Auto rental Debit?

[kiki02]

hello. Payless rental says they debit $ at tiem of rental, then return. Is this normal? Does Alamo and hertz, for example, do this? confused. thanks

 

[gatour]

hello. Payless rental says they debit $ at tiem of rental, then return. Is this normal? Does Alamo and hertz, for example, do this? confused. thanks

By "debit" do you mean a "hold" then yes there is a hold according to what I found in the link for Hertz. They will put a "hold" on your credit card for the amount of the rental plus $200. At the end of the rental, your card will be actually charged for the amount of the rental and the hold will be released (It may take several days for the bank that issued the credit card to release the hold.)

While the hold is in place, your available credit on the card is decreased by the amount of the hold. So for example you pick up the car and the amount of rental is $1000. The hold will be $1200 on your credit card. So if you have a $5000 credit limit on your card, during the trip you could only charge $3800 to the card that you used for the car rental.

Now the funky part is when your trip ends. The actual charge may come through while the hold is still in place. It depends how quick the issuing bank clears holds. Most major bank clear the holds extremely quickly

This is the link to Hertz...

https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/rese...s/rentalTerms.jsp?KEYWORD=PAYMENT&EOAG=STTT11

 

[easyas123]

I think I know what OP means by debit --- I've seen a ad or two online for a car rental company (Dollar or Payless maybe? actual Company name escapes me! Ad I saw showed a woman and a young kid in a pool I think) that is specifically advertising that it accepts DEBIT CARDS to rent & pay for the rental vehicle.

If that isn't what OP meant, then it would appear I am the one confused

 

[kaytieeldr]

Moet car rental companies, at least the national chains, will accept a debit card with proof of return transportation i.e. that you're not a local intending sto scam them. Most will put a hold on the debit card as security. Enterprise does, or did, rent to local drivers and put a hold on the card.

 

[spiders]

Debit cards will have the same holds as credit cards but then debit card holds will freeze actual money in your account making it unavailable.

Also, I don’t know if they still do this but Hertz ran credit checks anytime a debit card was presented for rent. If your score was too low then it would spit out a thanks, but no thanks letter for you to read and how to obtain a free credit report.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh, you know, Enterprise might do that too. It's been eight or nine years since i rented locally.

 

[gatour]

Oh, you know, Enterprise might do that too. It's been eight or nine years since i rented locally.

Actually about 25 or so years ago, Enterprise's rental model was to rent cars to people that had accidents. While the owned car was being repaired, the car insurance companies would pay for a rental from Enterprise. Let's just say the cars provided were not in tip-top condition as compared to Hertz etc.

 

[spiders]

Actually about 25 or so years ago, Enterprise's rental model was to rent cars to people that had accidents. While the owned car was being repaired, the car insurance companies would pay for a rental from Enterprise. Let's just say the cars provided were not in tip-top condition as compared to Hertz etc.

That’s because insurance companies don’t want to pay anything. When the rate is $16 then you get the 50,000 mile Focus with black cloth that used to be beige.

 

[kiki02]

I think I know what OP means by debit --- I've seen a ad or two online for a car rental company (Dollar or Payless maybe? actual Company name escapes me! Ad I saw showed a woman and a young kid in a pool I think) that is specifically advertising that it accepts DEBIT CARDS to rent & pay for the rental vehicle.

If that isn't what OP meant, then it would appear I am the one confused

meaning a HOLD on credit card. Not sure alamo does this. I dont mean using debit card to pay for rental. thanks all