can you rent a car without a credit card?

[phins_jazy]

We are wanting to rent a car and I made the reservation through avis for a one day rental for us to drive 6 hours. Our vehicle got broken into and won't be able to make the drive. Anyway, we don't use credit cards, only debit cards. But the rental agency has listed that they'll put a $500 hold on your accont and it won't be released for 14 days!!! Um, that's money that I planned on using on my trip. Is it possible to rent the car strictly with cash? Help! I'm starting to pull my hair out!

 

[dburg30]

You will need to talk to / check with the actual company to see what their rules are. There are other posts that have asked the same thing, so maybe you'll stumble upon them. Check with more then one company also, as the rules will vary from company to company.

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

Alamo allows you to as long as you have a roundtrip airline ticket and they won't put a hold on your card. Budget will allow you to use a debit card, but they will require a $300 dollar hold I think.

 

[safetymom]

Hertz if you are a member of #1 Gold and have the debit card listed in your profile will allow you to rent. They do hold some money but not $500.

 

[2DisPrincesses]

We have rented through Alamo for the last two years using a debit card. As previously stated, you do have to have proof of round trip airfare (they will ask you for your flight number). They do not hold any money and we have been nothing but happy with their service. Skip the line and use the kiosk as it is much faster and easy to use.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Is it possible to rent the car strictly with cash?

Do you mean as in "with no other guarantee that you will ever return the car"? Nope. No car rental agency will do that. Or do you mean "can I give them the deposit in cash instead"? Because odds are the answer is still no - but if that was your intent, can't you just use the debit card for the rental hold and use the cash for your trip?

Otherwise it looks like you're going to be out of luck. It's unlikely a car rental agency will allow any one-way rental with no security.

 

[carseats]

Budget will allow you to use a debit card, but they will require a $300 dollar hold I think.