company. Full cover can cost more per day than the car hire itself, though, so compare the total price in advance.
How much is a car hire deposit abroad?
For a small economy car the deposit is usually about €200 to €500, for a mid-size car €500 to €800 and for an SUV €800 to €1,200. It’s often tied to the insurance excess, so you’ll find it in the rental terms.
When will I get my car hire deposit back?
A deposit isn’t a payment, just an amount temporarily blocked on your card. If you return the car in good condition and in line with the rental company’s terms, the block is usually released and the money is available again within 7 to 14 days.
Why do car hire companies want a credit card rather than a debit card?
A credit card assures the rental company that it can block a deposit and charge you for damage later, even if there isn’t enough money in your current account. That’s why rental companies accept debit cards only on stricter terms.
Milan
If you’re driving, a few practical car apps will come in handy too.
A Slovak travel blogger who has been getting Slovaks out of their office chairs since 2013. Author of the book Influencer and founder of the Bez Mapy blog. "Bez Mapy" is Slovak for "without a map".
