Anyone with experience with Debit Cards and National Car Rental?

[Blueberry]

I know Debit Cards have been discussed many times for rental of cars. However, I saw somethng on the National Website at the bottom of my reservation for Nov/December. It says that Debit Cards are accepted if you are in possession of a round trip ticket at the time. Does this mean you can rent with a debit card and never have to use a major credit card?? Anyone with any experience with National and this I would appreciate if you could post your experience here ..thanks in advance....

 

[disneyldwjr]

Yes, that is what it means.

 

[Blueberry]

Yes, that is what it means.

If I may ask, did you use a debit card at both rental and turn in with National Rental Car Company??.... Were there any problems using it??....

 

[jjan]

I'm so glad that you asked this question.... We are going to be in this situation this May and I'm still uneasy. I did call their #800 and they told me that you can use a debit card and not a credit card with a round trip airline ticket. I questioned her several times and she even put me on hold to double check. The jist of it was that some locations you can use a debit card and Orlando Airport is one of them, but that you couldn't go to your local National car rental location and use just a debit card there which makes sense (so no one rides off with their cars forever).

 

[Poohlovr]

Thank you for posting this. I have always used NAtional, but this time was going to use Alamo because I'm using a debit card.
I've read so many bad things about the Alamo counter that I was really worried.

But now, I've got National reserved (love that Emerald Aisle) and saved a few bucks in the process!

Thanks, again!

 

[disneyldwjr]

If I may ask, did you use a debit card at both rental and turn in with National Rental Car Company??.... Were there any problems using it??....

Yes, I used my Master Card Logo debit card when I checked the car out and when I returned it. No problems at all.

 

[Blueberry]

Woo hoo....this is terrific, thanks for the info. I will be using my debit in the future. Love to stay away from credit cards whenever I can...

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

Do they charge you card more then the amount of the rental???? Or is your airline ticket a kind of collateral??? TIA

 

[disneyldwjr]

Do they charge you card more then the amount of the rental???? Or is your airline ticket a kind of collateral??? TIA

they only hold the amount of the rental.

 

[disney 4 5]

They don't put a hold on any other amount? Just the total of your rental? Has anyone rented from National booking and paying with their debit card? Have you had any problems? I thought that National was a book with a credit card only.

 

[Poohlovr]

I haven't used this yet, but I called National and asked about it. I was told that this is a fairly new change to their payment policy, that the MCO location is participating and that the amount of the rental only is debited.
I specifically asked if any additional funds were held for a security deposit or for any other reason, and was told twice, "Nothing else is held. Just the rental cost will be debited".

 

[disneyldwjr]

I haven't used this yet, but I called National and asked about it. I was told that this is a fairly new change to their payment policy, that the MCO location is participating and that the amount of the rental only is debited.
I specifically asked if any additional funds were held for a security deposit or for any other reason, and was told twice, "Nothing else is held. Just the rental cost will be debited".

Actually, it is not even debited immediately. They put a hold on the card (which slips off in about 3 business days) and they debit the card upon return of the vehicle. I am glad they put this into practice. Their sister company, Alamo, has been doing this for years.

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

ok, one more question, I have SW paperless tickets travel...will this still work?????????????????

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

ok, one more question, I have SW paperless tickets travel...will this still work?????????????????

I would imagine you can show them your itinerary, with the incoming, and outgoing flight info. I would say that hardly anybody actually gets hard tickets anymore.

 

[Poohlovr]

Actually, it is not even debited immediately. They put a hold on the card (which slips off in about 3 business days) and they debit the card upon return of the vehicle. I am glad they put this into practice. Their sister company, Alamo, has been doing this for years.

A hold on my card takes 7 days to come back off.

 

[jjan]

ok, one more question, I have SW paperless tickets travel...will this still work?????????????????

I used my SW paperless ticket receipt last year at Alamo with no problem. I'm sure that is what everyone does.

 

[HappyLawyer]

National rules on the debit card will be the same as alamo as they operate under the same parent company, it is nice that national finally started this, i do not use credit cards always used alamo and never any problems so far

 

[disneyldwjr]

A hold on my card takes 7 days to come back off.

Different banks have different rules. My two take 3 business days.

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

A hold on my card takes 7 days to come back off.

That's ok though becuse the only hold they put on the card is th amount you are going to pay for the rental card, nothing extra, so if you planned on paying cash upon return of the vehicle, just put that into the account that your debit card is drawn off of and you should be fine.

 

[disney 4 5]

This is great news. I am so glad that they are now doing the same as Alamo.