You Can Rent A Car Without A Credit Card
So, the next time you go out of town, rent your car without a credit card. You dont need it! Really. All it takes is a little planning, a lot of budgeting, and the willpower to use your debit card for any spending. Theres no need to go into debt for something you can save up for yourself! When you make that decision, everything else is easy as pie .
There are plenty of companies out there that will let you rent a car without a credit card. Just make sure you do your research, bring all of your required documents, and come to the counter knowing that they might want you to jump through a few more hoops. But thats okay!
Listen: Traveling is stressful enoughwhy add debt to the mix? Make a free budget right now with EveryDollar. You can download the app, create your trip budget, and start planning. Just dont forget to track your spending. Happy travels!
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Be Prepared For Credit Checks
If you want to rent a car without a credit card, some companies will run a credit check on you. Yeaheven if youre paying with a debit card. Look, we dont get it either, but theyre letting you borrow their 20K piece of machinery here. We all know that a doesnt show how well you manage your money , but they need some way to figure out if they should lend the car to you or not. So just be prepared that you might have to go through this extra step.
Renting A Car With A Credit Card
A credit card must be presented with available credit, in the renter’s name. The signature must match the name imprinted on the card and the signature on the car rental agreement. For online reservations, the number and name printed on the card presented must match the name and number storedfor the online reservation.
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Best For Frequent United Airlines Flyers
Terms apply.
Whos this for? TheUnited Club Infinite Card is a great choice if you’re a frequently fly with United or another Star Alliance carrier. In addition to the many United-related benefits, it offers a number of other premium travel benefits, including automatic car rental elite status and robust protections.
Car rental benefits: Cardholders receive primary car rental coverage, which offers reimbursement for damage caused by theft or crashes up to the full value of the car on rentals up to 15 consecutive days domestically .
If you’re renting with Avis, you can also enroll in the Avis President’s Club loyalty program for access to additional benefits such as two-car class upgrades, expedited rental service and guaranteed rental availability.
Other perks: There are no foreign transaction fees and you’ll receive a ton of additional benefits, such as membership for you and your travel companions to more than 45 United Club and certain Star Alliance affiliated lounges worldwide two free checked bags on flights operated by United Airlines priority service for check-in, security, baggage handling and boarding and a $100 credit to use toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS.
Other Things To Consider Before Renting A Car
For starters, remember the three essential rules of credit card rental car insurance coverage:
- You must pay for the entire rental with that specific credit card in order to receive its associated coverage and benefits.
- The cardholder must be the primary driver .
- Above all, you must decline any additional insurance that’s being offered by the rental car company
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Holds On Account Funds
If you use a debit card to pick up your rental car, Avis will generally request an authorization hold against your account for the estimated charges of the rental. This hold is placed soon after your card is presented. Avis reserves the right at its sole discretion to request extra value based on certain factors as deemed appropriate.
THESE FUNDS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR USE.
When the car rental is over, the held funds will be reversed and released, but keep in mind that banks may take time to post them back to the account.
If you fail to return the vehicle as agreed, Avis will obtain additional authorizations from your account to cover the rental charges. These charges may include cleaning fees and fees for extending the rental period.
Avis is not responsible for any returned checks or overdrafts based on this policy.
This policy applies to both U.S. residents and foreign renters. Positive identification in addition to your driver’s license may be required.
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Best For Renting A Car For Business Purposes
Terms apply.
Whos this for? Small business owners who frequently rent cars for business trips and don’t want to pay. ahigh annual fee should consider the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. It offers strong car rental coverage and great points-earning possibilities.
Car rental benefits: If your rental is part of a company or business-related trip within the U.S. or overseas or if you’re renting one for personal reasons while traveling abroad and you don’t have your own car insurance the Ink Business Preferred card has you covered, with an auto rental collision damage waiver that protects you with primary rental insurance on rentals up to 31 consecutive days worldwide. Note that if you’re renting a car for personal reasons in the U.S. and happen to have your own auto insurance, this included benefit is treated as secondary insurance after your main provider’s coverage.
Other perks: You’ll also receive additional benefits such as roadside dispatch service, travel and emergency assistance, and trip cancellation and interruption insurance. Other perks include purchase and extended warranty protection and cell phone protection when you use the card to pay your monthly phone bill.
What Do I Need When I Collect The Car
To collect your car the lead driver should present a Valid driver’s license, Passport or National Identity Card, Credit or debit card in the lead driver’s name, Home and local address and a Booking confirmation email. Any other requirements at collection will be clearly explained in your booking confirmation email.
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Primary Vs Secondary Rental Insurance
Beyond that, it’s important to note the difference between primary and secondary rental insurance of all the cards on this list, The Platinum Card® from American Express was the only one that included *secondary coverage while all of the others offered primary.
When you have primary rental insurance, it essentially means you won’t have to go through your own auto insurance provider and can simply submit a claim through the website or by calling the number on the back of your card in the event of damage or theft.
With secondary rental insurance, however, the coverage provided by your credit card won’t kick in until after you’ve filed a claim through your personal auto insurance policy, and eventually, your credit card’s policy. You also might need to contact the card issuer to make sure you’re covered if you don’t have your own car insurance or if you’ll be renting one overseas where your usual car insurance won’t kick in.
How Does Credit Card Car Rental Insurance Work
First and foremost, when renting a car, you must pay for your rental with the specific credit card that offers car rental protection. And, if there are multiple drivers on the rental contract, the primary renter must be the card holder. Additionally, for the credit card coverage to take effect in the unfortunate case that an accident occurs, you must decline the Collision Damage Waiver sometimes called Loss Damage Waiver in your rental agreement. You might find that some car rental companies automatically include this extra insurance and cost into your agreement, so youll want to double-check your paperwork.
Once you rent the car, youll then be covered if your rented car incurs theft or damage from a collision. This coverage will protect you from the financial responsibility of covering the cost. However, the included policy will not protect you from the cost of damage or injuries to another car if youre found at fault. Typically, your personal car rental insurance will cover you in these situations or you can purchase separate policies from the car rental company.
Youll also notice that there are two different types of credit card car rental coverage: primary and secondary. Primary coverage means that if theres a covered accident, the claim will go directly through the credit card company, allowing you to avoid the hassle of involving your own auto insurance policy. This will not only save you time but will also avoid any premiums to your own policy.
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Consent To A Credit Check
Chances are, if you are renting a car without a credit card, the rental car company will want to check your credit. Although your credit score and your driving record are not exactly linked, your credit score can give the rental company some indication of how responsible you are. If your credit history shows a streak of unpaid bills or overdrawn accounts, for example, it could indicate that you are a risky customer.
To put it simply, rental car companies trust you to take care of their vehicle and return it safely. But they also know that accidents happen. As a result, the rental company wants to be assured that if something does happen to the car — and you are responsible — you can afford to pay for the damages.
How To Rent A Car With Bad Credit
Given the importance of credit cards to the car rental process theyre the only form of payment rental company are guaranteed to accept, no questions asked its fair to wonder how people who do not have a credit card due to bad credit get along. Or, what if your credit limit is too low to cover the rental companys hold, again as a result of your bad credit?You could, of course, scour rental company policies and figure out an alternative form of payment. But the best course of action is to apply for a secured card.
Secured credit cards work just like regular credit cards and are reported to the three major credit bureaus. What separates them from regular credit cards is that they require a security deposit usually starting at around $200. By placing a big enough security deposit to cover the cost of a rental, plus the added incidental charges that rental companies factor into the holds they place on customers cards, youll garner the ability to rent a car without a problem.
The best part is that secured cards put the power in your hands. They offer effectively guaranteed approval and enable you to control your credit line based on the size of your deposit, so all you have to do is decide to apply and how much to put down. Plus, you wont be at risk of overspending with this type of card.
For more information about secured credit cards, check out WalletHubs Secured Card Guide.
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At Record Go We Make Things Easy For You: Hiring A Car In Malaga Without A Credit Card
If youre thinking of travelling to Malaga on your summer holidays, and decide that hiring a car will be the best option for getting about with your family or friends, at Record go we make it even easier with the possibility of car hire in Malaga without a credit card. Because we know that credit cards are not the order of the day in every home, and that many prefer not to use them on an everyday basis due to banking commissions, then why not take advantage of a car hire service that can be contracted with a debit card? Hiring a car in Malaga without a credit card is an alternative that not all car hire companies offer, but one that Record go offers in an effort to make hiring vehicles more accessible.
What Kind Of Vehicles Can I Rent
At Rental Center Crete, we have a wide variety of vehicles available to rent. We have something for everyone and every occasion. If you want something small and compact, you might be interested in a Peugeot 108.
Or, if you fancy an SUV for your time here in Crete, we have a wide range of these available too. We even have convertibles. Here are just a few of the vehicles we have available to rent.
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Not All Car Rentals Will Be Covered By A Collision Damage Waiver
Check to make sure the type of car you’re renting is actually covered by the credit card’s auto rental collision damage waiver, as certain luxury cars and recreational vehicles may not be included. Likewise, car-sharing companies such as Turo are generally not covered by credit card car rental protection.
It’s also important to pay attention to any specific timeframes outlined in your credit card’s fine print such as rentals that must be completed within 14 or 31 consecutive days depending on where you’re going, as well as any countries that may be excluded to make sure you’re covered properly.
How Can I Use A Credit Card To Earn Free Car Rentals
The road to free car rentals is paved with credit card rewards. Whether in the form of miles, points, or cash back, you can use your rewards to pay for a car rental either in advance or after the fact. Depending on the card, you may earn enough rewards to pay for a rental with a signup bonus alone.
The savings dont end there. Some cards enhance the value of rewards when you use them for travel-related expenses, including car rentals. That makes it easier to save up rewards for a new rental later on.
You can earn free car rentals by redeeming credit card rewards earned on certain cards.
Your card may also have deals with specific rental companies that give you access to special discounts and free upgrades. You may have to book your rental through the credit cards travel agency, but some cards also provide discounts on cars booked directly through the rental car company.
For example, The Platinum Card®, which is an American Express card, gives you free elite-level memberships with Hertz, Avis, and National, which are all large car rental agencies available at most airports. Membership provides you with special deals and higher service levels, such as the ability to go directly to your car without having to first check in at the rental counter. You may be able to rent a full-size car at a mid-size price or receive a discount on any vehicle available.
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Choose A Company That Lets You To Rent A Car With A Debit Card
You may think that renting a car with a debit card is a story someone made up for attention. But believe it or not, its possible.
Up until now, a lot of car rental companies would make you jump through some serious hoops if you slapped down a debit card instead of a . And some of them still do. So, if you want to rent a car without using a credit card, you might be asked to bring in everything but your Social Security card, your medical history and your second grade attendance report.
Okay, okay, were kidding. Kind of.
There are some companies out there that actually let you rent a car with a debit card . Imagine thata car rental company who will take your debit card .
Payment Options By Car Rental Company
Specific policies differ based on the rental company you use. For your convenience, we have included below the details of the policies held by the 10 largest rental companies in the U.S.:
| Rental Company |
|---|
| NO |
*According to the Avis website, debit cards may not be used at locations in Canada or the Metropolitan NY Tri-State area, Hartford, CT, Philadelphia area, Mississippi or Louisiana locations as well as other locations across the country.
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Car Hire Without A Deposit
You can compare all of the car hire deposit options on our website, including options with a low deposit and no deposit wherever theyre available. Car hire deposits can be up to £3,000 in some locations so weve made it really easy for you to see how much the deposit will be before you reserve your rental.