Another Car hire CC question.

[mickeyforpresident]

Finally took out a CC to pay for car hire; we've paid in advance with all insurances. But, when they take your card at the Alamo desk, do they put a hold on £x or is it just a swipe? If they take money, how much?

 

[chmurf]

I don't know about the hold, I don't think they put any hold as I had a very low limit left on my card on it was ok last time I rented,
but a hold does not mean they take money from you. A hold is deducted from the maximum amount you can use with your card. You don't need to have that money on your account

you may only get charged when you buy extra
such as child seat, satnav or any upgrade.
you'll also get charged for the full tank of gas if you go for the "return fuel at any level" option

They only swipe the card at the desk, you'll then get an invoice with the estimated charge left to be paid

when you return your car, you will be issued a receipt (inside the garage, no need to go back to the desk, an employee will have a hand held machine to finish the transaction
this receipt will show the final charge (most probably the same amount as the estimated charge at pickup)

payment will be processed in the next 48 hours or so after you return your car

 

[GirlDreamer]

I read on Budgets terms that they put a hold on the estimated price of the rental + 25% or $200, whichever is the highest.

 

[DisFanJen]

If it's the same as AVIS then it should be something like this.

US DC: They take the cash and return it at the end if it's a deposit, if it's the actual rental price they just take the cash and keep it. scared1: I got caught by this one, as I only put what I need in the US account it caused me real issues)

US CC: They'll put a hold on the card.

UK DC: Most of the time they can't take these.

UK CC: They'll just take the card number but no hold as it's an international card.

Nowadays we just give them the UK CC, as you can imagine.