Car hire advice

[mickeyforpresident]

Can anyone give me some advice on car hire, please?

We do not have any credit cards; nor will we get one. We will have saved cash for our upcoming holiday, most of which we will put no our FAIRFx cards.

Is there a car hire company which you either pay up front when you book online here or that you can pay when you arrive but that DON'T require a credit card imprint. I don't want $xxxx being held on the FAIRFx card when it could be spent on holiday goodies?!

Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

[wilma-bride]

I think most car hire companies insist on taking credit card details, in case of an damage to the vehicle rather than as payment (we always pre-pay our car rental).

If you don't have a credit card then I know that Alamo will allow you to leave a cash 'deposit' which will be returned to you on return of the vehicle. I am not sure if any other companies allow it but I would think most of the major rental companies would have similar arrangements.

It might be worth emailing one of the rental car operators, such as USrentacar, and ask the question unless someone else on here has an alternative solution.

Personally, I would not want to use a Fairfx card (or similar) for a holding deposit as, obviously, that limits the amount you can use during your trip.

 

[orangetiggs]

My natwest card is a visa debit card and i used this last oct as we dont have a credit card and only fair fx. I went with a different company than i use normally last year but i have used dollar several times and never had to give them a credit card as i had taken the platinum insurance but have heard this can be ht and miss

 

[jtlover]

We don't have a credit card but use our debit card to pay. We get our car hire through virgin Atlantic which is Alamo and always log on before leaving uk and then go straight to pick the car and show our papers at the exit. Never had a problem. Don't show your fairfx card or they will possibly hold money omit as it isn't a debit or credit card.

We always buy the top insurance with the car

 

[mickeyforpresident]

Ok - so let me get this right in my head! If I use my bank debit card (shows Visa symbol) how much money - typically - will they hold? I could use this but we go a couple of days away from pay day so unlikely they'll be much left!

 

[jtlover]

Ok - so let me get this right in my head! If I use my bank debit card (shows Visa symbol) how much money - typically - will they hold? I could use this but we go a couple of days away from pay day so unlikely they'll be much left!

If you take out the top insurance then no they don't take any money. We just show them the card and our driving licence at the exit. But you need to pay before you get to florida

 

[orangetiggs]

Yes mine was empty so they couldnt ake any money! I have two accounts with ghe same card

 

[GirlDreamer]

Does that mean I can't use a debit card with all the rental companies? My reservation is through Auto Europe and we're picking up the car from Budget if that makes a difference.

Is it better to apply for a credit card just for the trip?

 

[orangetiggs]

No any company will take a visa debit card as long as t says visa on it