??? About renting a car and using debit card.

[milmore104]

We are renting our first rental car in a few months. I am concerned about leaving my debit card for the security hold and using it for our room charging. How much to they actually hold on your card? Is there anyway to pay for it with cash? Thanks

 

[Mommytwotwins]

All companies are different so check the website or call them to see. We have always used Alamo and they did not put a hold on any funds in my account but they do ask for your return flight # I guess to make sure you will be coming back..lol. I am not sure what other companies do,I have heard that they hold between $300-$500 but I can not say for sure.

 

[lylone]

They are still going to take the hold for the room and car even if you do pay cash later.

I would do your best NOT to use a debit card that is tied to your checking account if possible. Like others have posted they usually do a sizable hold on the card for the rental.
And those charges are coming out of your checking account and take awhile for the hold to be released. It would be bad if something was mischarged or maybe some fraud was committed and that money would be held up.

I have had a problem with charges showing money out of my checking account from a debit card purchase from a well-known "big box" store. It took 2 weeks for the money to be back in my account and the store was local. I can only imagine a mischarged transaction from somewhere long distance.

Maybe try and get credit card with a small limit before you leave? or use a prepaid card?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would not recommend using a debit card to rent a car. Do a Google search for this subject and you'll get lots of good information. Also your car rental website will provide an explanation as to how this will work. For example, here is the policy from Thrifty:

http://www.thrifty.com/Car_Rental_Information/content/Car_Rental_with_Credit_Card.aspx

 

[kaytieeldr]

I've had no problems using a debit card to rent a car from National or Alamo (even pre-Enterprise ownership) on vacation, or from Enterprise locally. Granted, I don't use the same card to cover the car rental that I do for other expenses, but the hotels are more likely to put a hold on your funds than any of these three companies.

 

[milmore104]

Thanks for the help. We are using Budget at this moment as they had the best deal. But avis also had about the same deal so I could go with them. I was looking and I think I'll get a small credit card and then cancel it when we get home. I did have something happen last trip with my debit card. Which was incorrectly charged which lead me to go into overdraft. It took about 2 weeks to get it all sorted out.

 

[goofy4tink]

I rent primarily from Alamo since they don't require a credit card. They do ask for proof of round trip flights though. Not an issue for me.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I rent primarily from Alamo since they don't require a credit card. They do ask for proof of round trip flights though. Not an issue for me.

Yes, this is standard when renting with a debit card Be sure and bring this information when you pick up your car. I was once in a rental car line behind a couple who were renting with a debit card and didn't have proof of their return flight. They held up the line for about 20 minutes arguing with the rental agent about this. It wasn't pretty.

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, this is standard when renting with a debit card Be sure and bring this information when you pick up your car. I was once in a rental car line behind a couple who were renting with a debit card and didn't have proof of their return flight. They held up the line for about 20 minutes arguing with the rental agent about this. It wasn't pretty.

Yep, been there, done that. I was flying SW and picking up my car at MCO. We took our towncar back to MCO to get the car to continue on to DS's wedding. Well.....I completely forgot to bring my proof with me. The Alamo lady was very understanding and told me to just go up to SW and get the proof...easy. Well I was so discombobulated at this point, I completely forgot the self serve kiosks for SW and went right to the counter. Took forever. They kept trying to find me in the system...of course I wasn't there because I wasn't flying that day. They just didn't seem to grasp what I was asking. It took close to 45 mins before a manager finally understood what it was I was looking for and printed it out for me!!!
Won't make that mistake again any time soon!!!!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Thanks for the help. We are using Budget at this moment as they had the best deal. But avis also had about the same deal so I could go with them. I was looking and I think I'll get a small credit card and then cancel it when we get home. I did have something happen last trip with my debit card. Which was incorrectly charged which lead me to go into overdraft. It took about 2 weeks to get it all sorted out.

I would never apply for a card and then cancel it immediately. Talk about ding to your credit score.

 

[gmeh1]

All companies are different so check the website or call them to see. We have always used Alamo and they did not put a hold on any funds in my account but they do ask for your return flight # I guess to make sure you will be coming back..lol. I am not sure what other companies do,I have heard that they hold between $300-$500 but I can not say for sure.

Oh, yes, Alamo does put a hold on your account, for the amount of the rental. We run the card, get a authorization code and the funds are held. It does not process with Alamo until you return the car.

 

[gmeh1]

Yes, this is standard when renting with a debit card Be sure and bring this information when you pick up your car. I was once in a rental car line behind a couple who were renting with a debit card and didn't have proof of their return flight. They held up the line for about 20 minutes arguing with the rental agent about this. It wasn't pretty.

You would be amazed at how many people don't have that information and how many times the line is held up because of this, not to mention how often the people waiting start to yell at the exit agent. Not pretty is an understatement.

 

[gmeh1]

I rent primarily from Alamo since they don't require a credit card. They do ask for proof of round trip flights though. Not an issue for me.

Add to that, National. Same rules.

 

[Mommytwotwins]

Oh, yes, Alamo does put a hold on your account, for the amount of the rental. We run the card, get a authorization code and the funds are held. It does not process with Alamo until you return the car.

Yes they may put a hold on the amount of the rental (I already had prepaid through disney) But there was no hold of a deposit for not using a cc. The only hold I had was for the gas that I had paid for.